1.—2

30

Repoet on Petition of Attendants, Sea View Lunatic Asylum, Hokitika. The petitioners state that their rate of pay has been reduced from 9s. 6d. per diem to Bs. 6d. per diem, and that the proposed estimates for the year 1877-78 point to a further reduction. They state that the proposed rate of pay —namely, Bs. a day—is inadequate, and pray for relief. I am directed to report that the Committee are of opinion that, if the petitioners considered that they were aggrieved with respect to insufficient pay, they should have referred the matter to the Government, not to the House. T. Kelly, sth November, 1877. Chairman.

Report on Petition of Geoege Stockman. The petitioner is a half-caste, and states that he is entitled to land through his mother, who was a member of the Ngatihine and Ngatirahiri tribes, on the west bank of the Waitara River, and that he received no award of land from the Compensation Court, which sat at New Plymouth in 1866. The petitioner also complains that he was deprived of his office of Interpreter to the Government without notice and without compensation. He prays for redress. I am directed to report that the Committee are of opinion that a local Commission be appointed to inquire into the claims of the petitioner, to consist of competent persons not being connected with the Government departments. « T. Kelly, sth November, 1877. Chairman.

Repoet on Petition of M. R. Mtllee of Napiee. The petitioner states that he bought 7,300 acres of land from the Crown for a client in Dunedin, and finds that the only practical line of road to it is through private land, over which the right of the Crown to take a road has lapsed. The petitioner prays that a right of road be given to his client. I am directed to report that the Committee consider that a purchaser of Crown lands is entitled to a right-of-way to it; the Committee therefore recommend the Government to take action to give effect to the prayer of the petitioner. T. Kelly, sth November, 1877. Chairman.

Repoet on Petition of CnAELEs Sampson. The petitioner prays that the balance of the land in allotment 103—namely, 35 acres 1 rood 8 perches— Waitara West, Taranaki, of which he is in possession, and acquired from the Natives by lease with a first right to purchase, but subsequently purchased from the Natives by the Government, and which is not required for railway purposes, be sold to him by the Government at the same price paid by the Government to the Natives. From inquiry made by the Committee, it appears that the petitioner has an equitable claim to the land that is not required for the actual purposes of the railway. I am therefore directed to report that the Committee recommend the prayer of the petitioner to the favourable consideration of the Government. T. Kelly, 9th November, 1877. Chairman.

Report on Petition of F. E. Hamlin (No. 3.) The petitioner prays that his case be reheard, and that he be afforded an opportunity of submitting the decision of the Government on his case to the Committee. The Committee, having made further inquiry in the case of the petitioner, direct me to report as follows : — That, from the evidence taken by the Committee, it appears the petitioner rendered valuable service to the colony while conducting military operations against the rebel Natives in the Waikaremoana country. The Committee therefore consider that he is entitled to receive for such services 400 acres of land of fair quality. T. Kelly, 9th November, 1877. Chairman.

Report on Petition of JonN Hill. The petitioner states that in the year 1863, and three years subsequently, he was in the employ of the Provincial Government of Wellington, in the bonded store at Wellington, and has since been employed by the General Government in the Customs Department as boatman and in other capacities ; that in March, 1877, he was summarily dismissed from his situation on the charge of using strong language. He prays for consideration on the ground of his length of service. I am directed to report that, as it appears that the petitioner was dismissed for misconduct, the Committee have no recommendation to make. T. Kelly, 15th November, 1877. Chairman.