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No. 123. —Petition of Matthew Carsick and 127 other Settlers of Taranaki. The petitioners suggest that the property-tax be modified by exempting personal effects, reducing the minimum to £200, including official salaries by capitalizing the income, by making Native lands liable when the title is individualized, by the reimposition of the duties upon tea and sugar; and that the forms of assessment be simplified. They pray that these suggestions be considered by the House. I am directed to report that, as the subject-matter of this petition is now before the House, the Committee have no recommendation to make. 6th July, 1880.

No. 139. —Petition of Sharp and Pickering and Others, of Nelson. The petitioners pray that the bottle license be not abolished. I am directed to report that, the subject-matter of this petition being now before the House, the Committee do not consider it necessary to make any recommendation. 6th July, 18S0. »

No. 32.—Petition of Maby Taylor. The petitioner prays that compensation be given her on account of the small salary she has received in the past as matron of the Immigration Barracks, Auckland, and that her salary be increased for the future, or that compensation and a free passage to England be granted her. I am directed to report that the Committee are of opinion that the petitioner has been fairly remunerated, and that she has no further claim on the colony. 6th July, 1880.

No. 106.—Petition of IT. A. Bamford and Others, of Heathcote. The petitioners pray that power be given to construct a bridge over the Heathcote River at or near Woolston. I am directed to report that as the subject-matter of this petition is now before the House, the Committee do not consider it necessary to offer any opinion. 6th July, 1880.

No. 37. —Petition of Heney Niccol. The petitioner states that he obtained an agreement for a lease of a piece of land below highwater mark in the Auckland Harbour from the Superintendent; that on the strength of this agreement he built a patent slip ; that in the year 1876 he got notice from the Harbourmaster to remove the slip ; and, in consequence of such action, he was dispossessed of the land, and lost his whole capital. He prays for redress. I am directed to report that from the evidence taken in this case the Committee are of opinion that the action of the local Road Board, and not the Harbour Board, was mainly the cause of the slip being removed. The Committee do not consider that the petitioner has any claim against the colony. 6th July, 1880.

No. 59.—Petition of James Logan and 179 other Settlers, of Tapanui. The petitioners pray that an extension of the Kelso-Heriot Bum Railway be proceeded with without delay. I am directed to report that the Committee have no recommendation to make on this petition, but to refer it to the Government for consideration. 6th July, 1880.

No. 90. —Petition of William Huntee Reynolds. The petitioner states that judgment was given against him in the Eesident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, for land-tax for the half-year beginning Ist January, 1880, although he had parted with the feesimple of the land in October, 1879. He prasfe the House to grant him redress. I am directed to report that the Committee are of opinion that a more effectual mode ought to be provided to relieve persons from future liability to taxes on property they have disposed of, and that the attention of the Government be directed thereto; but, as the petitioner has not taken full advantage of the remedy which the law provides, the Committee have no special recommendation to make in his case. Oth July, 1880. ' .

No. 11. —Petition of William White. The petitioner states that Allotment 98, in the Town of Timaru, owned by him, was taken by the Government for public purposes, without his knowledge, in 1876; that in 1878 he sold the land, but, having afterwards become aware that the Government had seized the land, he was compelled to refund the purchase-money. He prays that he ba compensated for difference in price of purchase, for interest, and for legal expenses, being £87 13s. 7d. over the £50 awarded by the Government as the price of the land taken. I am directed to report that, with respect to the alleged failure of the Government to inform the petitioner that the land was required for railway purposes, the Committee are of opinion that the Public Works Department complied with the law, made fair inquiry, and took the usual course to notify all persons interested in the land by giving public notice in a paper published in the district where the land is situated. The loss occasioned by the action in Court is a matter between the petitioner and his solicitor who advised him to defend it. The Committee, under these circumstances, do not see their way to recommend that compensation be paid to the petitioner. Oth July, 1880,