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No. 214. —Petition of George Feederick Such and Others, of Rodney. The petitioners pray that, if the Government sell the forests north of Auckland, they will devote the proceeds of such sale to the extension of the Main Trunk Railway north of Auckland, or to the completion and metalling of the main line of north road. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government. 21st June, 1888.

No. 203.—Petition of Emanuel Snellgeove and Others, of Mar ton. The petitioners pray for the abolition of the totalisator. No. 223.—Petition of Emma E. Paoke and Others (No. 2). The petitioners, president, secretary, treasurer, and superintendent of the National Women's Christian Temperance Union, pray that the electoral franchise may be extended to women. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, these petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration. 21st June, 1888.

No. 35.—Petition of Emma E. Packk and Others (No. 1). The petitioners, president, secretary, and treasurer respectively of the National Women's Christian Temperance Union, pray that the liquor-law may be so amended as to prevent drink being sold to children under sixteen years of age; and that the licensing of clubs may be amended, and placed on the same footing as hotels. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 21st June, 1888.

No. 212.—Petition of Chaeles Mack, of Auckland. The petitioner alleges that he was illegally convicted of smuggling tobacco in the year 1868; that he has petitioned Parliament many times, but can get no redress. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, petitioner has no claim against the colony. 21st June, 1888.

No. 162.—Petition of Francis Wilkinson. The petitioner, Chairman of the Kaikorai School Committee, prays that the Government will pay the costs incurred by the Committee in testing the legality of the action of the Otago Education Board in resolving to dispense with the services of Mr. David McLauchlan (headmaster of the Kaikorai School) without consulting the Committee. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, petitioner has no claim against the colony. 21st June, 1888.

No. 46. —Petition of James Malcolm and William Isbistee, of Otago. The petitioners state that in April, 1866, the Superintendent of Otago leased to William Isbister Section 51, Block 1., Lower Harbour West, for twenty-one years, at a rental of £1 per annum; that William Isbister agreed to erect a slip on said land, and the Superintendent covenanted to pay the full value of slip and other erections at the expiration of term, and, in case of any dispute, that the matter of compensation was to be settled by arbitration ; that in 1866 petitioners became jointly entitled to said lease ; that, by virtue of "The Otago Dock Trust Act, 1883," and Amendment Act, 1885, the land comprised in the lease became vested in the Otago Dock Trust; that in 1887 two arbitrators and an umpire were appointed to decide as to the amount of compensation petitioners were entitled to, and the umpire made an award of £776 to petitioners ; that the costs attending this award amounted to £53 18s. 4d., which petitioners had to pay; that the Otago Dock Trust refused to pay the award and half costs, consequently petitioners had to bring an action against them in the Supreme Court; that it was discovered that the Superintendent of Otago had failed to obtain an ordinance from the Provincial Council authorising him to grant the beforementioned lease, and petitioners were advised that they had no legal ground of action against the Otago Dock Trust or the Crown. Petitioners allege that they have suffered great loss through the invalidity of the lease, amounting in the aggregate to £872 9s. 2d., and also the interest at £6 per centum per annum on £776 from the time the award was made. They pray for relief. I am directed to report that this petition be referred to the Government, with an expression of opinion from the Committee that the petitioners, in equity, are entitled to relief. 28th June, 1888.

No. 210.—Petition of John L. Smith and Others. The petitioners, farmers residing on the Arahura Native Eeserve, allege that their homes and farms are being destroyed by thousands of tons of tailings which are being daily discharged into the Arahura River by the Humphrey's Gully Gold-mining Company; that the sluicing operations of the said company are on the increase, and petitioners are being practically driven out of their farms. They pray for relief. I am directed to report that, having taken the evidence of the Public Trustee, the Inspecting Engineer of Mines, and Mr. Seddon, M.H.E., and also considered a telegram from the manager of