27

A.—6

The Victorian proclamations are open to somewhat the same observations. The first proclamation, made professedly to carry out the resolution of the Conference, recites the provisions of an Act which empowers the Governor in Council to make such orders as may be necessary for prohibiting the introduction into Victoria, from any country in which any disease in sheep, cattle, or swine is known to exist; and then recites the report of the Conference on the subject of prohibiting the importation of cattle, &c.: no other fact is recited. But the proclamation then prohibits the landing in Victoria of cattle, &c, from all countries and places beyond the Australasian Colonies. It is not pretended that it was known that disease existed throughout the world, except the Australasian Colonies. It is evident that it was felt that the Act did not enable the Governor to make the prohibition which the Conference declared to be necessary, namely, an absolute prohibition from all the world except Australasia; and, consequently, no recital as to the existence of disease appears in tho proclamation. The proclamation, however, is an admission that disease does not exist in New Zealand. Nevertheless, another proclamation was issued in the following October, professedly under the same Act, and reciting the alleged fact that at the Conference it was agreed to prohibit the landing of cattle, &c, from any place beyond the limits of the Australasian Colonies, for two years, after notice in the London Times; it then recites that the Government of New Zealand had not published the prescribed notice ; and the proclamation, without more, professes to prohibit the introduction from New Zealand into Victoria of all cattle, &c, until New Zealand shall have published the prescribed notice, in accordance with the alleged agreement made at the Conference. There is no pretence that disease in cattle, &c, was known to exist in New Zealand at that time, any more than at the time of the first proclamation ; and the fact that such disease was known to exist was a condition precedent to the exercise of the power to prohibit. If such condition did not exist (and that must be admitted), I am of opinion that the proclamation was bad. The Hon. the Premier. James Peendeegast.

QUEENSLAND. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet, Queensland, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet, New Zealand. (No. 73-178.) Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Brisbane, 4th July, 1873. With reference to your communication of 4th June last, intimating that your Government are unable to carry out the resolutions agreed to at the late Intercolonial Conference, respecting the prohibition of the importation of cattle, sheep, and pigs, for a prescribed period, until an Act of Parliament giving the necessary powers has been passed, I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of your Government, that it has been considered expedient to prohibit the landing in Queensland of the description of stock above mentioned arriving from New Zealand, until the Government obtains the necessary power to prevent the introduction of stock into that Colony, as it is conceived that the object of the prohibition, so far as the other Colonies are concerned, would be defeated if advantage were taken of the absence of restriction in New Zealand to import stock from prohibited places by way of that Colony. I may add that the Governments of New South "Wales and South Australia have expressed their concurrence in this view, and have intimated their intention of prohibiting the importation of stock into their respective Colonies from New Zealand, until the disability under which that Colony labours, of preventing the introduction of stock, is removed. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. A. H. Palmee. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet, Queensland, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet, New Zealand. (Circular No. 73-210.) Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Brisbane, 21st July, 1873. I have the honor to forward herewith copy of a proclamation, prohibiting, for two years, the landing in Queensland of horned cattle, sheep, and pigs from any places beyond, the limits of the Australasian Colonies, published in the Government Gazette of Saturday, the 19th of July instant. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. H. H. Massie. Enclosure. Peoclahation. [Prohibiting, for Two Tears, tie Importation of Cattle, Sfc, into Queensland.'] Queensland, \ Peoclamation by the Most Honorable George Augustus Constantine, Marquis of to wit. ) Normanby, Earl of Mulgrave, Viscount Normanby, and Baron Mulgrave of Mulgrave, all in the County of York, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; and Baron Mulgrave of New Ross, in the County of Wexford, in the Peerage of Ireland; a Member of Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Queensland and its Dependencies. Noemanbt, Governor. Whebeas by the Diseased Animals Act it is, amongst other things, enacted that it shall be lawful for the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, from time to time, by proclamation, to prohibit or put restrictions on the introduction or importation of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, and other animals, or of any one or more kind of animals, into the Colony of Queensland, or into any district thereof, from such places and during such times as might appear necessary : And whereas at an