NAVAL AND MILITARY CLAIMS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE) ON THE PETITION OF JOSEPH AMES AND OTHERS (No. 240).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1891 Session II, I-06a

I.—6a

Sess. 11.—1891. NEW ZEALAND.

NAVAL AND MILITARY CLAIMS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE) ON THE PETITION OF JOSEPH AMES AND OTHERS (No. 240).

Brought up 13th August, 1891, and ordered to be printed.

The petitioners were members of the Wellington Colonial Defence Force, and were in several engagements against the rebel Maoris outside the Province of Wellington, and pray that " The Naval and Military Settlers' and Volunteers' Land Act, 1889," may be so amended as to enable them to receive a grant of land. I am directed to report that your Committee find that there is conclusive evidence to prove that the men of the Wellington Defence Force were not promised land for their services. It also appears that those men who were enrolled in Dunedin prior to September, 1864, were engaged for service in the Defence Force for the Province of Wellington ; that subsequently to September, 1864, new regulations were issued, under which we assume those men became liable to serve, if required, in any part of New Zealand. That a portion of the Defence Force did serve in a campaign in the Province of Taranaki, and it would appeal' did not understand that the terms of their enrolment had been altered. Therefore, your Committee think it would be wrong to recognise these claimants as entitled to a grant of land; but, owing to their services in different actions in the Province of Taranaki, we recommend their claim for compensation to the favourable consideration of the Government. 13th August, 1891. W. E. Bussbll. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,300 copies), 15b.

By Authority: Geobge Didsburt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9l. Price 3d.]