E.—No. 4.

The Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, to carry out decisions of Federal Council. 3. It shall be lawful for the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, to do all things that may be necessary on behalf of this Colony to carry into effect the decisions of any Federal Council as aforesaid, provided that no such decision shall be contrary and opposed to any law of the said Colony. Colony may retire from Federal Council. 4. Notwithstanding anything herein contained, this Colony, by its representatives, may retire from any Federal Council if no decision binding upon the said Colony has previously been arrived at by such Council, and in any case, on address to the Governor from both Houses of Parliament, the said Colony shall retire from any such Federal Council: provided that all intercolonial agreements and contracts entered into on behalf of New South Wales then existing, shall be carried out and performed by the said Colony in accordance with the provisions of this Act. Retirement of Colony or Colonies not to invalidate proceedings of Federal Council. 5. In the event of any other Colony or Colonies retiring from any Federal Council, and this Colony continuing to be represented in such Council, the decisions of such Council shall bo binding, and have efi'ect in the same manner as if the retirement of the said Colony or Colonies had not taken place. Proceedings to be laid before Parliament. G. The votes and proceedings of each session of any Federal Council shall within one month from the termination thereof, be laid before both Houses of Parliament, if Parliament be then sitting, and if Parliament be not then sitting, then within one month after the opening of the next session of Parliament. Commencement of Act. Short Title. 7. This Act shall come into operation on the first day of October, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, and may be cited for all purposes as " The Federal Council Act of 1867."

No. 3. Copy of a Memoeandum from the Hon. J. Hall to tho Hon. E. W. Staffoed. I becommend the New South Wales Government be thanked for these documents, and informed that upon consideration it has not been thought desirable to pass a special Act in New Zealand to provide for the appointment of delegates to a Federal Council, such appointment being considered within tho the ordinary powers of the Executive Government of the Colony. As the New South Wales Act restricts the appointment of members of the Federal Council to persons who are members of the Executive Council, it may bo right to observe that although such a qualification is considered a very desirable one, it would be inexpedient to make it indispensable: considering the length of time during which any. delegate from New Zealand must bo absent from the Colony, it might be found exceedingly inconvenient that none but members of the Executive Council should be so appointed. A copy of the British-Australasian Mail Service Bill, as it has passed both Houses, should bo forwarded for the information of Mr. Parkes. 18th September, 1867. John Hall.

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Staffoed to the Hon. Heney Paekes. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic,— Wellington, 26th September, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo, and to thank you for the documents transmitted therein on the subject of the Federal Council Bill, then before the Parliament of New South Wales. Upon careful consideration of this subject, this Government has not thought it desirable to submit to the New Zealand Parliament a special Bill for the appointment of delegates to a Federal Council, as it believes the power of making such appointments is within the ordinary powers of the Government. I perceive that in the Bill forwarded by you the appointment of members of the Federal Council is restricted to persons who are members of the Executive Council. No doubt such a qualification is on many grounds desirable, but I would observe that it may be inexpedient to render it indispensable in the case of New Zealand, as the length of time during which any delegate from this Colony must be absent, would, if none but members of the Executive Council could be appointed, bo very inconvenient to the public service. I have the honor to enclose for your information a copy of the British-Australasian Mail Service Bill, as it has passed both Houses of the New Zealand Parliament during the present session. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New South Wales. E. W. Staffoed.

No. 75 of Statutes 1867.

No. 5. Copy of a Despatch from the Seceetaby of State to Governor Sir Geoege Geey. Downing Street, Sic,— • 19th October, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatches of numbers and dates given in the margin, and to inform you that the Memorial, signed by the Eepresentatives of tho several Australian Colonies who met in Conference at Melbourne in March last, to consider the question of postal communication between Australia and this country has been duly laid before the Queen.

Postal Conference Papers, 1867, Nos. 2 and 18, E. No. 2.

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