I.—lA

1914. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC PETITIONS A TO L COMMITTEE (REPORT OF) ON PETITIONS OF L. ELSELL AND OTHERS, AND W. LAMBIE AND OTHERS IN CONNECTION WITH PROPOSED WAIRIO) TO OHAI RAILWAY EXTENSION; WITH DEPARTMENTAL REPORT AND MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. (Mr. BRADNEY, Chairman.)

Report brought up '22nd October, 1914, and, together with Petitions, Departmental Report, and Minutes of Evidence, ordered to be printed.

ORDER OP REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 10th Day of July, 1914. Ordered, " That a Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to oonsider all petitions from A to L that may be referred to it, by the Petitions Classification Committee, to classify and prepare abstracts of such petitions in suoh form and manner as shall appear to it host suited to convey to this House all requisite information respecting their contents, and to report the same from time to time to this House, and to have power to report its opinions and observations thereon to this House ; also to have power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum: the Committee to consist of Mr. Bradney, Mr. Brown, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Diokson, Mr. Esoott, Mr. Payne, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Robertson, Mr. Webb, and the mover." —(Hon. Mr. Fisher.)

REPORT. Nos. 99 and 100.—Petitions of L. ELBALL a n<l 1,214 others, and \V. Lambie and 47 others, of Southland. Phayinc for permission to build a railway from Wairio to Ohai, and that the (Government do approve of and adopt the proposed scheme. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee these petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration. 22nd October. 1914. J. H. Bradxkt, Chairman.

PETITIONS. No. 99.—Petition of L. Et.mem. and 1,214 Others. To the Honourable the Speaker and .Members of the House of Represent at ives for the Dominion of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned respectfully showeth : — 1. That your petitioners are residents and ratepayers in the Counties of Wallace, Southland, and Clutha. 2. That your petitioners are consumers of coal for household and business purposes. 3. That your petitioners recognize and would bring before your notice the great extent of the coalfield, extending to 3,000 acres of proved ground and wide areas as yet unproved, and also the large areas of agricultural and pastoral lands, lying west of Nightcaps awaiting development. 4. That the development and settlement of such minerals and lands are matters of the utmost moment and interest not only to this district but to the whole of the Dominion. 5. That the coal in the field referred to is of excellent quality, all of it equal to and some of it better than Kaitangata. 6. That your petitioners and our fellow citizens and countrymen are deprived of the benefits of this gift of nature (a gift the value of which, were it made available to the inhabitants of the South Island, cannot be overestimated) by the fact that there are no means whereby the owners or lessees of these valuable deposits can place the coal upon the market.