No. 399.—Petition of John Graham and Others.

Petitioners state that owing to physical difficulties they are shut out from the main trunk line of railway in the South Island, but that if a road were made through a Maori reserve their position would be improved. The Native owners, it is said, are willing to allow such a road to be made. They ask that Government should have a road formed, and a jetty and other works erected, the doing of which would not only be advantageous to the petitioners but would lead to increased traffic on the railway.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That the provisions of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act and of the Public Works Act ought to be brought into operation by the local authority.