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No. 346. —Petition of F. C. Peyton, of Carterton, Wairarapa. Petitioner prays that the Public Trustee may be instructed to pay over to him and his co-legatee, Miss Deane, the money in the estate of the late James Graham, of Castlepoint, which he states was verbally bequeathed to them in the presence of certain persons named in the petition. I am directed to report that the Committee cannot recommend the prayer of the petition. 25th August, 1893.

No. 273. —Petition of T. J. Deane, of Tenui, Wairarapa. Petitionee prays that one-half of the money in the estate of the late James Graham, of Castlepoint, now in the hands of the Public Trustee, may be paid over to his daughter, Mary Eleanor Deane, to whom the deceased, shortly before his death, verbally bequeathed it in the presence of several witnesses. I am directed to report that the Committee cannot recommend the prayer of the petition. 30th August, 1893.

No. 375.—Petition of B. Miller (No. 2), of Christchurch. Petitioner, who met with an accident when working on Government relief-works, prays for compassionate allowance. 1 am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner has no claim on the colony. 30th "August, 1893.

No. 328.—Petition of H. McKinnan, of Wanganui. Petitioner, who was injured when working with a co-operative party on the Government railway near Ohingaiti, states he is likely to be a cripple for life; he prays for relief. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner has no claim on the colony. 30th August, 1893.

No. 430.—Petition of A. J. Wilbee and Others, of Otamatea. Petitioners, who are gumdiggers in the north Auckland District, pray for legislation to prevent the influx of Austrians and other aliens on the gum-fields. I am directed to report that, as there is a Bill before the House dealing with this question, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 30th August, 1893.

Nos. 413, 429, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, and 437.—Petitions of James Aitken and Others of Wanganui; B. Ceonin and Others, H. P. Wood and Others, W. G. Mehaffy and Others, F. W. Wake and Others, H. Dempsey and Others, J. H. Bull and Others, T. H. Gill and Others, J. B. Mayne and Others. Petitionees, who are teachers of the primary schools of New Zealand, pray that a more uniform scale of salaries throughout the colony should be adopted, and that such scale be brought up .and put into force by the Education Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 30th August, 1893.

No. 409. —Petition of J. Pigott, of Timaru. Petitioner prays that the duty on certain important photographic materials which cannot be manufactured in the colony may be abolished. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 30th August, 1893.

No. 458. —Petition of John Masefield and Others, of Bay of Islands. Petitioners, who are fishermen residing in the Bay of Islands, pray that a close season may be observed for the catching and taking of mullet. They suggest that the close season should be from the 20th of December to the 20th of March, and that the district closed should be from Wide Berth Islands on the south to Cape Wiwiki on the north. I am directed to report that, as the matter appears to be one of very great importance to the petitioners, the Committee recommend that the petition should be referred to the Government for immediate consideration. 30th August, 1893.

No. 294.—Petition of Mary Strange and Others, of Stafford, Westland. Petitioners pray that a compassionate allowance may be paid to Mary Strange, the wife of Escott Strange, late manager of the Waimea portion of the Waimea-Kumara Water-race, who met with an accident which has physically and mentally incapacitated him from work of any kind. I am directed to report that the petitioner has no claim on the colony. sth September, 1893.