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No. 172. —Petition of Joseph H. Geocott, of Dunedin. Petitioner states that he was injured while in the Railway Service, and is now lying in the Duuedin Hospital in straitened circumstances. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 4th August, 1893.

No. 84. —Petition of David Law, of Port Chalmers. Petitioneb states that his land has been greatly injured by the Marewhenua River being declared a watercourse under the Mines Act. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petition should be referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee. 4th August, 1893.

No. 65.—Petition of E. Demetby and 107 Others, of Canterbury. Petitionebs state that they are fishermen and fishmongers, and pray that they be not compelled to use a square-meshed net instead of the diagonal one now in use when fishing for flounders. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, there is no need to compel fishermen to use a square-meshed net instead of the diagonal mesh now in use. 4th August, 1893.

No. 631, 1892 ; No. 88, 1893.—Petition of Mrs. A. A. Helps, of Alexandra, Waikato. Petitioneb states that her husband was, on his retiring from the public service, granted a pension of £60 per annum, and that he died shortly after the granting of the pension leaving petitioner in very straitened circumstances. She prays that she be granted a portion of her late husband's pension. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make, Bth August, 1893.

No. 8. —Petition of Edwabd Bbeton, of Christchurch. Petitioneb states that he was fined £5 for selling flounders under regulation size. He prays for the remittance of the fine, as he had bought the flounders from the fishermen not knowing that any were under the regulation size. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. Bth August, 1893.

No. 127. —Petition of Joseph Goweb and 56 Others, of Okaihau. Petitionebs pray that a post and telegraph and money-order office be opened in the centre of the Okaihau Settlement. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. Bth August, 1893.

No. 40.—Petition of W. G. D. Bohning, of Dunedin. Petitioner states that he has lost the use of his left hand through the faulty machinery used by the Kaitangata Coal Company, and is now unable to earn a livelihood. He prays that he be granted relief out of the several funds that are applied to injured miners. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the petition be referred to the Government. 10th August, 1893.

No. 137. —Petition of John Leonaed, of Dunedin. Petitioneb states that he received certain injuries through a defective engine, and on account of such injuries he was discharged from the Railway service as being unfit for work. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 15th August, 1893.

No. 156.—Petition of Abthue Jas. Coghlan, of Penrose, Auckland. Petitioneb . states that a spark from a passing train set fire to his house at Penrose, and destroyed his household furniture, &c. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the petitioner be paid the sum of £70 as compensation in full satisfaction of his loss. 15th August, 1893.

No. 34.—Petition of Mart Bubke, of Dunedin. Petitioner states that her husband died from pleurisy contracted while on night duty as head porter at the Port Chalmers Eailway-station. She prays for a compassionate allowance. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the sum of £159 12s. lid., which, according to the report from the Railway Department, John Burke would have been entitled to had he retired from the service when " The Railway Act, 1887," came into operation, be paid to his widow as a compassionate allowance. 15th August, 1893.