THE INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE.

Colonist, Volume XIII, Issue 1288, 28 January 1870, Page 4

THE INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE.

(From tlie Sydney Morning Herald, Jau. 11.)

The following important information is handed to us for publication. The public of New South Wales, as well as of all the Australasian Colonies, will regard with deep interest the various projects brought under the consideration of the Conference: —

"It will be in the recollection of our readers that some time since it was proposed that a conference of the representatives of the various Australasian Colonies should be held in Sydney abont November last. The original purpose of the Conference was to devise means for inducing the United States to permit the admission, duty free, of wool, the produce of the Australasian Colonies.

" From that question naturally sprung considerations of the disability xinder which the Colonies labor in respect to their want of power to enter into commercial treaties amongst themselves or with other countries. Other questions were also set down for discussion, amongst; the most prominent of which may bo mentioned those relating to ocean mail services, telegraphic communication, the investment of English trust moneys in colonial securities, and the apprehension of offenders. Subsequent to the conference being fixed, a change of Q-overnment took place in Victoria, and the arrangements made did not suit the convenience of the incoming Ministry. Meanwhile the Hon. J. Vogel, the Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, and Dr. Knight, the AuditorGeneral of Now Zealand, and which Colony the proposal for a conference originated, came to Australia on the understanding that the conference was to be held. Much as Victoria's absence was to be regretted, it was still thought that beneficial arrangements might be made in which that powerful Colony could subsequently join. For some time past the representatives of New Zealand have been in cousultation with the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, and, subsequently the Premier of Queensland became a party to the negotiations. We are glad to learn that a series of resolutions has been agreed to relating to mail service, to telegraphic communication with Europe on the one side and New Zealand on the other; to the acquisition of power to enter into commercial conventions with foreign nations, and between the Colonies themselves; to the question of procuring the adnr'ssion, duty free, of wool produced in these Colonies to the United States ; to the investment of English trust moneys in Colonial securities; and to the apprehension of offenders who escape from Colony to Colony. The resolutions are subject to the approval of the several Colonies, and on such ratificatiou they w'U be made public previous to thei- submission to the approval of the several Legislatures ; and also they w\U be communicated to the other Colonies, with the request that they will subscribe to them. Since the resolutions have been agreed to by the representatives of the three Colonies, we understand the Cabinet of th's Colony, as a whole, has approved them.