A.—3

14

1. Mr. Parkes laid before the Conference the following telegram, dated 2Sth January, 6.40, from the Earl of Kimberley to Sir H. Robinson, Sydney : —" Inform Conference that, as there appears to be some apprehension in this country, it is to be understood that the Treasury does not exclude from their consideration any second mail service recommended by the Australian Colonies, in pursuance of letter of 14th August, provided it is alternative with the other, although they hold themselves free to decline any such second service." 2. Mr. Vogel gave notice of the following motion: —" That an address to the Secretary of State, in the following terms, be adopted, when the subject of the investment of trust funds conies before the Conference for consideration :— " The Representatives of the various Australasian Colonies, assembled in Conference, desire urgently to impress upon the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies the very unnecessary disadvantages to which, as it appears to them, the Colonies are subjected, through English trustees not being at liberty to invest trust funds in Colonial securities and Colonial lands. "When trustees act under instruments which do not expressly exclude or include certain securities, their discretion as to investment is still limited by certain Acts of Parliament. They may invest in securities guaranteed by Parliament, in securities authorized by general order of the Court of Chancery, in parliamentary stocks, in public funds, or Government securities. They are also allowed to invest in Indian unguaranteed stocks; and lately they have been permitted to invest iv railway securities. " It is submitted by the Conference, that legislative provision should be made, in virtue of which trustees would be equally at liberty to invest in Colonial securities and lands. There do not appear to be any reasons against this course, except such as might be urged by those who desire or anticipate the disintegration of the Empire. As the assurance has been more than once lately given, that Her Majesty's Government—in accordance with the undoubted feelings of the vast majority of Her Majesty's subjects —do not entertain opinions favourable to the severance of the Colonies from the Mother Country, there seems no reason why the securities of the Colonies should not be placed upon as favourable a footing as the unguaranteed securities of India. There are numerous cases of persons who reside in the Colonies, and on whose behalf trusts are held, who desire that the trust funds in which they are interested should be invested within the Colony in which the}' reside. The trust deeds do not prohibit such a course, yet the trustees, in the absence of the suggested legislative provision, find themselves unable to comply with the wishes of those on behalf of whom they act. " The enormous accumulations of trust moneys would make the measure now suggested one of great convenience lo a large number of Her Majesty's subjects residing in the United Kingdom. "The Conference earnestly urges the Secretary of State to take the steps necessary to give effect to this representation." 3. Mr. Palmer moved the following resolution, which having been seconded by Mr. Thompson, was agreed to, viz.:—''That the Governments of the Colonies interested in branch services make the necessary arrangements for their respective services with the Government or Governments of the •Colony or Colonies in charge of the contract for the mail service from Galle." 4. Mr. Vogel proposed, and Sir Henry Ayers seconded the following resolution: —" That the Colony of Victoria make all the payments for the main and branch Galle Services. That it furnish to the Colonies separately, quarterly estimates of the amounts to be contributed, and that, provided the computations are approved, remittances be at once made. That as soon after the Ist January as possible, every year, final accounts be rendered and final adjustments made." And the same having been put by the Chairman, was resolved in the affirmative, on the following •division, viz. : — Ayes. Noes. Mr. i'rancis, . Mr. Samuel, and Mr. Langton, Mr. Parkes. Mr. Vogel, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Innes, Mr. Wilson, Sir Henry Ayers, Mr. Barrow, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Barlee. 5. Mr. Palmer gave notice of the following motion, viz. : — (1.) "That it is desirable that a mail service, alternating with Ihe four-weekly service via Galle, be established through Torres Straits to Singapore, taking as a basis the conditional agreement entered into between the Colonial Secretary of Queensland and Mr. Prazer. (2.). " That the terminus of such line in the Australian Colonies be at the port of (3.) "That the contributions of the various Colonies towards such service be in the following proportions, viz. : — New South Wales, South Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Queensland, one-half, Victoria." 6. Mr. Innes gave notice of the following motion, in lieu of the notice of motion given by him on Friday, January 31, viz : —