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No. 153, Sess. ll.—Petition of Balph Pickmeee and David Dunningham. The petitioners state that they were sureties for Veall Harness, the contractor for works for the Kaipara Swing Bridge; that they were called upon as such sureties to complete the said contract; that they completed the contract; that on the final payment by the Government the sums of £54 135., £28 135., and £20 were deducted which the said Veall Harness had paid or deposited, which sums, making in all £103 65., the Government refuse to pay. They pray for relief. I am directed to report that, as the petitioners seem to be equitably entitled to the payment of the moneys retained by trie Government on the account of the contractors (as deposit and otherwise), the Committee recommend that the same be paid over to the petitioners. 24th September, 1884.

No. 219, Sess. ll.—Petition of A. W. Fkaseb and Others, Invercargill The petitioners, settlers and others connected with the grazing interest, residents in and around Invercargill, pray that the House will take such steps as may be necessary to secure the early construction of loading-yards for stock at Wallacetown crossing, on the main north line of railway running out of Invercargill. I am directed to report that the Committee are of opinion that the petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 24th September, 1884.

No. 68, Sess. ll.—Petition of John Tolmie McKenzie and Thomas S. Sibbald, Dunedin. The petitioners, contractors for the Windsor Tunnel Contract No. 2, state they were delayed in carrying out their contract through the action of the Government; that they were served with notice on the 23rd September, 1883, that unless they employed twenty men upon the works of the said contract the works would be taken out of their hands; that the works have been subsequently advertised for re-tender and taken out of their hands, by which they have suffered great loss. They pray that a refund of their deposit of £75 may be granted to them. I am directed to report that the Committee cannot recommend that the prayer of the petitioners be granted. 24th September, 1884. •

No. 64, Sess. II. —Petition of Geoege St. Geoeqe, New Plymouth. The petitioner states that he was an original land claimant of the Plymouth Company of New Zealand of 1841, having purchased fifty acres of land, Section No. 90, which now forms the Township of Waitara; that he has been deprived of his property by the fiat of Government; that in 1855 the petitioner's property was valued at £800 by the Government valuator and at £1,200 by his valuator ; that he was afterwards told he had the alternative of taking £100 worth of land, or his claim would lapse altogether. Pie took the £100 worth of land under protest that it would not compromise his claim to compensation. That in 1882 he presented a petition to the House, which expressed an opinion that he was entitled to £750; that in November, 1882, he received notice that the' Bank of New Zealand had been instructed to pay him £350, upon his signing a receipt, as follows : " Eeceived from the Paymaster-General, through the Bank of New Zealand, the sum of £350, being the amount voted by the House of Bepresentatives as a grant in benefaction in consideration of my having forfeited my claim to land- in Taranaki through ignorance of the law." That he received the said sum and signed the receipt. He prays the payment of the sum of £350, or other relief. I am directed to report that, the petitioner having signed a receipt in full of all claims, the Committee cannot recommend that any sum be paid him. 25th September, 1884.

No. 12, Sess. ll.—Petition of William Habeis, Wellington, i The petitioner states that he served six years in the police force, Wellington, and two years in the defence force, and that at the reduction of the defence force he again joined the police, in which he served two years longer, when he was discharged from the police, having had his leg injured by the Inspector's horse, when on duty ; that he is now suffering from the injury, and prevented from working for his living. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that the Committee, having examined the petitioner and the papers in the case, see no reason to interfere with the report of the Committee in 1883. 25th September, 1884.

No. 6, Sess. I.—Petition of J. W. Fedaeb, Ponsonby. The petitioner states that during the months of May and June, 1840, at some considerable trouble and expense, he obtained the signatures of twenty-six chiefs to the Treaty of Waitangi; that he has never received any remuneration for such services. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that the Committee are of opinion that the petitioner has no claim against the colony. 25th September, 1884.

No. 19, Sess. ll.—Petition of Annie Jones, Cawersharn. The petitioner states that her husband was drowned while bathing, leaving no will; that his life was insured in the .Government Insurance for £1,000; that she received only one-third of that amount in July, 1881; that she applied for interest on her daughters' shares to assist her in their maintenance, which the department refused to pay, although it had been accumulating for three years. She prays that the injustice may be remedied.