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At the Colonial Secretary's Office 5 Sydney. Ist DECEMBER, 1883. (Fourth Day.) Present: — New South Wales : The Honorable Alexandee Stttaet, M.P., Premier and Colonial Secretary. The llonobable Geoege Richard Dibbs, M.P., Colonial Treasurer. The llonoeable William Bede D alley, Q.C., M.L.C., Attorney-General. New Zealand : The llonoeable Majoe Harry Albert Atkinson, M.P., Premier and Colonial Treasurer. The Honoeable Frederick Whitakee, M.L.C., late Premier and Attorney-General. Queensland: Tj ie Honoeable Samuel Walkee Geiitith, Q.C., M.P., Premier and Colonial Secretary. The Honoeable James Fbancis Gaeeick, Q.G., M.L.C., Postmaster-General. South Australia : The llonoeable John Cox Beat, M.P., Premier and Chief Secretary. The Honoeable J. W. Downer, Q. 0., M.P., AttorneyGeneral. . Tasmania : Thellonoeaele William Robert Giblin, M.P., Premier and Attorney-General. The Honoeable Nicholas J. Brown, M.P., Minister of Lands and Works. Victoria : The llonoeable James Seetice, M.P., Premier and Colonial Treasurer. The Honorable Geaham Beeey, M.P., Chief Secretary. The Honoeable Geobue Briscoe Keefeed, M.P., Attorney-General. Western Australia: The Honoeable Malcolm Fbasee, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary. The Minutes having been read, the following papers were submitted to the Convention, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Stuart. —-A letter from the Honorary Secretary of the Geographical Society of Australasia, on the subject of combined action on the part of the Australian Governments towards the Exploration of New Guinea. Me. Seetice. —Prom the Eev. James Nish, D.D., Clerk of tlio General Assembly, of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, forwarding copy of a Resolution on the subject of the annexation of Islands in the Pacific. Mr. Griffith then moved the Resolutions of which he had given notice, on the subject of Federation, viz.: — 1. That it is desirable that a Federal Australasian Council should be created for the purpose of dealing with the following matters, —■ (1.) The Marine Defences of Australasia, beyond territorial limits. (2.) Matters affecting the relations of Australasia with the Islands of the Pacific. (3.) The prevention of the influx of criminals. (4.) The regulation of Quarantine. (5.) Such other matters of general Australasian interest as may be referred to it by Her Majesty or by any of the Australasian Legislatures. 2. That a Committee be appointed to consider and report upon the best mode of constituting the Council, and the definition of its functions and authority. And, after discussion, the further consideration of the subject was postponed until the next meeting. The Committee appointed to prepare Resolutions on the basis of the Draft Resolutions relating to the annexation of, or dealing with the various islands, laid before the Convention the Resolutions at which they had arrived, which were ordered to bo printed and circulated with a view to their consideration at the next meeting. (Resolutions referred to.) That this Convention, representing the Governments of all the Australasian Colonies, unanimously resolves:—1. That any farther acquisition of dominion by any Foreign Power in any of the Islands of the Western Pacific would be highly detrimental to the future safety and well-being of the British possessions in Australasia, as well as injurious to the interests of the whole Empire. 2.