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No. 49. —Petition of Hoei Kawakitea. Tiie petitioner prays that the sum of £15, alleged to be due to him as payment for services rendered as a ferryman before 1865, be paid him. I am directed to report that, as no evidence has been offered by the petitioner and the Committee cannot obtain any evidence from Government departments to show that he is entitled to the money claimed, the Committee cannot recommend his claim. 29th June, 1880.

No. 54. —Petition of James Clack. The petitioner states that he was compelled to pay a land-tax on properties which did not belong to him, and prays that the tax and expenses be refunded. I am directed to report that, as there is no evidence to show that the petitioner objected to the claim in accordance with the terms of the Act, the Committee consider that he has no claim for consideration. 29th June, 1880.

No. 55.—Petition of Eobeut Belgeate and Others, of Sydenham. The petitioners pray that their properties now included in the Borough of Sydenham, from which they receive no benefit, be included within the boundary of the Borough of Christchurch. I am directed to report that, as the subject-matter of this petition is now before the House, the Committee do not consider it necessary to make any recommendation. 29th June, 1880.

No. 57.—Petition of Cottpland and Co. and other Members of the Auckland Shipowners' Association. The petitioners pray that shipmasters having a certificate of exemption should not be compelled to pay pilotage, that foreign vessels should not be permitted to engage in the local coastal trade, and that the regulations by which masters of sailing-vessels are compelled to give twenty-four hours' notice to the post ofiice before sailing be relaxed. I am directed to report that the Committee are of opinion that the question of the prohibition of foreign vessels from engaging in the local coastal trade is one of public policy, for the consideration of the Government. With respect to the regulations which compel masters of vessels to give twenty-four hours' notice before leaving port, the Committee think that they should be relaxed as far as may be consistent with the public interest, and therefore recommend the matter to the favourable consideration of the Government. 29th June, 1880.

No. 65.—Petition of Thomas McMillan. The petitioner prays that a refund of the cost of the passage-money of himself aud family be made him, on the ground that other late members of the 18th Regiment had their passage-money refunded. I am directed to report that the Committee are of opinion that the petitioner has no claim on the colony for a refund of passage-money. 29th June, 1880.

No. 71.—Petition of Thomas Peddie and Others, of Hawke's Bay. The petitioners state that the full amount of the beer-tax will fall on the retail vendors ; and, as they are already heavily burdened, they pray that other and fairer modes of increasing the colonial revenue be resorted to. I am directed to report that, as the subject-matter of this petition is now under the consideration of the House, the Committee do not deem it necessary to make any recommendation. 29th June, 1880. , : "

No. 73. —Petition of Haeey "Waenee Faenall. The petitioner prays that the balance of his claim, for services rendered the colony as Emigration Agent in Ireland, be paid him. I am directed to report that, as the petitioner has accepted a sum of money as a, settlement in full of all claims against the colony, the Committee decline to entertain his claim, as it has been finally dealt with by the House. 29th June, 1880.

No. 74. —Petition of W. Hodgson and other Members of the "Working-men's Club, Napier. The petitioners pray that the proposal to impose a license-fee of £20 on working-men's clubs be not insisted on, as it will have a very injurious effect on those associations. I am directed to report that, the subject-matter of this petition being now before the House, the Committee do not consider it necessary to offer any opinion. 29th June, 1880.

No. 86. —Petition of the Chairman of the "Wellington Gas Company (Limited). The petitioner prays that section 292 of " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1876," be not repealed. I am directed to report that, the subject-matter of this petition being now under the consideration of the House, the Committee do not deem it necessary to make any recommendation. 29th June, 1880.

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