A.—s

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direct your attention to the alterations which have been made in the preamble from the draft as agreed to at the Colonial Conference. These alterations have been rendered necessary in consequence of the continued omission of the Government of New South Wales to signify its concurrence in the amended proposals. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier of New Zealand, Wellington. S. W. Griffith.

Enclosure. Queensland. — Anno Quinqnagesimo Primo Victoria! Begince. — No. 9. An Act to make Provision for the Indemnification by the Colony of Queensland of Her Majesty's Imperial Government against the Expenses of the Government of British New Guinea. [Assented to 4th November, 1887.] Most Gbacious Soveeeign,—Whereas the Governments of your Majesty's Australasian Colonies some time since requested your Majesty to assume sovereignty over the territory comprising those portions of New Guinea and the adjacent islands which are now under your Majesty's Eoyal protection, and to make provision for the administration of the Government of that territory : And whereas certain proposals were lately made to your Majesty's Imperial Government by the Governments of the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland with respect to such administration, which proposals are set forth in the First Schedule to this Act: And whereas the said proposals were afterwards agreed to by your Majesty's Imperial Government with certain amendments and modifications thereof, and the said proposals, as so amended, are set forth in the Second Schedule to this Act: And whereas the said amended proposals were agreed to by the representatives of the Governments of your Majesty's said Australasian Colonies assembled at a Conference held in London in the month of April, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven : And whereas your Majesty's Australasian Colonies cheerfully recognise and acknowledge the obligation to indemnify your Majesty's Imperial Government against the necessary cost of the administration of the Government of the said territory, in accordance with the conditions of the said amended proposals, or such other conditions as may be mutually agreed to by your Majesty's Imperial Government and the Governments of the said colonies, and it has been agreed that the Colony of Queensland on their behalf shall formally recognise and give effect to such obligation : And whereas your Majesty's Imperial Government have agreed with the Governments of the said Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland that, upon satisfactory provision being made to give effect to the aforesaid obligation, they will advise your Majesty to assume sovereignty over the said territory : And whereas, in order to give effect to the said amended proposals, and to make provision for defraying the necessary cost of the administration of the Government of the said territory upon such assumption of sovereignty, we, your Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, have resolved to grant to your Majesty the sums hereinafter stated and for the purposes hereinafter expressed : Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly of Queensland in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :— 1. This Act shall commence and take effect so soon as Her Majesty shall have assumed sovereignty over the territory aforesaid, and such assumption of sovereignty shall have been proclaimed in the Colony of Queensland. 2. There shall be issued and paid to Her Majesty, out of the consolidated revenue of Queensland, in each of the ten years next succeeding the commencement of this Act, a sum not exceeding £15,000, for and in respect of the necessary expenses of the administration of the Government of the said territory in accordance with the conditions of the aforesaid amended proposals, or such other conditions as may be mutually agreed to by your Majesty's Imperial Government and the Government of the Colony of Queensland. 3. The Colonial Treasurer shall issue and pay the amount of such contribution to such person and in such manner as the Governor by any warrant or order under his hand shall direct. 4. The Colonial Treasurer shall, in his accounts, from time to time be allowed credit for any sum or sums of money paid by him in pursuance of any such warrant or order, and the receipt or receipts of the person to whom the same shall be so paid shall be a full and valid discharge to him in passing his accounts for any such sum or sums as shall be therein mentioned, and he shall receive credit for the same accordingly. 5. The New Guinea and Pacific Jurisdiction Contribution Act of 1884 is hereby repealed, except as to any obligations already incurred under that Act. 6. This Act may be cited as " the British New Guinea (Queensland) Act of 1887."

SCHEDULES. Fiest Schedule. Dbaft Pboposals for the future Administration of British New Guinea agreed to hy the Governments of the Colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria, at Sydney, on the 28th of April, 1886. I. The Colony of Queensland to undertake by a permanent Appropriation Act to defray the cost of the administration of the Government of British New Guinea to an extent not exceeding £15,000 per annum for the term of five years, subject to the following conditions : — 11. The Colonies of New South Wales and Victoria to undertake by similar permanent Appropriation Acts to bear equally with Queensland any amount which the latter colony may be called upon to pay under Article 1., so that each colony shall be liable for one-third of the whole expenditure to an extent not exceeding £5,000.