ELECTRICAL. In accordance with a resolution passed at the Conference at Hobart recommending the appointment of a Committee of Experts to draft a Code of Rules and Regulations for erection of Electric Light and Power Wires, the Committee met in Sydney on the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th instant. Mr. TODD now presented the Report, which was ordered to be printed. The Conference adjourned until 10 a.m. to-morrow.

TUESDAY, 21 MABOH, 1893. The Conference met at 10 a.m. Present: New South Wales : The Hon. John Kidd, M.L.A., Postmaster-General. S. H. Lambton, Esq., Deputy Postmaster-General. P. B. Walker, Esq., Secretary Telegraph Service. Victoria : The Hon. Agar Wynne, M.L.C., Postmaster-General. James Smibert, Esq., Deputy Postmaster-General. South Australia : Charles Todd, Esq., C.M.G., M.A., E.R.S., Postmaster-General and Superintendent of Telegraphs. Western Australia : Richard A. Sholl, Esq., Postmaster-General. Tasmania : The Hon. Agar Wynne, M.L.C., Acting for Postmaster-Genersl, Tasmania. Robert Henri", Esq., Superintendent of Telegraphs. Henry Boyes, Esq., Secretary to the Post Office. New Zealand : The Hon. J. G. Ward, M.H.R., Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs. C. Lemon, Esq., Ph.D., Superintendent of Telegraphs. Queensland: The Hon. Theodore Unmack, M.L.A., Minister for Railways and Postmaster- General (President). John McDonnell, Esq., Under Secretary to the Post and Telegraph Department and Superintendent of Telegraphs. REPRESENTATION OP TASMANIA. The Hon. A. WYNNE (V.) said he had received a telegram from Mr. John Henry, PostmasterGeneral of Tasmania, stating that he found it impossible to attend the Conference, and asking him to act in his stead, lie (Mr. Wynne) would have much pleasure in acting as the representatives of Tasmania. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS OP PERMANENT HEADS OP DEPARTMENTS. Mr. J. McDONNELL, as Chairman of the Permanent Heads of Departments, presented their report and recommendations with respect to "P. and 0. and Orient Contract, 1895," and the " Fumigation of Mails at Eirst Australian Port at Joint Expense." Ordered to be printed. 1. Exercise of Vote and Representation at Postal Union Congress. The Hon. J. G. WARD (N.Z.), in moving— " That, in the opinion of this Conference, one representative should be sent from Australasia on behalf of all the Colonies to represent them at the Postal Union Congress " — said : Judging by past experience, it seems to me that it is not desirable to delegate important matters in which the whole of the colonies are concerned to someone who is 12,000 miles distant, and who has not had any opportunity of being brought into close touch with the requirements of the Postal Departments of the various colonies. My own opinion is, that it is of far greater importance to the colonies, now that they are in the Postal Union, that we should have at the Conference connected with the union a representative whom we can rely upon to fairly represent our general requirements and necessities, than it is to hold these Intercolonial Conferences. I am not sure whether it would be practicable to select more than one representative, but after considering the matter it does not seem to me that it will be. That there will be difficulties in making the selection I apprehend, but the colonies must sink any differences of opinion and select one gentleman. I think the representative should be the permanent head of the Postal Department of one of the colonies ; and I assume that each colony would make proper representations to whomsoever may be appointed. If it is thought desirable that two representatives should be appointed, by all means let it be considered ; but we should certainly have a live representative on the spot, who will be in a position to properly represent the interests of the colonies. I shall not make any further rftnarks on the subject, but simply move the motion standing in my name. The Hon. J. KTDD (N.S.W.): I will second the resolution, though I regard it as somewhat premature, except as an expression of the opinion of this Conference. The next Postal Union Congress will not be held until 1890, and at the earliest no representative will be appointed before 1895 ; the representatives who will form the Intercolonial Conference that year will have to choose the representative on behalf of the colonies, and we can have no voice in the matter. We can do nothing to bind any future Conference, but it may be an advantage to the Conference which will have to choose the representative, to know that such an appointment has the approval of this Conference. The mover of the resolution has suggested that a local

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