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1895. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OP REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 21st day of Juhe, 1895. Ordered, " That a Public Petitions A to L Committee, consisting of ten members, be appointed to consider all petitions that may be referred to it by tho Petitions Classification Committee, to classify and prepare abstracts of such petitions in such form and manner as shall appear to it best suited to convey to this House all requisite information respecting their contents, and to report the same from time to time to the House, and to have power to report its opinions and observations thereupon to the House; also to have power to call for persons and papers : three to be a quorum. The Committee to consist of Mr. Crowther, Mr. Green, Major Harris, Mr. Joyce, Mr. J. W. Kelly, Mr. Massey, Mr. McLachlan, Mr. Mills, Mr. O'Regan, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Cadman.)

No 16.—Petition of Saeah Jane Lett, of Kaitoke.

Petitioneb prays for a grant of land for her twelve sons, born in Wellington. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. sth July, 1895.

No. 17. —Petition of John Gibson and 27 Others, of Eiverside. Petitionees pray that " The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894," may be amended as desired. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. sth July, 1895. .___

No. 41.—Petition of Thomas Lochhead and 210 Others, of Te Houka. Petitionebs pray that "The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894," may be amended as desired. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. sth July, 1895.

No. 71. —Petition of the Auckland Women's Liberal League and 16 Others. Petitionebs pray that the marriage and divorce laws may be made equal as to men and women, and that the age of consent may be raised to eighteen years. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 9th July, 1895. ■

No. 47.— Petition of P. T. Geli and 49 Others, of Cheviot. Petitioneks pray that " The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894," may be amended as desired. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 9th July, 1895.

No. 70.—Petition of the Auckland Women's Libeeal League and 18 Others. Petitionebs pray that the political rights of women may be made equal to those of men in all respects. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 9th July, 1895. I—l. 1. .

REPORTS OF PUBLIC PETITIONS A TO L COMMITTEE. (Me. JOYCE, CHAIRMAN.)