H.—No. 12,

REPORTS OF THE PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE

ORDERED TO BE PRINTED.

On the Petition of— Page 1. J. B. Eussell ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 2. William Burr ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 8. Landowners of Patea and Waitotara Districts ... ... ... ... ... 3 4. Messrs. Wallis, Crawford, and Worthington, of Wairoa ... ... ... ... 4 5. John Logan Campbell ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 6. Thomas Goodison ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 7. J. J. Breeze ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... 5 8. Hemi Marupu and other Natives ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 9. On the Standing Orders having reference to Public Petitions ... ... .., 5 10. Messrs. Home and Jervis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 11. Settlers of Patea District ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 12. Chairman and Directors of tho Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company, Limited ... 6 13. Charles Cockburn Schaw ... ... .... ... ... ... ... 6 14. George Beadon ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 15. Merchants, Shipowners, and Masters of Vessels of Auckland ... ... ... ... 7 16. Charles J. Pharazyn ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 17. James Dilworth ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 18. On the Award of Mr. Commissioner Beckham on the Claim of John Kelly ... ... 9 19. Pinal Eeport of the Public Petitions Committee ... ... ... ... ... 10

1. On Petition of J. P. Mussell, Solicitor. Petitioner complains of the conduct of Thomas Beckham, Esq., Eesident Magistrate, towards him in the Eesident Magistrate's Court, while acting in his professional capacity, and prays that the case be inquired into, that he may obtain relief. I am directed to report, that the Committee, having carefully considered the evidence offered on the subject, consider that the petitioner has established a case for inquiry ; and they are of opinion that it is essential to the proper conduct of business in the Eesident Magistrate's Court, that some officer or ex-officer of the Supreme Court be instructed to inquire into and report as to the truth of the allegations contained in the petition. 7th August, 1872.

2. On Petition of William Purr. The petitioner states that in the year 1871 he was a public carrier between Turakina and Wanganui, and that on Saturday, 23rd December, of the same year, while waitting at Turakina, one Joseph Jessop, also a carrier, put a kit on petitioner's dray containing a dead turkey. That from various causes petitioner's dray was unable to proceed to its destination—Wanganui, and finding no address on the kit, he caused the turkey to be sold by public auction, for benefit of whom it might concern, and tendered the proceeds subsequently to Jessop. The said Joseph Jessop refused to receive the money, but laid a criminal information against him, and the case was tried before William Jarvis Willis, 8.M., Geo. Tates Lethebridge, and William Thomas Owen, Justices of the Peace, by whom he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. The petitioner prays that, being innocent of the crime of which he was convicted, the House will afford him relief. 1 am directed to report that, having read the depositions in the petitioner's case, tho Committee are of opinion that the judgment of the Bench of Magistrates was arbitrary and unjustifiable ; and although they sympathize with the petitioner in respect to the injustice he has suffered, they see no way of affording him redress, but would submit to the consideration of the Government, whether Justices who give such decisions, thereby subjecting innocent persons to the risk of unjust imprisonment, are qualified to hold the responsible office of Magistrates. 21st August, 1872.

3. On Petition of Seventy-seven Landowners in the Patea and Waitotara Districts. Ttie petitioners alleged that they have not received any benefit from either the Provincial Government of Wellington or Taranaki, and that little or none of the provincial revenue derived from capitation grants, licensing fees, &c, has been expended within their district. They pray that their district be withdrawn from provincial administration, and administered by the Colonial Government, until some Act be passed by the Legislature providing for administration of local affairs in outlying districts.