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Education Reserves Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the Education Reserves Amendment Bill, has the honour to report that it lias carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 13th November, 1913.

Paper No. 127. —-Relative to the Aggregation of Land. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the paper above mentioned, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and during the course of the inquiry has examined the following witnesses : John Strauchon, Under-Secretary for Crown Lands ; T. N. Brodrick, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington ; H. Lundius, Crown Lands Ranger in Wanganui district ; R. E. Hornblow, proprietor of the Mangaweka Settler ; F. S. Pope. Secretary for Agriculture ; and N. Craig, Crown Lands Ranger, Taihape. That in the opinion of this Committee the following allegations made by the Mangaweka Settler (1.) " That aggregation has been rampant in that district " lias been refuted by the evidence, and that there has been go aggregation except in a lew cases winch took place in years past, and was made under the then-existing land laws and with the sanction of the Board. (2.) " That land agents were going round with their pockets lined with gold to tempt the small settlers to sell out to the larger landowners " was completely disproved by the evidence. (3.) "That aggregation was encouraged by the Land Laws Amendment Act. 1912, and to a large extent was due to the, provisions of that Act " is incorrect. That the evidence clearly showed that originally much of the land liad been cut into sections (if too small an area, and that the Land Hoard had acted in the best interests of settlement by allowing the areas to be increased so as to allow the settlers to occupy an area c>l sufficient size, on which to make a living. A copy of the minutes of proceedings and evidence taken is attached hereto. (Vide 1. 51>.) 14th November. 1913.

No. 411. —Petition of George Newman and 12 Others, of Momona. Praying that a Commission be appointed to inquire into and. if possible, redress the oppressive wrongs suffered by settlers at Momona. 1 am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 28th November, 1913.

No. 396. —Petition of Matthew Fowler, of Auckland. Praying for a land-grant under the 40-acre system. . I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make witii regard to this petition. 28th November, 1913.

No. 446. —Petition of John Rountree, of Hamilton. Praying for compensation for loss of standing timber through fire. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 28th November, 1913.

No. 348.—Petition of J. E. Jones and Another, of Taieri District. Praying that the bridge proposed to be erected on Boat Harbour Creek. Taieri, be placed on the deepest part of the stream. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 28th November, 1913.

Kaitaia Land Drainage Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the Kaitaia Land Drainage Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 4th December, 1913.