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No. 101.—Petition of John Maodonald. Praying for compensation for loss sustained through forfeiture of Government lease of Section 23a, Martimaru Parish, Auckland Land District. 1 am directed to report that, owing to the increased value placed on the petitioner's section by the Land Board delaying the taking-up of it after its forfeiture, the improvements deteriorated, and the petitioner thereby received a smaller sum than lie would have been entitled to if this delay had not occurred. The Committee is of opinion that the petitioner is entitled to a sum of £100 to recompense him for his loss. 19th July, 1916.

No. 201.—Petition of Thomas Morgan. Praying that he be awarded as compensation the sum of .£495 for alleged loss of land at Akaroa through erroneous surveying by Government surveyor. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that Surveyor Walsh made an error in the survey of the land under dispute; as a consequence of this error in survey petitioner has suffered loss : that therefore the petitioner is entitled to receive from the State the amount he originally paid to Luke Webb for the land in 1866; and the Committee recommends the Government to have Sections 5909, 11155, 11438, 1276, 17398, and 34404 resurvcyed and titles adjusted accordingly under the Land Transfer Act free of cost to the present holders. 27th July, 1916.

No. 119. —Petition of Herbert Wells and 10 Others. Praying that the White Cliffs Estate, Pukearuhe, be acquired by the Government for closersettlement purposes. 1 am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 27th July, 1916.

No. 217. —Petition of James Campion. Praying for compensation for loss sustained by reason of shortage in survey of land held under Land Transfer Act, situated near Fordell, Provincial District of Wellington. I am directed to report that the Lands Committee is of opinion that the petitioner was misled when purchasing the block of land referred to in his petition on account of an inaccurate area having been stated on his Land Transfer title. The Committee therefore recommend that he be afforded means of securing compensation for his loss by special legislation being passed to enable petitioner to make a claim upon the Land Transfer Assurance I'uiiil; and, further, that the Government be recommended to bring in legislation preventing registration of titles to land unless the survey is at such dates and the title issued under such authority as will give the right to any purchaser of land who finds later that he has a shortage in area to claim against the Land Transfer Assurance Fund. 27th July, 1916.

No. 195.—Petition of K. Carrigan and 2 Others. Praying for compensation for loss sustained in connection with land taken under the Wellington Harbour Board Reclamation and Empowering Act, 1908. I am directed to report that, owing to the evidence having disclosed the fact that petitioner was advised to appeal through Private Bills which he was unable to proceed with, the Committee recommend that the Government grant the petitioner the sum of .£lOO. 27th July, 1916.

Reserves ano other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 8 9 It) 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,' 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64 65 66 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 85, 86, and 86a be allowed to proceed as amended. 29th July, 1916.

Wairoa Harbour Boaud Endowment Bill I HAVE the honour to report, that, the member in charge of the above Bill having intimated his desire to withdraw same, the Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to be withdrawn accordingly. 31st July, 1916.