13

F.—3

A motion proposed by the representatives of Queensland, "That it; is desirable that a submarinei cable should be laid from Singapore to Cape York in Queensland, the Government of that colony undertaking, in the event of such cable being laid, to connect their existing land lines therewith," was negatived. Tasmania did not vote. The Conference discussed several other questions on which no definitive action was taken. Attention is called to the Appendix of Minutes of Proceedings, report of evidence taken, and documents laid before the Conference. John Robeetson, ") Alex. Stewaet, > New South Wales. J. F. Burns, J Geo. McLean, New Zealand. S. W. Griffith, ") ~ , , Chaeles Stewaet Mem, j Queensland' Heney Ayers, 7 „ ~ . ~ Ebenezer Ward, } South Austral™James Whyte, Tasmania. Robert Ramsay, Victoria. Malcolm Fraser, Western Australia. Alex. C. Budge, Secretary. The Treasury, Sydney, 2nd February, 1877. MINUTES OP CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. Thursday, 25th January, 1877. TnE under-mentioned gentlemen, representatives of the Colonies of New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria, were present:— New South Wales: The Hon. John Robertson. The Hon. Alex. Stuaet. The Hon. J. F. Buens. New Zealand: The Hon. G. McLean. Queensland: The Hon. Samuel Walkee Geiffith. The Hon. Chaeles Stuaet Mem. South Australia: The Hon. Sir Heney Ayees, K.C.M.G. The Hon. Ebenezee Ward. Tasmania .- The Hon. James Whyte. Victoria: The Hon. R. S. Anderson. The Hon. R. Ramsay. The Hon. John Robertson was, on the motion of Sir Henry Ayers, seconded by the Hon. R. Anderson, unanimously elected to the chair. Mr. Alex. C. Budge was appointed Secretary. The Hon. Sir Henry Ayers then proposed,— " That in the event of any division upon a motion the votes of the colonies shall be taken in lieu of the individual votes of the representative of the said colonies." The Conference agreed to the same. The Hon. Sir Henry Ayers also proposed, and the Hon. G. McLean seconded, the following motion, which the Conference unanimously adopted:— " That the proceedings of the Conference, during its sitting, shall not be made public, except with the sanction of the Conference." It was then resolved, — "That the representatives of each colony shall undertake to recommend to the Governments and Parliaments of the colonies which they represent, the adoption of measures to carry out all the resolutions of the Conference to which they may have given their assent." It was further resolved, — " That the Secretary be required to prepare minutes of each day's proceedings, which shall be read over and confirmed at the next sitting, previous to any new business being entered upon." Mr. Stuart gave notice of tho following motions: — " 1. That it is desirable to extend and improve the means of telegraphic communication between Australia and Europe, by the duplication where necessary of the cables or lines connecting the same." "2. That the subsidy on ocean cables, to connect Australia with Europe, be borne by the several Australian Colonies in proportion to population." "3. That the loss (if any) on colonial lines to connect the cables with the main telegraphic systems, should, in like manner, be borne by all the colonies concerned." " 4. That if New Zealand contribute to the subsidy and loss referred to in the foregoing resolutions, the subsidy on the New Zealand cable should be a common charge to be borne by all in a similar manner." Mr. Griffith gave notice of the following motions: — " 1. That it is, in the opinion of this Conference, essential that a complete duplicate system of telegraphic communication should bo forthwith established between Great Britain and the Australian Colonies." "2. That such duplicate system should be entirely independent of the lines of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, and of the South Australian line between Port Darwin and Adelaide." " 3. That the point of connection between the duplicate cable line and the Continent of Australia should be Thursday Island, near Cape York, in the Colony of Queensland." "4. That the Colony of Queensland should forthwith proceed with the construction of a line of telegraph to connect their existing lines with Thursday Island."

The Conference.