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No. 87.—Petition of William Gadd, The petitioner states that he brought under the notice of the medical officer in charge of the Auckland Hospital certain irregularities practised by the head-nurse of the Hospital, in appropriating to his own use money belonging to patients who had died in Hospital; that serious imputations were made on his character by the medical officer as to the motives which induced him to make (he charges against the head-nurse ; and that he had been dismissed from the Hospital on the ground that he did not make the charges earlier. The petitioner prays that an inquiry be made, so that he may vindicate his character. I am directed to report that the Committee, having considered the correspondence between the Hospital surgeon and the Government, and the statements made by the petitioner, are of opinion that he has been unjustly dealt with in being dismissed from his employment before a full inquiry into the irregularities complained of by him had been made. The Committee are also of opinion that the socalled inquiry made by the surgeon was of a partial character and wholly insufficient, and recommend the Government at once to institute a searching investigation by competent and impartial persons. 15th July, 1880.

No. 13.—Petition of James Johnston. The petitioner states that he is a cattle-dealer, and that in September, 1878, he was driving certain bullocks and other cattle, belonging to him, from Hampden to Reefton, and that three of the bullocks were claimed by Eugene Joseph O'Conor, and the dispute was referred to the arbitration of John Dick and John Gilmer, and that the arbitrators, acting in collusion with the said E. J. O'Conor, fraudulently awarded him the sum of £144; that E. J. O'Conor caused the award to be made a rule of the Supreme Court, and an action was brought against petitioner, and judgment given for the amount claimed and £45 costs, being a total of £153 165.; that B. J. O'Conor and John Gilmer, one of the arbitrators, were committed for trial for perjury, but that the case against John Gilmer broke down, because the indictment against him had been signed in blank by the Crown Prosecutor, and afterwards filled up by another solicitor; that the bullocks lost by O'Conor were afterwards found ; that he'has expended the sum of £800 in fruitless attempts to obtain justice, and prays that the case be inquired into. I am directed to report that it appears that the prosecution for perjury instituted by the petitioner against G-ilmer broke down in consequence of alleged gross irregularities on the part of the Crown Prosecutor. The Committee find, however, that proceedings can again be instituted, and recommend the Crown, on public grounds, to take the necessai'y action to prosecute Gilmer for perjury. 19th July, 1880. ;

No. 78. —Petition of Heney Mediant) Suepheed, of Hawke's Bay. The petitioner states that the sum of £120 was improperly deducted from the money due to him for building a lighthouse and other buildings at Portland Island, and that a sum of £136 lls., due to him for extra work, has not been paid. He prays .that inquiry be made into his case, and relief afforded him. . I am directed to report that the Committee are of opinion that the petitioner has no claim for further consideration on the part of the Government. 19th July, 1880.

No. 135.—Petition of Ann Robeetson. The petitioner states that she purchased in good faith the Ohinemutu Hotel for the sum of £1,000 from one Isaac Wilson ; that, through the action of one Robert Graham, she was ejected from the hotel by the Natives. She prays that relief be granted to her. I am directed to report that, from the evidence before the Committee, it does not appear that the petitioner has any claim against the colony. 19th July, 1880. f

No. 143. —Petition of W. J. Spencee and Others. Tub petitioners pray that some relief, by way of pension or otherwise, be given to Mrs. Kelsall, the widow of the late Walter Kelsall, Volunteer Drill Instructor, Hawke's Bay, who was shot at the Napier rifle-butts and died from the effects of his wound. I am directed to report that, as it appears from the evidence before the Committee that Mr. Kelsall met his death from accident at the butts when he was a marker at private rifle-practice, and not in the Government service, the Committee cannot recommend the prayer of the petitioners to the favourable consideration of the House. 19th July, 1880.

No. 144. —■Petition of Moses CreWdson. The petitioner states that he is the proprietor of the Nelson Tramway, a"nd, owing to the railwaycutting through it and the bad provision made for crossing the railway, he has been subjected to considerable loss and inconvenience. Ho prays that the grievance complained of be remedied, and compensation given him. I am directed to report that the Committee regret that the recommendation made in this case in the session of 1879 has not been given effect to, as additional loss appears to have been occasioned to the petitioner in consequence. The Committee again recommend the Government to remedy the grievance complained of without any further delay. 19th July, 1880.