1.—4

1886. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

No. 57. —Betition of Chables Beown, of New Blymouth. The petitioner states that he selected 500 acres of rural land in the settlement of New Blymouth; that he made a road through the same, and afterwards the New Zealand Company took over the said road and continued it through other lands; that compensation was ordered to be paid to the petitioner upon completion of certain fences; that the petitioner was prevented from completing the said fences through Native disturbances. He prays for inquiry and relief. I have the honour to report as follows : That the Committee see no reason why they should. interfere in this case. 3rd June, 1886.

No. 67. —Betition of Alpeed Eobeets and 41 other Gum-diggers of the Bay of Islands. The petitioners request permission to dig for kauri-resin (gum) within the precincts of the Buhipuhi State Forest during the winter months. I have the honour to report as follows : That the Committee cannot recommend that the prayer of the petitioners be agreed to. 3rd June, 1886.

No. 39.—Betition of Bateick Kinney and John J. Eamsay. The petitioners state that they are deferred-payment settlers residing in the Bock and Pillar District of Otago; that they selected lands abandoned by the original holders, which was originally put up at £1 10s. per acre ; that through technical error they had to pay £3 per acre. They pray for a reduction to same price as other selectors. I have the honour to report as follows : That the Committee cannot recommend the prayer of this petition. 9th June, 1886.

No. 430, 1885.—Petition of Catheeine Feasee. The petitioner states that in 1863 she purchased Section 7, Block IV. (containing 37 acres 2 roods 14 perches), Beninsula District, Otago, from the Crown; that, through an error on the part of the Government surveyors, the road round the said block was not connected with any other road from 1863 to 1881; that the petitioner paid road rates during several years. She claims compensation for loss sustained through not having the use of the road. I have the honour to report as follows: That the Committee have no recommendation to make. 9th June, 1886.

No. 36. —Petition of Benjamin Nayloe, Sen., and Benjamin Nayloe, Jun. The petitioners state that they purchased lands under the deferred-payment system, and made improvements thereon; that the land was afterwards sold through their not having built homesteads thereon, and was repurchased by them at an advance on original price. They pray for inquiry and relief. I have the honour to report as follows : That the petitioners have no claim. 10th June, 1886.

Volunteee Land Sceip. In the matter of claims made by Volunteers enrolled between the years 1873 and 1876, whose title to scrip was quashed by the 3rd section of "The Waste Land Administration Act, 1876," which cancelled the rights of all Volunteers who had not then completed three years' efficient service ; and in the matter of the members of the Thames Scottish Bifle Corps ; I have the honour to report as follows : That the Legislature be invited to reconsider the matter, and, if practicable, restore their rights to all those men enrolled before the 31st October, 1876, who subsequently by continuous service completed their five years as efficient Volunteers, 10th June, 1886,

REPORTS OF THE WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE. (MR. O'CALLAGHAN, CHAIRMAN.)