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No. 257. —Petition of John Barrett, of Kirwee, Canterbury. Petitionee prays for redress on account of an appeal case re the impounding of certain sheep. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the Government should define (by an amending Act) the position of "the nearest accessible pound" under section 11 of "The Impounding Act, 1884," as recent decisions show that there is a wide divergence of legal opinion upon the matter; Also, the Committee recommends the prayer of the petitioner, as regards the reimbursement of expenses incurred, to the favourable consideration of the Government. . 9th December, 1897.

No. 43.—Petition of E. Clifford, of New Plymouth. Petitioner prays for compensation for military services. I am directed to report that, there being no evidence to support the petitioner's claim, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th December, 1897.

No. 44.—Petition of E. Langman, of New Plymouth. Petitionee prays for compensation for military services. I am directed to report that, there being no evidence to support the petitioner's claim, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th December, 1897.

No. 162.—Petition of J. J. Gilbert, of Pukearuhe. Petitioner prays for compensation for dismissal from the Permanent Militia Force. I am directed to-report that it has been shown that the petitioner has already received compensation upon leaving the Force; also that, having regard to the other matters complained of, the petitioner has not exhausted his legal remedies. Therefore the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th December, 1897.

No. 2.—Petition of G. M. Harvey, of Marton. Petitionee prays that the Supreme Court may be empowered to rehear a certain case. I am directed to report that the petitioner has not exhausted his legal remedies, that the lawcourts are still open to him, as to any other citizen of New Zealand, and that he should seek his appropriate legal remedy. The Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th December, 1897.

No. 237. —Petition of H. Beaufoy and 4 Others, of Te Arai, Poverty Bay. Petitioners pray that the sum of £80 expended in defending an action at law, as a School Committee, may be refunded. I am directed to report that the evidence shows that the Education Board for the District of Hawke's Bay is entirely responsible for the payment of the proper costs incurred in the defence of this case. Therefore the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th December, 1897.

No. 52.—Petition of T. Graham and 3 Others, of Otahuhu. Petitioners pray that a sum of money may be placed upon the supplementary estimates to erect a jetty at Otahuhu. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the Government to subsidise the work in question upon the pound-for-pound basis. 10th December, 1897.

No. 157.—Petition of T. Bechee and 86 Others, of Puhoi. Petitioners pray that the Kaipara Eailway may be extended. I am directed to report that, as the prayer of the petition involves a matter of public policy, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 15th December, 1897. * _

No. 49.—Petition of John King, of Auckland. Petitioner prays for redress on account of loss in attending a Eoyal Commission. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 15th December, 1897.

No. 16.--Petition of C. B. Clist and 301 Others, of Kaiapoi. Petitioners pray that the Ashley Eiver may be excluded from the regulations made re whitebait fishing. I am directed to report that, as it has been shown that the Government has already taken steps favourable to the petitioners, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 15th December, 1897.

No. 50.—Petition of T. E. Brooke, of 310, Upper Queen Street, Auckland. Petitionee prays for a compassionate allowance. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 15th December, 1897. J