21

A—3

from ten to twenty words, including address and signature, allowing ten words for the latter, and, instead of charging for each additional word, to make a charge for every additional ten words or part of ten words. . The rates proposed for consideration are as follows: — Bate for transmission of twenty words, including address and signature, every ten words, or portion of ten words being charged half rate. s. d. s. d. Queensland ... ... ... ... 2 0 7 0 New South Wales ... ... ... 2 0 2 0 Victoria ... ... ... ... 1 0 10 South Australia ... ... ... 2 0 20 0 Tasmanian Cable Company ... ... ... 4 0 Tasmania ... ... ... ... 1 0 According to this scale, the charges for intercolonial messages of twenty words, including address and signature, would be— Between any station in Queensland and any station in New South Wales ... 4s. Ditto, Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ss. Ditto, South Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... 6s. Ditto, Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10s. Half rate for every ten words or part of ten words additional. Press messages to be charged onehalf the ordinary rates. It is also proposed to divide the receipts between the Colonies in the following manner, namely:— New South Wales business ... ... ... i to New South Wales. i to Queensland. Victorian ... ... ... . . ... J to Victoria. I to New South Wales. ■if to Queensland. South Australian... ... ... ... ... i to South Australia. ... 1 to New South Wales. ... i to Queensland. Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... ts to Tasmania. i to Cable Company. ... to to Victoria. ... 4 to New South Wales. i to Queensland. I would strongly recommend the proposed alterations for the favourable consideration of your Government, as it is considered that the simplification of the arrangements, and the establishment of the charges on a more satisfactory and uniform basis, would tend to facilitate the transaction of telegraphic business. I have, &c, A. H. Pai,mee. 3. Sir Henry Ayers gave notice of the following motions : — (1.) " That as those descriptions of Australian wines best capable of sustaining a voyage to Great Britain contain more than 26 per cent, of proof spirit, this Conference move the Imperial Government to admit such wines at the uniform duty of Is. per gallon; or, should a limit of the strength be considered necessary, then that all Australian wines containing less than 35 per cent, of proof spirit be admitted at a duty of Is. per gallon. (2.) " That the Governments of the Australian Colonies recommend to their respective Legislatures the passing of a uniform law relating to the remedies to be had against absconding debtors, including the issuing of execution in any Colony upon registration of the judgment from any Court of the Colony in which the cause of action arose." 4. Mr. Francis moved, and Mr. Palmer seconded, the following resolution, which was unanimously agreed to: —"That in reference to Lord Kimberley's Despatch of 19th April, 1872, a Committee be appointed to draw up a memorial to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, requesting him to move the Imperial Government to introduce a measure into the Imperial Parliament enabling the Australian Colonies to make arrangements with each other for the reciprocal admission of their products and manufactures on such terms as may be mutually agreed upon, and that such Committee consist of Messrs. Parkes, Vogel, and Wilson." The Conference adjourned from 1 o'clock until 2. 5. On resuming, Mr. Eeynolds moved the resolution, notice of which had been given by him, on the subject of the erection and maintenance of a Lighthouse on " The Snares," when, after discussion, the resolution was amended as follows, viz.: —" That the representatives of the Colonies of New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Tasmania, and Victoria, undertake to urge upon their respective Governments and Legislatures to join in the erection and maintenance of a lighthouse on " The Snares," to the south of New Zealand, as a site offering more advantages than the Auckland Islands to shipping on the homeward voyage from the Australian Colonies." Whereupon Mr. Francis moved, and Mr. Langton seconded, the following amendment: —" That this Conference is of opinion that the risk to life and property occasioned by the existence of dangerouß groups of islands, known as " The Snares," and the Auckland Islands, lying to the southward of New Zealand, and situated respectively in 48° 5' S. lat. and 166° 82' E. long., and 50° 50' S. lat. and IG6° E. long., would be very much reduced by the establishment and maintenance of a first-class ocean light; and in