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Sess. 11.—1887. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORTS OF WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE. (Mr. FULTON, CHAIRMAN.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, Sess. 11., 1887, and ordered to be printed.

INDEX.

No. Petitions. Page. No. Petitions. Page.. B. M. 416a 441 74 398 *79 353 306 31 344 163 380 Baker, Horace Bentley, J. D. .. Borough Council of Gisborne Brown, Amelia .. c. Carr, Charles Chamberlain, John Conroy, Murty .. D. Davis, Richard Denman, Charles, and Others "Donnelly, John, and Others " Dummyism " in Tuapeka District, Alleged 2 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 230 mi 73 *301 *73 116 235 185 184 157 226 475 145 384 307 360 218 387 191 51 194 Macartney, David Manawatu Railway Company (for evidence, &o., vide I.-5a) Mann, Jonathan McChisney, John, and Others McCleary, John McCormick, James McCoy, Robert McDonald, J. K. McKay, John McKenna, E. .. McKibbin, John, and Others McLean, George McLeod, Sarah McLoughlin, William McMahon, Louisa Miller, Walter C, and Others Miners and Others at Wakamarina Monteith, J. H., and Others Moore, Mary .. .. .. Murphy, Denis Murray, R. S. .. 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 4 1 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 3 187 469 E. Earl, Stephen Edgeworth, R. W. Education Reserves Settlement Bill 3 3 1 P. 180 52 Fitzpatrick, John Flynn, Patrick .. 3 3 *165 38 N. Neal, John, and Others Neilson, Christiana 1 3 5 74 G. 1 1 Gill, James Gisborne Borough Council 430 o. Old Colonists at the Thames Old Soldiers, Volunteers, and Others Otonga andOpuawhanga Homestead Settlers 4 2,3 1 H. *165 60 282 151 213 385 *165 282 *85 Hargroaves, Eliza Hawkes, R. M., and Others Haylock, Edward, and Others Head, William Hepburn, J. Homestead Settlers, North of Auckland .. Homestead Settlers, Thames Hurst, C. E. .. 2 3 2 3 3 1 3 3 P. Public Reserves Sale Bill 3 R. 3 2 325 269 Ramsay, W. Rolfe, Emma .. I. *301 6 430 396 s. Seaward Bush Crown Tenants Smith, C. W. .. Stackpolo, Robert, and Others Steen, William .. 3 2 4 3 354 Isherwood, J. C. R. 454 397 J. T. Teesdale, Thomas, and Others Thames Homestead Settlers Thames Old Colonists Tuapeka Settlers 2. 3 4 3Jenkinson, Samuel Johnston, Robert 3 3 410 282 430 380 344 417 K. Kai-iwi Gum-diggers Kennedy, T., and Others 3 3 V. Volunteers, Old Soldiers, and Others 2, 3L. Land Act Amendment Bill Land for Settlements Bill Leahy, M., and Others 2 2 2 218 415 355 w. Wakamarina Miners and Residents Ward, J. P. Wheeler, William 2 3 3 218 * Session I.

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Sess. 11.—1887. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to the House of Representatives, Sess. 11., 1887, and ordered to be printed.

Education Beserves Settlement Bill. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above Bill, have the honour to report that they have duly considered the same, and they recommend that it be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown in a copy of the Bill attached hereto. 16th November, 1887.

No. 165, Sess. I. —Betition of John Neal and Others, Homestead-settlers, Otonga and Opuawhanga. The petitioners ask that they may have the same privileges as regards digging for gum within the Buhipuhi Forest as the village-settlers. I have the honour to report that the Committee recommend that the petition be referred to the Government. 18th November, 1887. ■

No. 51. —Betition of Denis Muephy. The petitioner states that the Waste Lands Board of the Frovince of Auckland, in 1880, advertised Block XII., Te Aroha District, for sale under the deferred-payments Act; that he applied to purchase Section No. 15 in the above block; that three others applied at the same time for the same section ; that the Commissioner of Crown Lands submitted Section No. 15 to auction between himself and the three other applicants; that the other three applicants had applied for other sections in the block, therefore that the action of the Commissioner was illegal; that in consequence of the auction he had to pay £105 above the upset price. He prays that the House will grant to him the title of Section No. 15, Block XII, Te Aroha Survey District, Frovince of Auckland, at the upset price of £2 per acre. I have the honour to report that this is the same case of Denis Murphy, of the 29th June, 1886, and that the report be reaffirmed, namely, that the petitioner has no claim. 18th November, 1887.

No. 115.—Betition of Sabah McLeod. The petitioner prays that, as scrip for forty acres of land has been lost by her solicitor, the late Mr. Brandon, and as no trace of it can be discovered, the House will cause inquiry to be made, or issue a new scrip, or grant a sum of money equal to value of original scrip. I have the honour to report that, after the most careful examination of the public records, there is nothing to show petitioner has any claim. 18th November, 1887.

No. 74. —Betition of the Mayor and Councillors of Gisborne. The petitioners pray that, in the interest of settlement and the more profitable occupation of land in Cook County, a Land Board may be established at Gisborne. I have the honour to report that, as the subject-matter of this petition is a matter of public policy, the Committee recommend that the petition be referred to the Government. I.Bth November, 1887.

No. 5. —Betition of James Gill. The petitioner states that he received land-scrip from the Agent-General entitling him to five acres of land on certain conditions; that want of money and employment compelled him to leave the land for some years, and on his return he found he had been reported dead, and that his allotment wa.s occupied by another man. He prays that he may be grantedrelief. I have the honour to report that the Committee are of opinion that the petitioner has no claim. 18th November, 1887.

REPORTS OF WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE. (Mb. FULTON, CHAIRMAN.)

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No. 73.—Petition of Jonathan Mann. The petitioner states that in 1847 he leased land near Wellington. That in 1848, in consequence of a fire lit by Natives in the adjoining bush, his barn, house, and other property was destroyed. He prays for compensation.

No. 60.—Petition of Eliza Hargreaves. The petitioner states that her husband, an engine-driver on the New Zealand railways, died of disease of the heart in 1873. She prays for relief. The Committee have the honour to report that, in their opinion, these petitions do not come within the scope of their order of reference. The petitions are therefore again laid on the table of the House. 22nd November, 1887.

Land for Settlements Bill. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above Bill, have the honour to report that they have duly considered the same. The amendments made by the Committee are shown in a copy of the Bill attached hereto. 30th November, 1887.

Petitions ob Old Soldiers and Volunteers. The Waste Lands Committee have the honour to report that, in their opinion, the petitions of old Soldiers and Volunteers and other cognate claims should be referred to Government for consideration, with the recommendation that they be dealt with on equitable grounds. 30th November, 1887.

No. 269.—Petition of Mrs. Emma Bolpe. I have the honour to report, by direction of the Waste Lands Committee, that they recommend that the above petition be referred back to the Classification of Petitions Committee, as not coming within the order of reference of this Committee.

6th November, 1887. No. 416a.—Petition of Horace Baker. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, have the honour to report that they have referred it back to the Classification of Petitions Committee, as it does not come within the scope of their order of reference. Bth December, 1887.

Land Act Amendment Bill. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above Bill, have the honour to report that they have duly considered the same. They recommend that it be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments as shown in a copy of the Bill attached hereto. Bth December, 1887.

No. 151.—Petition of Edward Haylock and Others. The petitioners pray to be relieved from present penalty in their lease for non-payment of rent to date. I have the honour to report that the Committee recommend that the report on similar petition of the year 1886 be reaffirmed. 12th December, 1887.

No. 184.—-Petition of John McKay. The petitioner prays that, as he forfeited his homestead section under exceptional circumstances, his case may be favourably considered. I have the honour to report that the Committee have no recommendation to make. 12th December, 1887.

No. 191.—-Petition of Mary Moore. The petitioner states that she was induced to pay her own passage from England to New Zealand by the promise of Dr. Featherston that she would receive land-scrip amounting to £20. She prays that scrip to that amount be issued to her. I have the honour to report that the Committee are of opinion that the petitioner has a just claim, which ought to be satisfied. 12th December, 1887.

No. 218.—Petition of M. Leahy and other Miners and Besidents on the Wakamarina Goldfields. The petitioners pray for alteration of land-laws to facilitate mining. I have the honour to report that the Committee recommend that the petition be referred to Government for their favourable consideration. 12th December, 1887.

Nos. 387, 6, 226, and 410.—Betitions of J. H. Monteith and Others, C. W. Smith, John McKibbin and Others, and Thomas Teesdale .and Others. The petitioners pray for certain alterations in the land-laws.

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I have the honour to report that, the subject-matter of these petitions having been dealt with in the Land Bill now before Barliament, the Committee have no recommendation to make. 12th December, 1887.

No. 194.—Petition of B. S. Murray. The petitioner prays for compensation for depreciation of his land through adjacent bush-reserve being taken for village settlement. I have the honour to report that the Committee are of opinion that the petitioner has no claim. 15th December, 1887.

Public Beserves Sale Bill. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above Bill, have the honour to report that they have duly considered the same. The amendments made by the Committee are shown in a copy of the Bill attached hereto. 15th December, 1887.

No. 380. —Betition of Settlers of Tuapeka District. The petitioners pray that an amendment be made in the existing law, to enable inquiry to be made into the alleged case of dummyism in the Tuapeka District, Provincial District of Otago. I have the honour to report that the recommendation of the Committee is that the petition be referred to Government. 15th December, 1887.

Claims op Old Soldiers and Volunteers. I have the honour to report that, in terms of a resolution already arrived at, the petitions in the schedule attached be referred to the Government —namely, That, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitions of old soldiers and Volunteers and other cognate claims be referred to Government for consideration, with the recommendation that they be dealt with on equitable grounds. Schedule.—No. 235, Eobert McCoy; No. 73, Sess. 1., John McCleary; No. 38, Christiana Neilson ; No. 163, John Donnelly and Others ; No. 180, John Fitzpatrick; No. 157, E. McKenna; No. 185, J. K. McDonald; No. 213, William Head; No. 187, Stephen Earl; No. 52, Batrick Flynn; No. 31, Bichard Davis; No. 230, David Macartney; No. 441, J. D. Bentley; No. 454, Samuel Jenkinson ;. No. 384, William McLoughlin; No. 415, J. B. Ward ; No. 417, T. Kennedy and Others ; No. 353, John Chamberlain; No. 355, William Wheeler; No. 306, Murty Conroy; No. 354, J. C. B. Isherwood and Others ; No. 325, W. Bamsay; No. 397, Eobert Johnston; No. 79, Sess. 1., Charles. Carr; No. 85, Sess. 1., C. E. Hurst; No. 385, J. Hepburn ; No. 307, Louisa McMahon ; No. 398, Amelia Brown; No. 396, William Steen; No. 360, Walter C. Miller and Others; No. 469, B. W. Edgeworth. 16th December, 1887.

No. 111, Sess. I.—lnterim Beport on the Petition of the Manawatu Eailway Company (Limited). I have the honour to report that there has not been sufficient time to take all the evidence required; the Committee therefore recommend that the evidence which has been taken and printed be laid on the table of the House. (For Evidence, &c, vide 1.—5 a.) 21st December, 1887.

No. 116. —Betition of James McCormick. The petitioner prays that, as a perpetual-lease holder, he may receive assistance, as others have,. in the form of a house, fruit-trees, &c. I have the honour to report that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 21st December, 1887.

No. 282.—Betition of B. M. Hawkes and Others. The petitioners pray that Crown grants for certain lands in the Thames District may be issued to them as homestead settlers. I have the honour to report that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 21st December, 1887. '

No. 301, Sess. I.—Betition of John McChisney and Others. The petitioners pray for the formation of a street in the Borough of South Invercargill, which they allege to be in an impassable state. They pray that this street, which may be considered the main outlet to the lands which, as Crown tenants, they hold in Seaward Bush, may be repaired by Government. I have the honour to report that, the Government having already offered to contribute £250' towards the road in question on condition that the Borough of Invercargill or persons interested should contribute an equal amount, your Committee have no recommendation to make. 21st December, 1887.

No. 344.—Charles Denman and Others. The petitioners pray that the Kai-iwi gumfields be not leased. I have the honour to report that the matter be referred to Government for consideration. 21st December, 1887.

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No. 430.—Eobert Stackpole and Other (Old Colonists at the Thames); The petitioners pray that special facilities may be given for settling the waste lands of the colonyI have the honour to report that the petition be referred to Government for consideration. 21st December, 1887.

No. 475.—Petition of George McLean. The petitioner states that he purchased in 1869 certain land in the County of Hawera, originally granted to one Katene, of the Native Contingent, who sold his interest in the said land ; that the claim has been so far recognised as to have been included in a Special Powers and Contracts Bill of a previous session, and passed through the House of Bepresentatives, but rejected by the Legislative Council. He prays for relief. I have the honour to report that, the subject-matter of this petition having been dealt with by the House of Bepresentatives in a previous session, the matter be referred to the Government for consideration. 21st December, 1887.

[Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,300 copies), £Z 9s. Gd.] .

By Authority : Geobqe Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB7.

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