7

A.—3

(5.) That New South "Wales and Queensland arrange for a Torres Straits Service, New South Wales to contribute £4,000. If the boats call at Port Darwin, South Australia to contribute £2,000. The balance to be paid by Queensland, and Queensland to receive all postages other than those of contributing Colonies on mail matter transmitted by the service. (6.) That a sum not exceeding £110,000 be paid for a service through, from Australia to Galle. (7.) That a sum not exceeding £6,000 be paid to New South Wales and Queensland for a branch service to connect with the main line. (8.) That a sum not exceeding £5,000 be paid to New Zealand for a branch service to connect with the main line. (9.) That a sum not exceeding £2,500 be paid to Tasmania for a branch service to connect with the main line. (10.) That should the cost of the Galle Service exceed £110,000, Victoria pay the excess. (11.) That the several sums stated, amounting in all to a sum of not exceeding £123,500, be first reduced by the Imperial contribution of £40,000 or £50,000 as the case may be, — be contributed by the whole of the Colonies, in proportion to the number of the letters despatched by them severally by the Galle Service. (12.) That inasmuch as railway communication between Sydney and Melbourne should be so far completed by the middle of 1874 as to make the carriage of the mails by land between Melbourne and Sydney quicker than by sea, the terminus of the Galle route shall for the first six months of 1874 be at Sydney, and that subsequently Melbourne shall be the terminus. (13.) That the Galle steamer shall call at Cockburn Sound (if arrangements can be made to do so), and if by such calling the delay shall not exceed twenty-four hours. (14.) That the steamers shall call off Glenelg, to receive and deliver mails. (15.) That the Governments of the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia shall jointly arrange the Galle Contract in the terms described; that such contracts shall be on behalf of the Colonies collectively ; and that it may, at the option of the Colonies named, be made either by calling for tenders, or by private contract. (16.) That the Colony of Victoria make all the payments hitherto described, and furnish, each year, as soon after the Ist January as possible, statements of account to the various Colonies concerned. (17.) That mails be not carried to or from Colonies not contributing. 7. Mr. Langton then gave the following notices of motion, viz.:—" (1.) That unless otherwise determined by a majority of the Colonies, the rates of postage to the United Kingdom by any of the services agreed to by this Conference, and by any service which any one of the contracting Colonies may establish, shall be the same as at present by the Southampton route. The extra charge for mails via Brindisi to remain as at present. (2.) That inasmuch as the railway from Melbourne to Albury will be completed during the current year, and as mails can then be conveyed between Melbourne and Sydney in thirty-four hours, or twenty-two hours less than the average time occupied by the P. and O. Company's steamers, thus securing the delivery of New South Wales and Queensland mails one day earlier than at present, the terminus of the Galle Service shall be at Melbourne." 8. Mr. Samuel gave notice of the following amendment on the motion to be proposed by Mr. Wilson, viz.:—" That, in the opinion of this Conference, it is desirable that the three postal services via Galle, San Francisco, and Torres Straits should be maintained by the Australian Colonies and New Zealand, by contributions from the several Colonies proportioned to the advantages which the three lines shall be considered to confer on the said Colonies." Mr. Wilson brought forward the motion standing in his name, together with the addendum of which notice had just been given by him, when, after having been discussed by the members of the Conference generally, it was moved by Sir Henry Ayers and agreed to, " That the Conference adjourn until a quarter to 2 o'clock." The Conference adjourned accordingly at 1 o'clock. On resuming, all the members being present,— 9. Mr. Wilson gave notice of the following motions, viz. : —" (1.) That the Highway or Ocean lights situated in Banks' and Bass's Straits, namely, King's Island, Kent Group, Swan Island, and Goose Island, have, since 1864, been exclusively maintained by the Colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, under a compact entered into between those Colonies, which included the lighthouses on Wilson's Promontory and Gabo Island. (2.) That the first four-named lights, though erected on Tasmanian territory, and practically isolated beacons, provided for the safety and protection of Australasian commerce. (3.) That it is reasonable and just that South Australia should fulfil its equitable obligation, by also contributing to the maintenance of the Ocean Lights in proportion to the advantages derived by its shipping, based upon the principles agreed to by the Conference held in Melbourne in 1864." 10. Mr. Barlee also gave notice of the following motion: —" That this Conference is willing to substitute the Port of Cockburn Sound as a port of call for mail steamers at West Australia, in lieu of King George's Sound, provided such arrangements are made by the Government of Western Australia as may obviate delay, or any difficulties of a serious nature." Mr. Wilson, by leave of the Conference, postponed the further consideration of his motion for the present; and Mr. Vogel having brought forward the first resolution standing in his name, Mr. Samuel submitted the following as an amendment: —" That, in the opinion of this Conference, it is desirable that the three postal services via Galle, San Francisco, and Torres Straits should be maintained by the Australian Colonies and New Zealand, by contributions from the several Colonies proportioned to the advantages which the three lines shall be considered to confer on the said Colonies." After discussion, the further consideration was adjourned till a future day. It was resolved, that the Conference adjourn until Wednesday next, at half-past 10 o'clock, when