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No. 440.—Petition of T. B. Hannaford, of Auckland. The petitioner states that he has a scheme for the introduction of two thousand efficient servantgirls into the colony; that he submitted the said scheme to the Minister of Immigration, who stated verbally that he had no objection to his bringing out the young women ; that he accordingly communicated with his agent in England, desiring him to select and nominate an unlimited number of girls, but that instructions were sent to the Agent-General to on no account entertain any such nominations; that petitioner has received a letter from the Minister to the effect that under no circumstances will he permit petitioner's proposals to be entertained. He prays that assistance may be granted towards the introduction of female servants, and that all the papers mentioned in. the petition may be laid before the House. I am directed to report that the Committee cannot recommend the prayer of the petitioner. 6th August, 1886.

No. 439.—Petition of E. L. Clark (No. 2), of Auckland. The petitioner prays that an inquiry may be granted into the conduct of the Begistrar of the Supreme Court at Auckland. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition, together with tho affidavit of Mr. S. Leers, should be referred to the Government, and the Committee recommend that a special inquiry may be made into the matter. 6th August, 1886.

No. 309.—Petition of James Caldwell, of Dunedin. The petitioner states that he was appointed Chief Officer of the Dunedin Gaol in 1862, and Governor of the same in 1867 ; that he was in the service for twenty years, fifteen being under the Provincial and five under the General Government; that on several occasions he took charge of Maori rebel prisoners and kept them safely, when other governors of gaols refused to receive them ; that the Hon. Mr. Bowen, when Minister of Justice, minuted in the books of the department that a pension of £200 should be granted to the petitioner; that in 1882 he applied for twelve months' leave of absence on,full pay, and a pension on retirement; that twelve months' leave, to commence in January, 1883, was granted to him, but pension refused; that during his leave a Eoyal Commission sat to inquire into irregularities alleged to have occurred in the gaol from 1877 to 1883 ; that he was required to attend before the Commission during his hardly-earned period of retirement; that the report of the Commission was not on the whole unfavourable to him; that in November, 1883, he was informed that his services were dispensed with, and a gratuity granted to him of one month's pay for every year in the Government service ; that, after a long and honourable career, he now finds his good name tarnished by this dismissal. The petitioner prays that his fifteen years' Provincial service may not be overlooked, that his case may be taken into consideration, and his claims dealt with as justice may require. I am directed to report that, as the petitioner has received full compensation for loss of office, the Committee are of opinion that he has no further claim against the colony. 10th August, 1886.

No. 406.—Petition of William Lowe and others. The petitioners, miners, state that in June, 1886, they recovered judgment in the Eesident Magistrate's Court, Westport, against the Public Trustee for the sum of £21 15s. 10d., money wrongfully obtained by tho said Trustee from funds voted by the House for payment of a portion of the costs incurred in the litigation Costello versus O'Donnell and others; that they have levied distress against the Public Trustee, which has been returned unsatisfied; that the said Trustee has offered the petitioners £15 ss. 10d., which he alleges is the whole amount of money in his hands available for satisfying the judgment; that it was clearly proved at the hearing of the case that he had previously assigned to petitioners all right to the moneys so received by him, and that legally and equitably the petitioners were entitled thereto. The petitioners pray that such relief may be given as is provided for in " The Public Trust Office Act, 1872," or other relief. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the circumstances of this case are such as to require a careful inquiry by the Government. It appears that, in a similar case against a private individual as trustee, the costs on both sides would have to be paid by the trustee out of his own money, if there were not sufficient assets in the estate. 10th August, 1886.

No. 150.—Petition of William Fowler, of Palmerston, Otago. The petitioner states that he is the owner of property situated in the Town of Palmerston; that the said property had a frontage to the main street; that the railway has been constructed close to his boundary-fence ; that his frontage is thereby rendered completely valueless, and his property depreciated in value at least one-half. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 10th August, 1886.