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No. 106.—Petition of Thomas Hempton. The petitioner states that he is Town Clerk of the Borough of New Blymouth. He states that the lands affected by " The New Plymouth Eecreation Eeserve Act, 1886," consist of a number of allotments and parts of streets shown on the original plan of the Town of New Blymouth, which were first reserved for public purposes in the year 1858. He prays that, before the Bill be proceeded with any further, the Borough Council and inhabitants of New Blymouth may be heard in relation thereto, and that for that purpose the said Bill may be referred to a Select Committee for consideration and report. I have the honour to report, as follows : That, the Bill having passed the House, the Committee have no recommendation to make. . 15th June, 1886.

No. 72. —Petition of A. Stjthebeand and Others. The petitioners state that they are leaseholders of portions of the West Coast Settlement Beserves. They allege that the rents payable by them are out of all proportion to the products of the land. They ask for inquiry, so that the rents may be adjudged equitably. I have the honour to report as follows : That, inasmuch as the subject-matter of this petition can, if deemed desirable, be dealt with by the Board and the Government, by an alteration in the regulations under which these leases are held, without the intervention of the Legislature, this Committee have no recommendation to make. 15th June, 1886.

No. 131.—Betition of Edwaed O'Connell and Others. The petitioners state that they are Crowm tenants in the District of Strath Taieri under the per-petual-lease system; that the rental of the land is too high, and that the railway has not been made as promised when they took the leases; that it is impossible for them to carry on. They pray to have the rents reduced, or inquiry to be made. I have the honour to report as follows : That the petition be referred to the Government for their consideration. 22nd June, 1886.

Claims op Old Soldiees. The Waste Lands Committee have the honour to report, with reference to the claims of old soldiers, that the Committee do not see reason to recommend the Legislature to reopen the case of the claims of the naval and military settlers ; and are of opinion that such claims, if entertained at all, should, in the first instance, be inquired into and reported upon by the Government. 22nd June, 1886.

No. 90. —Betition of Honoea Oakes. The petitioner states that her husband in 1841 took up 950 acres of land situate on the Eiver Thames, next the block known as the Maiharakeka Block; that the Government issued a Proclamation in the year 1848, agreeing to take over all lands acquired by Europeans from the Natives at £1 per acre; that petitioner agreed to the same, and she was paid £52 on account of the purchasemoney, but has never received the balance thereof. She prays for inquiry and relief. I have the honour to report as follows : That the Committee are of opinion that the petitioner has no claim. 23rd June, 1886.

No. 31.—Betition of Joseph Eichaed Clement. The petitioner prays for consideration for loss and damage sustained through not getting land, situate in the Waiho Forks, County of Waimate, he selected, by reason of errors in the Government plan, and through having no roadway, and through forced payment of rates and taxes whilst excluded from use of such land. I have the honour to report as follows : That the Committee, having reported on this petition in 1884 and 1885, have no further recommendation to make. 23rd June, 1885.

No. 59. —Betition of the Bey. William Colenso. The petitioner states that he owned Section 331, Town of Napier, abutting on Stamford Street; that the Government took over and closed Stamford Street. The petitioner prays for equitable relief in consequence of the deterioration of the said section 331 through such closing of Stamford Street. I have the honour to report as follows : That the petition be referred to the Public Petitions Committee, as not coming within the scope of the order of reference of the Waste Lands Committee. 24th June, 1886.

No. 205.—Petition of William Maude and Others. The petitioners state that they are residents, in Cook County, of the East Coast District of the North Island. They ask that the House will be pleased to afford assistance to Mr. W. L. Bees in his effort to promote colonization in New Zealand. I have the honour to report as follows : That the Committee cannot recommend the prayer of the petitioners. 24th June, 1886.