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No. 105. —Petition of Bessie Annie Waenee of Auckland. Petitioner prays that she may be granted further compassionate allowance on account of her late husband, who was employed in the Postal Department. I am directed to report that this Committee affirms the decision arrived at on a similar petition considered during the session of 1896 —viz., " That, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner should be granted the same compassionate allowance as other similar cases—eighteen months' pay." 25th July, 1900.

No. 79. —The Wellington Chamber of Commerce and 29 Others, of Wellington. Petitioners pray that the " Act to provide for the Registration of Chambers of Commerce and Mines " may not be passed. I am directed to report that, as the Bill referred to in the petition has been thrown out by the Legislative Council, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 25th July, 1900.

No. 53.—Petition of James Ceichton Young, of Wellington. Petitionek prays that he may be granted additional leave on full pay when leaving the service of the Government Life Insurance Department, &c. I am directed to report that this Committee sees no reason for altering the decision arrived at on the 27th September, 1898—viz., "That the Committee has no recommendation to make." 25th July, 1900.

No. 55. —Petition of Alexandbe Mackay (No. 2), of Paeroa. Petitionee prays that he may be granted the custody of his children, who have been committed to the St. Mary's Industrial School at Ponsonby, Auckland, &c. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. I 25th July, 1900.

No. 94.—Petition of Paul Joseph Muephy, of Kohinui. Petitionee states that he was the lowest tenderer for the carrying of the mails between Mangatainoka, Makairo, and Kohinui, and that his tender was not accepted. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that, as this Committee has not been supplied with any reasons why the lowest tender was not accepted in this case, they are unable to express any opinion on the merits of the petition ; but would express the opinion that a grave danger exists in a department refusing to accept the lowest tender if it has not sufficient reasons for so doing. 25th July, 1900.

No. 7. —Petition of John Outeam, of Dunedin. Petitioner states that in the year 1878 he was granted a pension of £188 per annum on leaving the service of the Prisons Department on account of affected eyesight; that during the session of 1890 the vote was struck out of the estimates, and that he has not received any payment of the same since that date. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that this Committee strongly recommends the Government to give effect to the recommendation contained in the report on a similar petition dated the 25th July, 1894 —viz., " That, while fully admitting the absence of any legal claim on the part of the petitioner, nevertheless, the Committee thinks he has some claim to consideration on account of what amounts to a moral obligation having been entered into in the year 1878, when he was granted a gratuity of £188 per annum, which moral obligation the Committee considers would be met by granting the petitioner the sum of £50 per annum." 27th July, 1900.

No. 4. —Petition of Thomas McMillan, of Wanganui. Petitionee prays that he may be granted further compensation for loss of office as Drill Instructor at Wanganui. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 27th July, 1900.

No. 77. —Petition of John Geoege Pascoe, of Wellington. Petitioner prays for relief on account of loss of employment in the Public Works Department, &c. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 27th July, 1900.

No. 121. —Petition of Elizabeth O'Brien, of Lyttelton. Petitionee prays that she may be granted compensation on account of her husband's (Charles Laurence O'Brien) services, lately dispensed with by the Prisons Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 27th July, 1900.