1.—2

2

INDEX— continued.

No. 18.—Petition of Jessie Mackenzie and 24 Others, of Auckland. Petitioners pray that provision may be made for the shelter and management of weak-minded or imbecile and idiotic children. I akn directed to report that the Committee affirms the resolution passed during last session of Parliament in connection with a similar petition —viz., " That the Committee recommends the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, and that in their opinion the time has arrived when provision should be made for separate institutions for weak-minded or imbecile aiid idiotic persons who at present, through the want of more suitable accommodation, are sent to the lunatic asylums, where they are unavoidably associated with patients who are under treatment for insanity, and where, also, no attempt is made towards classification or improvement by means of training and education." 11th July* 1900.

Nos. 28, 31, and 49.—Petitions of Hugh Northcote and 70 Others, Edith Mellish and 189 Others, and T. J. Maling and 19 Others. Petitioners pray for the establishment in the colony of homes for the treatment of inebriates. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, hospitals are not the proper institutions for the treatment of inebriates, and that separate institutions should be established where suitable curative treatment might be carried out. 11th July, 1900.

No. 385, 1899, and No. 3, 1900.—Petition of Thomas Whitehouse and Another, of Wellington. Petitioners pray for the refund of the sums of £100 each, paid by them in connection with a bond entered into by then! with Inspector Pender, of the Police Force, to cover the cost of the extradition of one Joseph Myers, a fugitive from justice, &c. I am directed to report that the Committee has no special recommendation to make on this petition, but the attention of the Government is drawn to the hardships inflicted on persons entering into a bond, and the penalty enforced, for the extradition of persons who are convicted on the offence for which they are charged, the Committee being of the opinion that discretionary power should be given to Judges of the Supreme Court to deal with each such case on its merits. 12th July, 1900.

No. 12.—Petition of Joseph Wylie, of Oamaru. Petitioner prays that he may be granted compensation on account of injuries received while assisting a police constable in the execution of his duty. I am directed to report that, as this is a special case of hardship, the Committee recommends it to the favourable consideration of the Government. 12th July, 1900.

No. 25.—Petition of William Sharp and 450 Others, of Auckland. Petitioners pray that further compensation may be granted ex-Constable John Cumins on account of injuries he sustained while in the execution of his duty. I am directed to report that, as this is a case of great hardship, the petitioner being absolutely incapacitated from earning a livelihood on account of injuries received while discharging his duty as a police constable, the Government be recommended to make provision for the maintenance of the petitioner and his family by an annual appropriation by Parliament. 12th July, 1900.

!o. Petition. Page. No. Petition. P8ge. 245 488 25 395 441 308 260 331 52 322 248 246 284 Soanlon, James, and 11 Others .. Sellwood, G., and 248 Others .. Sharp, William, and 450 Others Shea, John Sheenan, Hector, and 49 Others Simpson, E. S. T. Smalley, Joseph S., Rev. Smart, Amos, and 511 Others .. Smart, William J. W. .. Smith, T. W. P., and 165 Others Smith, W. H., and 13 Others .. Spedding, W., and 101 Others ... Swainson, J. C, and 92 Others .. 7 10 2 9 9 8 8 10 3 8 7 7 7 626 440 19 105 22 526 79 Wallace, Robert, and 63 Others Walls, W., and 113 Others Warner, Horatio Nelson Warner, Bessie Annie .. Watson, William, and 43 Others Watt, John Wellington Chamber of Commerce arid 29 Others Wheeler, John White, Alfred Henry .. ... White, Alfred Henry White, Walter A. ' .. [Whitehouse, Thomas, and Another Wilks, John Wilkins, John, and 29 Others Wilkins, John, and 29 Others Wilkinson, Louisa Wilkinson, Louisa Wilson, J. H., and 36 Others Wyatt, E. H., and 5 Others Wylie, Joseph 11 9 3 4 3 10 4 j 172 27 442 43 385* 3t 345 346 346 448 573 625 283 12 8 3 9 6 2 8 533 177 387 160 47 Taylor, Riohard R. Taylor, Sarah Ann Taylor, Mary Josephine Thomas, G.'L. B. Tborne, Bessie, and 3 Others Turner, A. C, and 39 Others .. 5 11 7 9 5 3 7 8 8 10 10 11 7 2 238 296 Victor, James Vivian, T., and 11 Others 7 7 53 Young, James Criohton 4 403 Wagner, E. .. 9 *1899. + 1900.