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KEPOETS.

No. 4. —Petition of Richard Giles Knight, of Wellington. Petitioner represents that it would tend to the religious, moral, physical, and commercial wellbeing of the children attending public schools if a copy of the Ten Commandments was hung in a prominent place in every public school in the colony. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Richard Giles Knight that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government in order that they might communicate with the Education Boards of the colony, so that each Board may take such steps in the matter of hanging the Ten Commandments on school-walls as it thinks proper. 29th July, 1905.

Nos. 165, 172, 174, 184, 185, 168, 186, 194, 199, 200, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238.—Petitions of I. K. McTntyre and 478 Others, F. G. Buckingham and 979 Others, W. Scott and 48 Others, Towgood and 397 Others, A. H. Norrie and 168 Others, H. Viohery and 94 Others, D. Babbie and 73 Others, W. B. Johnson and 17 Others, H. A. McCarthney and 27 Others, W. Harper and 304 Others, IT. Collet and 124 Others, Hilda B. Graham and 56 Others, A. McLeod and 174 Others, A. C. Randerson and 110 Others, R. L. Walker and 256 Others, J. S. Lott and 156 Others, G. W. P. Parsons and 142 Others, James White and 112 Others, E. Whitehouse and 144 Others, and J. L. Wylie and 101 Others (in all, 4,006 signatories). Petitioners represent that the present exclusion of Bible-teaching is objectionable to a majority of the people ; that it is the duty of the Government to definitely ascertain the wishes of the people in reference to the question of Bible-teaching; and they praj' that your honourable House will pass a Bill to enable the judgment of the people to be taken on the subject of Bible-teaching in schools. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the above petitions that, as they understand there is now before your honourable House a Bill under the provisions of which it is proposed to give effect to the prayer of petitioners, they have no recommendation to make. 29th August, 1905.

No. 130.—Petition of W. H. Greenville and Others. Petitioners pray that the law may be amended to afford facilities for the better arrangement of the boundaries of school districts, and also that in cases where disputes have arisen in regard to matters of law or of fact School Committees be given the right of appeal to some tribunal to be appointed. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of W. H. Greenville and others that they have no recommendation to make. 29th August, 1905.

No. 7.—Petition of W. F. Collis. Petitioner represents that when he took charge of the Ongarue School in 1902 the only accommodation provided for a teacher was a shanty 12 ft. long by 10 ft. wide; that the Hon. the Minister of Education decided that house allowance should be granted to him for the year 1904, and that such allowance should continue; that such allowance has not been continued, and he prays for redress. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of W. F. Collis that they have no recommendation to make. 29th August, 1905.

No. 27.—Petition of Daniel Brent. Petitioner sets forth the circumstances of his appointment to the position of mathematical master of the High School, Dunedin, on the 14th January, 1863, at a salary equivalent to £525 per annum, by the Deputy Superintendent of Otago; that his salary was subsequently reduced by £25; that the amount so deducted from his salary was refunded to him by the Colonial Government; that his salary was again reduced by the High School Board; that the sums so deducted have not been refunded to him; that his connection with the High School terminated on the 4th September, 1902, and that since that time he has been out of employment. Petitioner that the various sums improperly deducted from his salary may be paid to him, and for redress generally. The Education Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Daniel Brent that such an addition to the amount, if any, given or allowed to petitioner when he left the service be now granted so as to make the whole amount equal to a retiring-allowance of one year's salary, and that for the purpose of giving effect to this recommendation the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, 29th August, 1905.