A.—3

1878. NEW ZEALAND.

INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE.

Presented, to both Souses of the General Assembly by command of Sis Excellency.

EEPOET OF PEOCEEDINGS OF THE INTEECOLONIAL CONFEEENCE Held at Sydney, New South Wales, during the months of January and February, 1873. Tnis Conference was convened at the instance of the Honorable Henry Parkes, representing the Government of New South Wales, for the consideration, primarily, of the following subjects :— 1. A scheme of Ocean Mail Services which would meet the demands of all the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. 2. The policy of Intercolonial Free Trade, and the objections thereto advanced by the Secretary of State in Despatches of 13th July, 1871, and 19th April, 1872. 3. Telegraphic Communication, more especially in relation to Submarine Cables. All the Colonies of Australasia, including Tasmania and New Zealand, responded to the invitation, and sent the under-mentioned gentlemen as their representatives:— On behalf of New South Wales— The Honorable Heney Paekes, Colonial Secretary, The Honorable Saul Samuel, Vice-President of the Executive Council. On behalf of New Zealand — The Honorable Julius Vogel, C.M.G., Colonial Treasurer. The Honorable W. H. Eetnolds, Commissioner of Customs. On behalf of Queensland — The Honorable A. H. Paljiee, Colonial Secretary. The Honorable J. M. Thompson, Secretary for Lands. On behalf of South Australia — The Honorable Sir Henet Atees, K.C.M.G., Chief Secretary. The Honorable J. H. Baeeow, Treasurer. On behalf of Tasmania — The Honorable F. M. Innes, Treasurer. The Honorable J. M. Wilson, President of the Legislative Council. On behalf of Victoria — The Honorable J. G. Feancis, Chief Secretary. The Honorable Edwaed Langton, Treasurer. On behalf of Western Australia — The Honorable F. P. Baelee, Colonial Secretary. The Conference assembled at the Treasury, Sydney; the first sitting being on Wednesday, 22nd January, and the last on Friday, 14th February. At the first meeting the Hon. Henry Parkes was unanimously elected Chairman, and A. C. Budge, Esq., Clerk of the Executive Council, was appointed Secretary. The subjects discussed by the Conference were the following : — I.—The Galle Postal Sebyice. With reference to this question, it was decided, after several days' deliberation, that the proposal of the Lords of the Treasury for the establishment and maintenance of a four-weekly service between Galle and Australasia be accepted, on the following conditions:— (1.) That Melbourne be the terminus of the service. (2.) That the cost of all the requisite branch services be considered as part [of the cost of the whole service. (3.) That the several Australasian Governments shall contribute to the cost of the whole service, in proportion to the correspondence conveyed by such mail service from each Colony. (4.) That the Governments of the Colonies requiring branch services make the necessary arrangements for their respective services with the Government or Governments of the Colony or Colonies negotiating the contract for the mail service from Galle. (5.) That the Government of Victoria make all payments for the Main and Branch Galle services, rendering quarterly estimates of the amounts to be contributed by the several Colonies, with annual final adjustments of accounts. (6.) That Cockburn Sound, in Western Australia, be substituted for King George's Sound as a port of call for the ocean mail steamers, provided arrangements can be made to obviate material delay or increase of cost of the service. I—A.3.