L—4

SESS. 11.—1884. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

No. 23, Sess. I.—Petition of William Caldicutt. The petitioner alleges he served in the Waikato Militia, and neglected to apply for his land, to which he says he was entitled, and prays for relief. I am directed to report that the petitioner has no claim, having deserted before his three years had expired. 10th September, 1884.

No. 45, Sess. I.—Petition of John Jackson. The petitioner prays that sixty acres of land be given him for services rendered to the Government, between the years 1842-50, as mailman and guide. I am directed to report that the petitioner has no claim. 10th September, 1884.

No. 4, Sess. I.—Petition of Maria Doble. The petitioner prays that a grant of land may be given her on account of the military services of her late husband. I am directed to report that the petition, having been dealt with in 1883, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th September, 1884.

No. 3, Sess. I. —Petition of Edwaed William Muephy. The petitioner claims a grant of land for military services. I am directed to report that this claim having already been dealt with by Eoyal Commission this Committee does not see its way to reopen it. 10th September, 1884.

No. 1, Sess. I. —Petition of Charles William Smith. The petitioner purchased fifty acres of land in Pelorus Sound, on deferred payments, at £2 per acre. He prays it may be reduced to £1, on account of his difficulty in obtaining water. I am directed to report that there is no reason to interfere with the provisions of the law under which petitioner is able to obtain relief. 10th September, 1884.

On Claims of Old Soldiers, Volunteers, and Militiamen. With regard to the large number of petitioners praying for grants of land in respect of military services, which have been referred to this Committee, — I am directed to report—(l.) The claims of the whole of these petitions, whether well or ill founded, have long since lapsed according to law ; in many cases it is possible that such lapses may not be attributable to any fault on the part of the claimants, but rather to ignorance on their part of the law from time to time in force in respect to land grants for military services. (2.) To meet such cases the Legislature has already repeatedly extended the time within which consideration would be given to their claims, in belief that finality would be arriyed at by this means. (3.) That the claims of many of those were reported upon unfavourably by tire Royal Commission appointed to investigate in 1882. (4.) That the question of these claims, assuming as it has done such large proportions (there "being about 1,500 claims), is one of public policy, which may be deemed to be outside the functions of. this Committee to report upon, and, as such, it is submitted that it should be dealt with in such mannner as the Legislature in its wisdom may see fit. 16th September, 1884. I—l. 4.

REPORTS OF THE WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE. (ME. PULTON, CHAIRMAN.)