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I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, these two petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration. 21st December, 1887.

No. 498.—Petition of Juliet McDonald, of Kaiapoi. The petitioner prays for compensation for loss of office as Nurse in the Sunnyside Asylum, at Christchurch. No. 502.—Petition of John Vincent, of Greymouth. The petitioner prays for compensation for loss of his foot by negligence of Government employ6s on Greymouth Wharf. I am directed to recommend that, as the Committee cannot inquire fully into the merits these cases so near the end of the present session, consideration of these two petitions should be deferred till next session. 21st December, 1887.

No. 504.—Petition of John M. Gkace, of Auckland. The petitioner states that he is the son and heir-at-law of the late Peter Grace, of Auckland, who, in 1865, contracted to construct a section of the Auckland and Drury Eailway; that in 1866 the Provincial Government seized the contract and the plant, paying the contractor £3,600, and taking from him a receipt in full. He now claims £3,078 2s. as due by the Provincial Government to his late father. I am directed to adopt the reports of the Public Petitions Committees of 1884, 1885, and 1886— namely, " that, as this claim has been considered by two Committees of the Auckland Provincial Council, and as the circumstances took place more than twenty years ago, and as no further evidence has been produced than was before those two Committees, this Committee is not prepared to make any recommendation on the present petition." 21st December, 1887.

Nos. 506 and 507. —Petitions of Sabah Tonge and Others and of W. E. Outhwaite and Others, of Auckland. The petitioners pray that the police may be restrained from taking action against the manufacturers of so-called temperance beverages. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, these two petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration. 21st December, 1887.

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