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1 am directed to report that, having heard the statement of the Public Trustee (who produced an abstract of receipts and disbursements in connection with the estate in question), the Committee is of opinion that the allegations contained in the petition have no foundation in fact, and therefore have no recommendation to make. 16th August, 1889.

No. 240. —Petition of John Madden, of Wellington. The petitioner prays for further compensation on account of having lost a leg while in the service of the Eailway Department. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 21st August, 1889. ,

No. 259.—Petition of Samuel Moekison, of Dunedin. The petitioner, late a warder in Dunedin Gaol, prays for compensation for loss of office. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, petitioner has no claim against the colony. 21st August, 1889.

No. 295.—Petition of Thomas Tyne, of Coromandel. The petitioner, late a gaol-warder, prays that an inqniry may be held by some person unconnected with the Prisons Department into the cause of his dismissal from the Mount .Eden Gaol. I am directed to report that the Committee cannot recommend that the prayer of the petitioner should be granted. 21st August, 1889.

No. 198.—Petition of James William Thomas and David Bkown, of Amberley. The petitioners state that they tendered for a contract on the Greymouth Eailway in April, 1888, and lodged a deposit of £100. As this was not returned when the other tenderers' deposits were, they believed themselves to be the lowest tenderers, and felt certain of obtaining the contract; that their deposit was kept by the Government for four months, and then returned with an intimation that their tender was rejected. They allege they suffered great hardship in having to hold their plant in readiness for a period of four months, during which time they could engage in no other work. They pray for relief. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th August, 1889. '

Nos. 407 and 408.—Petition of Sir William Fox, President of the New Zealand Alliance for Suppression of the Liquor Traffic, and Annie Jane Schnackenbebu, President, Women's Christian Temperance Union of Auckland. The petitioners pray that the Licensing Act may not be amended in any way which would lessen the local-option powers provided by it. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, these petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th August, 1889. ■

No. 163. —Petition of John Mynott, of New Plymouth. The petitioner prays that an inquiry may be granted into the conduct of the Deputy Official Assignee at New Plymouth. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 27th August, 1889.

No. 165.—-Petition of G. Tbaveks and Others. The petitioners pray that the Waiapu Biding may be cut off from Cook County, and constituted v separate county. I am directed to report that, as a Bill proposing to deal with the subject-matter of this petition is now before the House, in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government. 29th August, 1889.

No. 298.—Petition of Stone Bkotheks and Others. The petitioners, shipowners, master mariners, and shipping agents, allege that the rates levied by the Government for light-dues and port-charges are excessive. They pray for such relief from this burden of a special tax on the shipping interest of the colony as can be afforded by assimilating the light-dues and port-charges to those of all the other Australasian Colonies. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration of the best method of equalising the charges paid by vessels engaged in the coasting trade. . 29th August, 1889. 2—l. 2.