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No. 228, Sess. ll.—Petition of John Templeton and Others, of Wyndham, The petitioners pray that the Mortgage Act may be amended. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 22nd November, 1887.

No. 231, Sess. ll.—Petition of Te Heuheu Tukino and Others. The petitioners state that they have seen a notice of the proposed resolution by Mr. Carroll, M.H.E., suggesting that there should be only one law both for. the Maoris and Europeans. They pray that the House may not pass the resolution proposed by Mr. Carroll. I am directed to report that, as a motion is now on the Order Paper proposing to deal with the subject of this petition, the Committee has no recommendation to make, but would refer the petition to the Government for consideration. 22nd November, 1887.

No. 250, Sess. ll.—Petition of J. B. Murray and Others, of Waitotara. The petitioners pray that the Wanganui Harbour Eating Bill may not be passed. I am directed to report that, as the said Bill is now before the House, this Committee has no recommendation to make. 22nd November, 1887.

No. 276, Sess. ll.—Petition of W. C. Macklow and Others, of Mahurangi. The petitioners state that they are three brothers, each of whom has an equal and independent interest in certain property, which they hold under deed and by will, but prefer to work the land jointly. That they each claimed a £500 exemption under the Property Assessment Act, but the Commissioner only allowed one on the whole property. They pray for relief. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 22nd November, 1887.

No. 23, Sess. II. —Petition of John Meikle, of Tuturau, Southland. The petitioner states that he has been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned, and that while in prison he was treated in a most unjustifiable manner, from the effects of which he still suffers. He prays for an inquiry into his case, and also for relief on account of the hardship and injury he has sustained. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 23rd November, 1887.

No. 63, Sess. ll.—Petition of Eeuben Martin. The petitioner states that he is a settler on land adjoining the Helensville and Kaipara Eailwayline; that, in order to prevent his stock being killed, he has had to put up fencing at a cost of £70. He prays that the Government will cause the said fence to be inspected, and grant the cost thereof. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 23rd November, 1887.

No. 74, Sess. ll.—Petition of William Henry Wakeham, of Auckland. The petitioner states that, while in prison awaiting trial, he was placed in a cell with a madman, whom he and other prisoners had to tie down in the middle of the night with his own blankets. He alleges that he was not allowed to hold conversation with his child, was deprived of the privilege of seeing a visitor, compelled to work when suffering actual pain, reported for offences he d.id not commit, kept in gaol fourteen days longer than the allotted time through sickness, and did not receive the whole of his property when he was let out. He prays for a public inquiry into his grievances. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the Government to request the Visiting Justices to inquire into the statements made in the petition. 23rd November, 1887.

No. 270, Sess. ll.—Petition of Elizabeth A. Madigan. The petitioner states that her husband, who served in the gaol department as warder for ten years, was, on the Bth November, 1885, while attempting to prevent the escape of a prisoner, so severely injured as to have permanently incapacitated him from work. The petitioner prays that permanent provision may be made for her husband, in order to enable him to assist in maintaining their six children. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 23rd December, 1887.

No. 134, Sess. ll.—Petition of Thomas Mills, of Auckland. The petitioner states that he served in the Eailway Department for more than ten years ; that he received an injury to his foot while in the performance of his duties; that when partially recovered he was appointed head storekeeper of a goods-shed ; that he was suspended in January, 1886 ; that in 1884, while he was acting as porter at the Te Awamatu Eailway-station, he had to build a house for himself—costing £90; that the site of said house belonged to the department, who gave him leave to build there; that when he was transferred the department only allowed him £5 15s. for