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Auckland City Parks Improvement and Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, litis the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 31st July, 1916.

No. 250. —Petition of James Colvin and. Another. Praying for the insertion of a clause in the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill cancelling the forfeiture of pastoral license of Section 17, Block XI, Steeples Survey District, Nelson Land District. I am directed to report that, owing to the late period of the session making it impossible to obtain departmental evidence, the Government be recommended to prevent dealing with the land in any way till the next session of Parliament, when the petition will be further considered. Ist August, 1916.

No. 206.—Petition of W. J. Hunt. Praying that proper investigation be made into the facts and circumstances whereby he was deprived of timber rights of Native land at Waikanae under lease by reason of action of Land Purchase Board acquiring same. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 2nd August, 1916.

Napier High School Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 2nd August, 1916.

Napier Harbour Board Empowering and Vesting Bill. The Lands Committee,'to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended. 2nd August, 1916.

Whakatane Harbour Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that, it, be allowed to proceed as amended By the Local Bills Committee. 2nd August, 1916.

No. 244.—Petition of A. D. McLaoiilan and 55 Others. Praying that the Government acquire the Kuriwao Station, near Clinton, for subdivision into small grazing-runs for the benefit of returned soldiers and others. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 2nd August, 1916.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee desires to place on record its high appreciation of the capable and impartial manner in which the Chairman (Mr. E. Newman) has presided over its deliberations during the session. 2nd August, 1916.

Special Report. I am directed to report that the Lands Committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the good service rendered by the Clerk (Mr. S. T. Patterson), who Iras discharged his dirties with diligence and tact, and recommends to the Government that his services as a Committee Clerk be permanently retained. 2nd August, 1916.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has during the session held ten meetings, the average attendance being eight, members at each meeting. The number of petitions referred to the Committee was eighteen, of which seventeen have been reported to the House. Eight Bills have been referred to the Committee, six of which have been reported to the House. 2nd August, 1916.

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