A.—No. U
FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO A CONFERENCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA.
No. 1. The Hon. J. Eobeetson to the Hon. W. Gisboene. (No. 192.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— Sydney, New South Wales, 27th September, 1869. With reference to correspondence respecting the Intercolonial Conference proposed to be held at Sydney during the coming month, I have now the honor to request that you will have the goodness to state definitively whether it is the intention of your Government to send delegates to such Conference ; and, if so, that you will favour me with the names of the gentlemen whom you propose to depute in that capacity. 2. I have the honor, also, to suggest that the 26th proximo be appointed as the first day of meeting. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. John Eobeetson.
No. 2. The Hon. W. Gisborne to the Hon. J. Eobeetson. (No. 153.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic,— Wellington, N.Z., 18th October, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 192, of the 27th ultimo, respecting the Intercolonial Conference to be held at Sydney. That letter only reached mo to-day, and a telegram from you to a similar effect was on]}' received four days ago. It is the intention of this Government to send delegates to that conference, and the gentlemen proposed to be sent are —the Hon. Julius Vogel, Colonial Treasurer, and Dr. Charles Knight, AuditorGeneral. They will arrange for their departure as early as practicable, but as they will necessarily have to go via Melbourne, and as the day (26th instant) definitively fixed for the Conference was so lately known here, they will probably not be able to reach Sydney for a week or ten days after that date. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Sydney, N.SW. W. Gisborne.
No. 3. The Hon. W. Gisborne to the Hon. J. Eobeetson. (No. 158.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic,— Wellington, 22nd October, 1869. Adverting to my letter No. 153, of the 18th instant,* I have the honor to state that the Hon. Julius Vogel, Colonial Treasurer, and Member of the Executive Council of Ne\y Zealand, and Dr. Charles Knight, Auditor-General, proceed to-morrow via Melbourne to Sydney as Delegates of the New Zealand Government at the Conference. Mr. Seed, Inspector and Secretary of Customs, accompanies them with a view to giving them such information as they may require on Customs and Commercial matters connected with this Colony. I shall feel obliged if you will enable the Delegates and Mr. Seed to have access to the Government Departments in Sydney, to obtain such information in connection with the Public Service as may prove useful in this Colony. I have, &c. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New South Wales. W. Gisboene.
No. 4 The Hon. J. Vogel and Dr. Knight to the Hon. the Chief Secretary, Melbourne. Sir, — Melbourne, 10th November, 1869. In reference to the interview on the 3rd instant, we have the honor to forward for your information a Memorandum setting forth briefly the subjects which it is proposed to bring under the consideration of the Intercolonial Conference. We have, &c, J. Vogel, The Hon. the Chief Secretary, Melbourne. Chaeles Knight.
Enclosure in No. 4s. Memorandum by the Hon. J. Vogel and Dr. Knight. Intercolonial Free Trade. There should be no reason why the Colonies should be prevented from entering into arrangements for the interchange, duty free, of various articles produced or manufactured within their limits. For a long while the Canadian Parliament has passed Acts authorizing the Governor in Council to remit the * Similar letter sent to the Hon. Chief Secretary, Victoria.