5

A.—4

Enclosure 2. [Extract from the Times, Saturday, Bth August, 1885.] House of Lords, Friday, 7th August. The Commons' amendments to the Federal Council of Australasia Bill and the Secretary for Scotland Bill were considered and agreed to.

No. 3. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 14th August, 1885. I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of letter received this day from the Colonial Office, covering copy of a despatch addressed by Colonel Stanley to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies respecting the Act for constituting a Federal Council of Australasia. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure. Sir, — Colonial Office, Downing Street, 14th August, 1885. I am directed by the Secretary of State for tho Colonies to transmit to you two copies of a despatch which he has sent by to-day's mail to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies on the subject of "The Federal Council of Australasia Act, 1885," and in doing so I am to express Colonel Stanley's acknowledgment of the courtesy and readiness with which you have on numerous occasions assisted him in the consideration of this measure. Spare copies of the despatch have been sent to the Governors. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Eobert G. W. Herbert.

A.-2, No. 5.

No. 4. The Premier, New South Wales, to the Premier, New Zealand. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, 27th August, 1885. I have the honour to transmit herewith for your perusal and information a copy of correspondence that has taken place on the subject of the Federal Council of Australasia. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier of New Zealand, Wellington. Alex, Stuart.

Enclosure. No. 1. His Excellency the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. My Lord, — Government House, 27th March, 1884. With reference to Mr. Heydon's motion in the Legislative Assembly, referred to in my confidential despatch of the 25th instant, on the question of Federation, I have the honour to enclose copies of the speech, as also the rejoinders of Mr. Stuart, the Colonial Secretary, and of Sir John Eobertson, the leader of the Opposition. 2. The terms of the resolution, which was agreed to without a division, are as follow : " That, as the proceedings of the delegates at the late Intercolonial Conference, including the Federal Council Bill, prepared and sent by them to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for enactment in the British Parliament, have not yet been submitted to this House for its consideration, and it is stated in the London telegrams that the British Cabinet is about dealing with the said Bill, this House resolves that, in its opinion, it is desirable, before the said Federal Council Bill, or any Bill based upon it, be passed into law by the British Parliament, that such Bill should be submitted to the Parliament of this colony. (2.) That the above resolution be communicated by address to His Excellency the Governor, with the request that he will transmit the same to the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies." 3. From the tenor of the speeches herewith enclosed, and of leading articles from the Press, your Lordship will see how little sympathy exists in the Legislative Assembly or in the public opinion of this colony in regard to the question of Federation. I have, &c, Augustus Loftus.

Enclosures. [Extract from Sydney Morning Herald, 2Gth March, 1884.] The resolution moved by Mr. Heydon last night contained a declaration of opinion, and set forth certain reasons why such a declaration should be made. The principle asserted by the resolution was sound. The Intercolonial Conference that sat in Sydney in November and December last adopted a draft Bill to be submitted to the Imperial Parliament as the basis of Imperial legislation for the establishment of a Federal Council for Australasia. The establishment of such a Council would indirectly affect the position, relations, and interests of this colony, even if we abstained