2

F.—B

against loss by South Australia by reduction of rates through that territory, and that the Government of South Australia be requested to act for the other contracting colonies in concluding the agreement with the Eastern Extension Company, and in collecting and paying the joint subsidies and contributions to the said company. Other matters were considered and withdrawn, and for such see Minutes of Proceedings. Appended to this report will be found—(l) Minutes of Proceedings ; (2) report of heads of departments; (3) draft of Australasian Postal Convention as adopted, and uniform telegraph regulations ; (4) papers laid before the Conference; (5) Press reports of the principal proceedSigned on behalf of New South Wales, Daniel O'Connoe. Signed on behalf of Victoria, John Gavan Duffy. Signed on behalf of South Australia, J. C. Beat. Signed on behalf of Queensland, Th. Unmack. Signed on behalf of Tasmania, B. Stafford Bied. Signed on behalf of New Zealand, J. G. Waed. Signed on behalf of Western Australia, John Foeeest. 10th March, 1891.

MINUTES OF THE PEOCEEDINGS. Executive Council Chambee, Sydney, 26th Febbuaey, 1891. The Conference met at 10.30 a.m., when the under-mentioned gentlemen, representing the colonies herein named, were present, viz.: New South Wales —The Hon. Daniel O'Connor, M.P., Post-master-General; S. H. Lambton, Esq., Secretary toihe Post Office Department; E. C. Cracknell, Esq., Superintendent of Telegraphs. Victoria—The Hon. John Gavan Duffy, M.P., PostmasterGeneral ; James Smibert, Esq., Deputy Postmaster-General. Queensland—The Hon. Theodore Unmack, M.P., Postmaster-General; John McDonnell, Esq., Under-Secretary to the Post and Telegraph Department. Tasmania—The Hon. B. Stafford Bird, M.P., Treasurer and PostmasterGeneral ; Eobert Henry, Esq., Superintendent of Telegraphs. The Hon. John Gavan Duffy proposed, and the Hon. B. Stafford Bird seconded, the appointment of the Hon. Daniel O'Connor as President, which was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Alex. Campbell Budge was appointed Secretary, upon the nomination of the Hou. John Gavau Duffy, seconded by the Hon. Theodore Unmack. The Conference then proceeded to consider the question of admitting the Press to the sittings, when it was unanimously resolved that such permission should be granted. The Hon. John Gavan Duffy, the Hon. B. Stafford Bird, and the Hon. Theodore Unmack laid their Commissions on the table. The Hon. B. Stafford Bird then drew the attention of the Conference to the decease of the Hon. David Bews, Minister of Education, South Australia, who was appointed to represent that colony at the Conference, and, after expressing his deepest sympathy, proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by the Hon. John Gavan Duffy, and adopted : " That this Conference has heard with deep regret of the sudden and untimely death of the Hon. D. Bews, and expresses its deep sympathy with Mrs. Bews, and with the Government and people of South Australia, in their bereavement/and that the President of the Conference be requested to convey a message of sympathy to Mrs. Bews and to the Premier of South Australia." The Conference, having in view the fact that several of the representatives had not yet arrived, adjourned until to-morrow at 2.30 o'clock.

Executive Council Chamber, Sydney, 27th Febbuaby, 1891. Present : New South Wales —The Hon. Daniel O'Connor, M.P., Postmaster-General (President); S. H. Lambton, Esq., Secretary to the Post Office Department; E. C. Cracknell, Esq., Superintendent of Telegraphs. Victoria —The Hon. John Gavan Duffy, M.P., Postmaster-General; James Smibert, Esq., Deputy Postmaster-General. South Australia—The Hon. Sir John Bray, K.C.M.G,; Chief Secretary; Charles Todd, Esq., C.M.G., M.A., F.E.S., Postmaster-General. Queensland— The Hon. Theodore Unmack, M.P., Postmaster-General; John McDonnell, Esq., Under-Secretary to the Post and Telegraph Department. Tasmania —The Hon. B. Stafford Bird, M.P., Treasurer and Postmaster-General; Eobert Henry, Esq., Superintendent of Telegraphs. New Zealand—The Hon. J. G. Ward, M.P., Postmaster-General; William Gray, Esq., Secretary to the Post Office and Telegraphs. Western Australia—The Hon. Sir John Bray, K.C.M.G., acting representative. The Conference having assembled at 2.30 p.m., the minutes of the proceedings of yesterday were read and confirmed. The Hon. Sir John Bray explained the cause of his absence from the first meeting, and expressed on behalf of the Government of South Australia his high appreciation of the resolution passed by the Conference respecting the decease of his colleague, the Hon. D. Bews. He also congratulated the President upon his appointment, and intimated that he had received a telegram from the Hon. John Forrest, Premier of Western Australia, asking him to represent that colony at the Conference until his arrival. The Hon. J. G. Ward -also congratulated the President, and, on behalf of New Zealand, expressed sympathy with South Australia in the loss of Mr. Bews. The Hon. the President then laid upon the table a Commission authorising him to represent the Colony of New South Wales at the Conference, also a telegram from the Premier of New Zealand authorising the Hon. J. G. Ward to represent that colony. The President proceeded to address the Conference generally on the business to be brought