A.—3

16

The minutes of yesterday's proceeding were read and confirmed. Pacific Islands. The Chairman read the following draft letter to Lord Augustus Loftus: — ' My Loed, — "As Chairman of the Intercolonial Conference now sitting in Sydney, I have the honor to inform you that a Committee of the Conference was appointed, on the 19th instant, to examine the Acts and papers relating to the appointment of High Commissioner for the Western Pacific Islands, and to consider generally the state of increasing insecurity to life and property in the islands. The enclosed report from the Committee, after consideration and amendment, has been adopted by the Conference. " The Conference respectfully requests that your Lordship will be good enough to transmit the enclosed copy of this report to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. " I have the honor to be, " Tour Lordship's most obedient servant, "Henry Pabkes." Western Australia declined to concur. Chairman instructed to forward letter as above, with enclosure. Mr. Moore moved (seconded by Mr. G-ibiin), That, in the opinion of this Conference, the present restrictions on sheep introduced by sea into any of the Australasian Colonies and New Zealand should be modified so far as to uniformly extend the period of detention in quarantine before dipping to twenty-one days. After discussion the motion was withdrawn. Uniformity of Weight in Sale of Merchandise. Mr. Watson moved (seconded by Mr. Moore), That, in the opinion of this Conference, a great improvement in the mode of conducting business would be effected and transactions simplified if all descriptions of merchandise to which the resolution can apply were sold at one uniform weight, and that this desirable reform could conveniently be accomplished by the introduction of the system of selling per cental of 100 pounds.—Agreed to. Duplication of Telegraph Cable. Mr. Morgan moved (seconded by Mr. Berry), That, the duplication of the telegraph cable being a matter of great importance to all the colonies, the large subsidy of £32,400 now paid by Victoria, New South Wales, South. Australia, and Western Australia, to the Cable Company, as a guarantee fund for the construction of such cable, should be borne by all the colonies interested, on the basis of population. After discussion, question put. Ayes. Noes. Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, New Zealand. Western Australia. Lighthouse at Cape Leettwin. Mr. Chief Justice Wrenfordsley moved, That, in the opinion of this Conference, a lighthouse is urgently required at Cape Leeuwin, in Western Australia; and, having regard to the general interests of navigation and the increasing carrying trade of all the Australian Colonies, the several representatives are prepared to recommend that the expense of building and maintaining such an establishment should be jointly undertaken and provided for by their respective G-overnments. After discussion, motion withdrawn; Mr. Chief Justice Weenfordsley undertaking to give further information on the subject to the different colonies. Postal Service. Mr. Berry, having given notice that he would call attention to certain matters connected with the postal service, read a memorandum he had received on this subject from Mr. Jackson, the Deputy-Postmaster-G-eneral of Victoria. —Ordered, That this memorandum be inserted in the Appendix. Mr. Mann moved (seconded by Mr. Chief Justice Wbenfordsley), That this Conference agrees that executions on final process for debt or damage issued in any colony shall be of force in all, and Victoria is requested to prepare a Bill to be introduced into the Parliament of each colony to carry out this resolution, such Bill to be first submitted to the Law Officers of each colony. Pletjro-pneumonia. Moved by Mr. Morgan (seconded by Mr. Dick), That, in the opinion of this Conference, joint action should be taken by all the colonies for the more effectual eradication and future prevention of the cattle disease known as pleuro-pneumonia. Ayes. No. Victoria, Queensland. New Zealand, Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia.