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ship called " Richmond," and cut up into allotments and sold; that he is now sixty-three years of age and has many young children depending on him. He prays to have a piece of land given to him in lieu of that which he lost owing to the circumstances stated. I have the honour to report as follows : That the Committee have no recommendation to make. sth August, 1886.

No. 432.—Petition of Heney Biley Bennett. The petitioner states that he came to New Zealand in 1841; that he married a Native woman belonging to Tauranga; that he has a family of nine children by his said wife; that in 1852 the leading chiefs of the Ngaiterangi Tribe made a deed of gift to his wife Matilda and her children for 208 acres of land situated on the banks of the Wairoa Eiver, in the District of Tauranga, known as the Buakaka Block; that Judge Wilson has since admitted three other Natives to have an equal claim to the land with the petitioner's children ; that the petitioner applied to the then Native Minister, Sir Donald McLean, who replied that Matilda's children alone should have a claim to that land ; that the case came on again before Mr. Commissioner Brabant, who gave a similar judgment to that of Judge Wilson. The petitioner states that such a decision renders the land useless to his children, and he prays that the Government will take over that piece of land and give his children the same quantity out of the confiscated block. He prays the facts to be taken into consideration. I have the honour to report as follows : That the Chairman move in the House that the petition be referred to the Native Affairs Committee, as not coining within the scope of the order of reference of the Waste Lands Committee. sth August, 1886.

No. 155.—Betition of F. Geemann, Chairman of the Waipa County Council. The petitioner states that in the County of Waipa there are a few scattered reserves under no proper supervision, which are becoming overrun with furze, and are yearly becoming less valuable in consequence of the furze. The petitioner asks that all Crown lands remaining in the County of Waipa, and not under the control of any local body, may be vested in the Waipa County Council. I have the honour to report as follows : That the reserves in the Waipa County not already vested in any local body should be vested in such local body or association as may be deemed most suitable to have control under such reservation. sth August, 1886.

No. 376.—Betition of E. W. Maeshall and Others. The petitioners state that they are settlers and colonists in the Provincial District of Canterbury. They state that they are anxious and willing to take up lands and make homes for themselves and their families, but are unable to do so on account (inter alia) of the upset price of £2 per acre being prohibitive, and the maximum area of each individual holding (320 acres) being insufficient in respect of the land now open for settlement. They pray the House to take the premises into favourable consideration. I have the honour to report as follows : That the Committee, being of opinion that this is a matter simply of administration, refer this petition to the Government. sth August, 1886.

The Special Powees and Conteacts Bile. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom the above Bill was referred, have the honour to report that, after careful consideration, they recommend that the Bill should be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown upon the copy of the Bill attached hereto. 9th August, 1886.

No. 436.—Betition of Chaeles Keee. The petitioner states that in 1876 he purchased a compensation grant for £100 from one Wellington Carrington, of Taranaki; that he was living at the Chatham Islands from 1869 to 1884, and was unable to prosecute his claim through being unaware that a Commission was sitting to report upon similar claims. He prays for inquiry into the merits of his case and for relief. I have the honour to report as follows : That the claim be forwarded to the Government, with a recommendation that they take steps to settle it upon equitable terms. 10th August, 1886.

Claims of Local Foeces. The Waste Lands Committee have the honour to report, with reference to the claims of members of local forces, that the Committee do not see reason to reopen the case of the claims of the local forces, and are of opinion that such claims, if entertained at all, should in the first instance be inquired into and reported upon by the Government. 10th August, 1886.

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