F.—3a.

*' That the rate to be charged for international messages by the cable between " the Roper River and Kimberley be 6d. per word. " That the rate to be charged by Queensland for international messages across " her lines of telegraph shall not exceed 2d. per word. " That in all instances the senders of international messages shall be at liberty " to elect the route by which such messages shall be forwarded ; and, in " the event of no election being made at the time of the delivery of " messages for transmission, messages to and from New Zealand, New " South Wales, and Queensland shall be transmitted by way of the " Queensland lines, and the new route to be established between Kimberley " and Port Darwin, and all other messages shall be transmitted by way of " the present trans-continental line of South Australia." After the foregoing motions had been discussed, the following resolution was carried, South Australia refraining from voting thereon, viz : — " That whilst the Conference has not made any provision for the duplication, "at the present time, of the continental line of telegraph from Port " Darwin, the Representatives of the different Colonies expressly reserve " for confederate action a future decision on this important point, and " empower the Governments of New South Wales and Victoria, before " entering into and making any contract with the Eastern Extension " Telegraph Company for the construction of the second cable between " Port Darwin and Singapore, to receive an engagement from South " Australia to co-operate with the other Australian Colonies in con- " structing and maintaining a new line of telegraph from Port Darwin, "to be connected with the telegraphic system of Queensland. Provided " that, in the event of such line being decided upon, South Australia " shall not be called upon to contribute thereto." The Conference having decided to discuss any question of intercolonial interest other than that of telegraphic communication with Europe, the following resolutions were, after mature deliberation, unanimously agreed to, viz.:—- -" That the adoption of the amended treaty agreed to by the Berne Postal " Convention be recommended for the favorable consideration of the " Governments of Australia and New Zealand." " That it is desirable to make provision by legislation that probate of wills " taken out hi one colony may be registered in the Registry of Wills " Office in any other colony, in cases of testators dying in one colony " leaving personal property in other colonies." " That the Government of Tasmania be requested to prepare a Bill dealing " with the question raised by the foregoing resolution, and submit the " same for the approval of the Governments of the several Australasian " Colonies with a view to united legislation on the subject." " That additional facilities should be afforded to suitors for enforcing judgments " recovered in the Supreme Court of one colony against the property of "judgment debtors in other colonies." " That the Representatives of the different colonies undertake, in the event of " the law advisers of their Governments approving of the same, to endeavor " to procure the passing in their respective Legislatures of a Bill dealing " with the question raised by the foregoing resolution similar to that " submitted by Tasmania and appended to the proceedings of the Con- " ference." "That it is desirable that the Governments of the Continental Colonies should, " at as early a period as possible, interchange views as to the intended routes " of their principal railway lines, so as to enable junctions of the various " systems to be arranged for at the most suitable points." "That in the opinion of this Conference the necessity of the joint defence of the " Australian Colonies should be recognised and acted upon promptly by " their respective Governments and Legislatures, in view of the present " unsettled state of Europe, and having regard to future contingencies."

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