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No. 300.—Petition of Thomas Griffith and Others. The petitioners, inhabitants of Motueka Valley and surrounding districts, pray that a road may be made from Stanley Brook to Wakefield. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 7th July, 1886.

Nos. 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, and 296. — Petitions of W. Wastney and Others, E. H. J. Beeves and Others, William Macey and Others, Francis Trask and Others, Thomas Bowling and Others, and Arthur Tregea and Others. The petitioners pray that a sum of £100,000 may be voted to construct a railway from Blenheim, via Eenwicktown, Eock Ferry, Are Are and Kaituna Valleys, Havelock, Pelorus and Eai Valleys, to Wakapuaka and Nelson, and that a complete survey may be authorized to be made during the recess. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 7th July, 1886.

No. 271. —Petition of Thomas Butler, of Nelson. The petitioner, late Superintendent of the Nelson Lunatic Asylum, states that he petitioned Parliament this session, asking for a full inquiry to be made into his case. He now prays that the prayer of said petition may be complied with. I am directed to report that, the case of the petitioner having been so frequently inquired into by the Committee, notably in 1882, when petitioner attended and gave evidence, and also by a Eoyal Commission in 1877 (see H.-34, from which the following is an extract: " That the evidence of Mr. Butler is proved, by comparing his evidence with his letters, to be generally untrustworthy, and in some respects deliberately false. That the said Thomas Butler was not unwarrantably and unjustifiably dismissed, but was rightly and properly removed for knowingly making scandalously false charges, and for the gross immoralities of which he is proved, partly by his own admission, to have been guilty "), the Committee cannot, therefore, recommend that the prayer of the petitioner should be granted. Bth July, 1886.

No. 273. —Petition of E. B. Eainton and Others, of Otago. The petitioners state that they have had contracts under the Public Works Department, and when suitable opportunities offer themselves will be found ready to tender again, but they are seriously deterred from doing so owing to the very stringent character of the conditions which in tendering they are required to submit to. They allege that these conditions are open to two grave objections—(l) they abound with great uncertainty, the consequences of which are made to fall on the contractor, and (2) they confer very great powers upon Jthe engineer, which may be most arbitrarily used without any appeal therefrom. They pray for relief. I am directed to report that the Committee, having already reported on a similar petition, have no further recommendation to make. Bth July, 1886.

No. 283. —Petition of J. Waghorn and Others. The petitioners, ratepayers of Little Akaloa, pray for a grant of £700 in order to enable them to repair the damage done to their roads by the recent floods. I am directed to report that the Committee cannot recommend the prayer of the petitioners. Bth July, 1886.

No. 267. —Petition of A. Le G. Campbell, of Wellington. The petitioner states that he has served the Government for many years, but that, owing to his having been at one time only temporarily employed, he has forfeited his right to a pension. He prays that the difficulty which has hitherto prevented him from obtaining a pension may be removed. I am directed to report that, the petitioner having received a sum of £495 2s. 7d. as compensation, the Committee is of opinion that he has no further claim. Bth July, 1886.

No. 184. —Petition of Thomas Spencer, of the Thames. The petitioner states that his land was deprived of water for public purposes; that subsequently a supply was granted to him, which he used for five years ; that it was then cut off on the ground that he had no right to it, thereby putting him to great trouble, annoyance, and expense. He prays that his loss and expenses may be considered, and relief granted. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, the colony is not responsible for the expenses referred to in the petition. 13th July, 1886.

No. 174. —Petition of William Millar, of Dunedin. The petitioner states that he was an apprentice in the workshops at Hillside, Dunedin; that he was employed for 232 days after having completed his term of five years, at the wages of an apprentice only, although he did the work of an improver. He prays that the sum of £7 13s. for