E.— No. 2,

20

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE

The Colony of Western Australia not being represented at the Conference, it was deemed advisable to leave the contribution of that Colony at or near its present amount, which is represented by the small fraction required to make up the total of the Colonial moiety. In consequence of the length of the notices requisite for determining the existing contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Company, the new arrangement can hardly, under any circumstances, come into operation in less than two years and a half from the present time. It was further resolved that the new contracts for the main services should be made for a period of seven years. The agreement between the Colonies now entered into, may consequently, if given effect to by the action of the Imperial Government, be deemed to be concluded for the same period. In order to carry out the resolutions of the Conference, and to obtain for them the most favorable consideration of the Imperial Government, a Memorial to Her Majesty was drawn up and signed by all the Representatives. It was also agreed that the several. Colonial Governments should do all that may be necessary in London to further the objects of the Conference. , On the second branch of the subject, namely, the contribution to be made provisionally by the non-contracting Colonies to the cost of the Panama service, we regret to state that no satisfactory arrangement was arrived at by the Conference. The importance of a settlement of this question was pressed on the consideration of the Conference by the Representatives of New South Wales and New Zealand. But as, after several days' discussion, there appeared no prospect of a satisfactory result being arrived at, it was eventually determined to refer the matter to private negotiation between the Colonies concerned, by which means it was believed that a settlement would be most speedily arrived at. We are glad to state that to some extent these negotiations have already been successful. It was agreed that, in accordance with the suggestion emanating from the Imperial Government, the Colonies in combination should undertake to call for tenders, and enter into the contracts necessary for connecting the Australian Colonies with the lines of postal communication maintained by the Imperial Government. With a view to the adoption of the measures requisite for this purpose, and also for carrying out in other respects the resolutions of the Conference, it was deemed expedient that a Federal Council, comprising Representatives from all the Australasian Colonies, should be established. The meeting of this Council will be necessary when the answer of the Imperial Government shall have been received. The Conference was unanimously of opinion that other subjects of common interest, as they arise from time to time, may be advantageously referred to this Council. We have the honor to append to this Report copies of the Proceedings of the Conference, of the Memorial to Her Majesty, and of Papers and Returns laid before the Conference. We have, &c, John Hail, The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Ceosbie Wabd. Enclosure 1 in No. 15. Proceedings of the Postal Cotjfeeence held at Melbourne. Monday, 4th Maech, 1867. The following gentlemen, representatives of the Colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, and New Zealand, were present:—■ Victoria ... The Hon. James McCulloch. Queensland ... The Hon. St. George R. Gore. New South Wales The Hon. Henry Parkes, Tasmania ... The Hon. T. D. Chapman. „ ... The Hon. Joseph Docker. New Zealand ... The Hon. J. Hall, South Australia... The Hon. J. P. Boucaut. ~ ... Crosbie Ward, Esq. Queensland ... The Hon. A. Macalister, The Honorable James McCulloch having been elected to the Chair, it was Resolved —That the proceedings of the Conference shall be strictly private, and that the results of the deliberations shall not be made known without the concurrence of the Conference. Resolved—That the Conference shall sit daily at 11 a.m. ♦ Resolved—That the representatives of each Government undertake that the respective Governments shall recommend to their Parliaments the adoption of measures to carry out all the resolutions of the Conference to which they may individually have given their assent. The meeting then adjourned until 11 a.m. on Tuesday, the oth March, 1867. James McCullock. Tuesday, sth Maech, 1867. Present : Victoria ... The Hon. James McCulloch, Queensland ... The Hon. A. Macalister, „ ... The Hon. J. P. Verdon. „ ... The Hon. St. George R. Gore. New South Wales The Hon. H. Parkes, Tasmania ... The Hon. T. D. Chapman. ... The Hon. J. Docker. New Zealand ... The Hon. J. Hall, South Australia... The Hon. J. P. Boucaut, ~ ... Crosbie Ward, Esq. ... The Hon. W. Duffield. The minutes of previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the representatives, after conferring until 2 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, 7th March, at 11 a.m., in order that time might be allowed for the preparation of certain returns. ■ James McCulloch. Thuesday, 7m Maech, 1867. Present : Victoria ... The Hon. James McCulloch, Queensland ... The Hon. A. Macalister, „ ... The Hon. G. P. Verdon. „ ... The Hon. St. George R. Gore.