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PETITIONS.

Tour petitioners conceive that a " University Commission," constituted by Act of Parliament with such functions as are described above, would be a powerful means of improving the standard of a liberal eduefition, and would tend to hasten the time when a University in the highest sense may be founded with the greatest advantage to all parts of the Colony. That the progress of time will show what particular locality will be the most convenient seat of the University of New Zealand. Tour petitioners therefore pray that the scheme for the immediate foundation of a University, as embodied in a Bill now before Parliament, intituled " An Act to establish a University for the Colony of New Zealand," may not be carried out, but that some such plan may be adopted, as your petitioners have ventured to suggest. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. [Here follow 13 signatures.]

No. 6. ' PETITION OF RESIDENTS IN MOUNT BENGER DISTRICT. To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives for the Colony of New Zealand, in Session assembled, at Wellington, The Petition of the undersigned Residents in the District of Mount Benger, in the Province of Otago. Respectfully Shewetii, — That the system at present in operation with respect to leasing of land for agricultural purposes on the gold fields is highly unsatisfactory, and does not tend to promote the permanent settlement of miners and others. That your petitioners regret to point out that vexatious and most unwarrantable delay is caused by the Provincial Government in placing applicants for agricultural leaseholds in possession of the land applied for by them. That your petitioners desire to point out as an instance, the ease of the block of land adjacent to the Township of Roxburgh, situate on Run No. 369, every available acre of which w ras applied for by parties desirous of settling on the land immediately the block was declared open, upwards of nineteen (19) months since. That, notwithstanding such applicants paid their deposits and complied in every respect with the provisions of the Act, and have in nearly every instance expended large amounts of money and labour in cultivation and improvements, they are still without any protection, and liable to be turned off the land at the caprice of any Provincial Executive, as was clone in the instance of the " Island " Block in this district. That your petitioners would respectfully desire to make the following suggestions, as being a most desirable method of satisfactorily and permanently settling the population on the gold fields : —• That blocks of land should be set apart for agricultural leasing on the gold fields in like manner as provided by " The Hundreds Regulation Act, 1869," so as to secure a suitable amount of commonage in connection with ail agricultural leaseholds. That provision should be made whereby the rents payable in respect of any agricultural leaseshall bo held as payment on account of the purchase of such land. That so soon as possible after any person may apply for any land, all possible expedition may be used to place such party M possession of the land so applied for. That your petitioners respectfully venture to express a hope that provisions may be made during the present Session of your Honourable House, for giving effect to their wishes as herein set forth, and for remedying the grievances referred to. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. [Here follow 185 signatures.]

No. 7. PETITION OF INHABITANTS OF CANTERBURY FOR REPEAL OE THE THISTLE ORDINANCE. To the Honorable the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled. We, the undersigned inhabitants of the Province of Canterbury, pray that your Honorable House will be pleased to repeal " The Thistle Ordinance, 1866," passed by the Provincial Council of Canterbury, the same being inapplicable to the present state of the Province, and repugnant to the law of England.. [Here follow 27 signatures.]