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No. 166. —Petition of Buth Manley, of Ngaire. Petitionee prays that she may be granted a sum of money on account of her late husband's services as guard on the Government railways, who died from paralysis of the spine, alleged to have been brought on by the nature of his duties. I am directed to report that the Committee have no recommendation to make, as they consider the petitioner has no claim upon the colony. 14th August, 1896.

No. 146.—Petition of Frank Montoefano, of Aoroa. Petitionee prays that the sum of £110, withdrawn from his Post-Office Savings-Bank account by his wife on documents alleged to have been forged, may be refunded by the postal authorities. I am directed to report that, as the petitioner has not exhausted his legal remedy as set forth in clause 47 of " The Management of Savings-banks Act, 1858," the Committee, has no recommendation to make. 19th August, 1896.

No. 253. —Petition of Aechdeaoon Willis and 19 Others, of Waikato and Waipa. Petitionees pray that Parliament will not increase the facilities for obtaining dissolution of marriage except such as will place women upon the same footing as men, &c. I am directed to report that, as there is legislation pending upon the subject-matter of the petition, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 19th August, 1896. .

No. 178.—Petition of Cheistopheb B. Wilson, of Christchurch. Petitionee prays that he may be granted a remission of the fine of £10 inflicted on him for selling smoked fish as an auctioneer. I am directed to report that the Committee cannot deal with the prayer of the petition, as the petitioner has not applied to the proper authorities for redress. 19th August, 1896.

No. 36.—Petition of Chaeles Phillips, of Bull's. Petitionee prays that he may be granted a compassionate allowance on account of his services as linesman in the Telegraph service of the colony. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner has no claim upon the colony. 19th August, 1896.

No. 265. —Petition of John H. Bochfobt and 24 Others, of Otago. Petitionees pray that a retiring-room may be erected at the Evansdale Station. I am.directed to report that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, and that, as it is a case of urgent necessity, the Committee recommends it should be attended to at once. 19th August, 1896.

No. 319.—Petition of E. Pheasant and 16 Others, of North of Auckland. Petitionees state their reasons for objecting to the proposed Act to consolidate and amend the laws relative to local government, &c. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petition should be referred to the Minister in charge of the Local Government Bill. 26th August, 1896.

No. 318.—Petition of William Stbingeb and 92 Others, of Nelson. Petitionees state that in the Provincial District of Nelson the red and fallow deer are becoming a serious nuisance to the settlers. They pray for relief. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petition should be referred to the Government, with the view of legislation being introduced dealing with the nuisance complained of, and giving settlers the right to destroy red and fallow deer found trespassing on their cultivations, 26th August, 1896.

No. 320. —Petition of A. TaYlob and 119 Others, of Canterbury. Petitionees state that gambling is widely prevalent, and is a growing evil. They pray that legislation may be introduced in order to suppress the same. I am directed to report that, as there is a Bill now before the House dealing with the subjectmatter of the petition, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 26th August, 1896.

No. 251.—Petition of J. Thomas and 175 Others, of Waimea. Petitionees pray that a compassionate allowance may be granted to the widow and orphans of one James Kerr, who was accidentally killed while working on a ballast-train at Wakefield. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 26th August, 1896.