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arrangements for the admission of articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of any part of Australia or New Zealand, upon terms to which they may mutually agree. The Conference express their earnest hope that Her Majesty's Government will introduce, at as early a date as possible, the necessary measure of legislation, to give effect to the wishes of the Conference." Mr. Wilson moved, and Mr. Innes seconded, the following resolution: —" That the Chairman bo requested to move His Excellency Governor Sir Hercules Robinson to transmit a telegraphic message to Lord Kimberley, embodying the unanimous decision of the Conference in reference to Intercolonial commercial reciprocity, with the object that no delay may take place in the introduction of Imperial legislation, to give effect to the wishes of the Conference ; " which having been put by the Chairman, was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Eeynolds proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by Sir Henry Ayers, and unanimously agreed to : —" That the cost of all telegrams authorized by the Conference be defrayed by contributions from the several Colonies, on the basis of population." The Conference adjourned shortly after 1 o'clock until 2. On resuming, Mr. Wilson moved the following motion:—"That this Conference take into consideration, on Monday next, the advisability of memorializing the Home Government on the subject of assuming the protectorate and colonization of the Fiji Islands." When, after some discussion, he proposed, and Mr Langton seconded, the following resolution, viz.:—"That, in the opinion of the Conference, the condition of affairs in the Fiji Islands urgently demands, in the interest of the Australasian Colonies, as well as of the rest of the Empire, grave consideration on the part of Her Majesty's Government;" which was unanimously agreed to. The Committee appointed to consider the subject of correspondence addressed to the Conference, drew attention to a memorial forwarded by Mr. Samuel Bennett, newspaper proprietor and publisher, Sydney, relating to delay, disappointment, and exorbitant charges in obtaining cable messages from England; when it was resolved that the Secretary be requested to inform Mr. Bennett that the complaints contained in his communication to the Conference were not of a nature that could be investigated by the Conference. Mr. Francis then gave notice of the following motion : —" That as it is expedient there should be uniform legislation throughout Australasia in regard to Patents, the Law Officers of the Colony of Victoria be requested to prepare a bill on the subject, which the representatives of the several Colonies undertake —provided it is approved by their respective Law Officers —to endeavour to pass into law." Mr. Palmer gave notice of the following motion : —" That it having been represented to the Conference that the settlement of Somerset has been founded in the interests of humanity for the relief of distressed seamen, and that the sole cost of its maintenance, with the exception of £2,000 contributed by the Imperial Government, has hitherto fallen upon Queensland,—they are of opinion that the several Colonies of the Australian group should contribute to the support of the settlement, in proportion to the tonnage of ships clearing from each Colony for ports to which the usual route is through Torres Straits." Mr. Samuel proposed the motion given by him on Thursday last, as follows, —when, after discussion, he proposed, and Mr. Palmer seconded, the following resolution, which was unanimously agreed to : — " That the importation of cattle, sheep, and pigs into New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia be prohibited for a period of two years from all places beyond the Australasian Colonies, such prohibition to commence from and after the publication of a notice in the London Times ; and the Representatives of the various Colonies engage to introduce into their several Legislatures such measures as may be necessary to carry out this object." Sir Henry Ayers then brought up a memorial to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of the duty charged on the admission of Colonial wines into the United Kingdom, which, having been put from the chair paragraph by paragraph, and amended in certain particulars, was unanimously agreed to : — " To the Eight Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, — " The Representatives of the Colonies of New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, respectfully request the Imperial Government to take into consideration the great disadvantage under which the vine-growers of Australia labour with respect to the duty charged on the admission of their wines into the United Kingdom. " The natural alcoholic strength of Australian wines is generally in excess of 26 per cent, of proof spirit, on which the duty of 2s. 6d. is payable, a rate which is almost prohibitory of the import of wino from Australia into the United Kingdom. " A large proportion of the wines of France and Germany seldom reach the standard of 2G per cent, of proof spirit, and are therefore admitted at the lowest duty of Is. per gallon. " Large quantities of wine are being produced in the Australasian Colonies, greatly in excess of the consumption of their inhabitants, and a very considerable export could be made to the United Kingdom if the standard of strength at which the higher duty of 2s. Gd. is charged was increased from 26 to 35 per cent, of proof spirit. " The Representatives of the Colonies in Conference therefore trust that the Secretary of State ■will take the necessary steps to extend the limit of the standard of strength to 35 per cent, accordingly, and thus allow such wines to be admitted at the duty of Is. per gallon, and afford encouragement to a most important industry, in which so many colonists are engaged." Mr. Francis then moved, and Sir Henry Ayers seconded, the following resolution, which was unanimously agreed to, viz. : —" That information having reached the Conference that a new treaty with France is under negotiation, it is desirable a communication be transmitted by telegraph to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, containing the substance of the preceding address." Messrs. Langton and Vogel then brought up an address to the Right Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject of the acquisition or construction of through lines of telegraphic

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