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but it affords me infinite pleasure to know that we have seen so much of it in so short a space of time, and with that pleasure there shall be mingled the thought that we have been enabled to see so much of it by your own efforts, which have been made at a sacrifice in order to minister to our requirements. Hon. Mr Wilson (Queensland) On behalf of Queensland, I would like to add to the remarks that have fallen from the previous speakers. I thank you for your hospitality "When I left for New Zealand I had no idea that I would see so many wonders here. Having formerly passed through New Zealand on my way to England I had some knowledge of it, but I had no idea of the great extent of the country until I gained it through your hospitality I can only say that I highly appreciate my visit to, and the information gained during my stay in, New Zealand. These will, I have no doubt, afford me great pleasure in the future, and be of profit to me. I have also to thank Mrs. Ward for her very great kindness and for the way in which she has attended to the ladies. Altogether, our visit has been most enjoyable, and we shall be very sorry indeed to leave New Zealand. Hon. Mr Paekee (Western Australia) I desire to say that I concur in the remarks made by the members of this Conference who have already spoken on this subject. I desire to thank you and Mrs. Ward particularly for your kindness to the delegates of my colony I may truly say that before I arrived in this country I had very little knowledge of its resources. I have been very greatly impressed with this charming colony, not only with its magnificent scenery, but also with its agricultural and pastoral lands. I leave New Zealand almost regretting that I was not born a New-Zealander instead of an Australian. Then, the question being put by the Hon. Mr. Kidd (New South Wales), it was unanimously resolved in the affirmative. Besolved, That the thanks of tbis Conference be accorded the Hon. the President for the hospitality extended by him to the delegates since their arrival in New Zealand, and for the able manner in which he has presided. Hon. Mr Wabd (New Zealand) I have to thank you very much for the resolution which has been passed. I also thank you very heartily for the kind expressions to which you have severally given utterance. I feel you have said many things which I accept as a compliment, but which I scarcely deserve. In connection with the tour we have made through the colony, I should be wanting in acknowledgment to Mr Gray, the head of the department, were I to omit to say that to him largely is due the excellence of the arrangements which have been carried out. Upon him has devolved a very large share of the hard work in connection with the tour, so that any success which may have attended our visit through the colony is due to Mr Gray I have much pleasure in acknowledging it. lam too gratified to hear you say so many kind things of New Zealand, and I hope during the trip the representatives of the various colonies have acquired information which may be of use to them in the future. We have been exceedingly proud to have you amongst us and to have entertained you, and if we have succeeded in doing that it was all we hoped for I cannot forget, myself, the universal kindness and courtesy extended to me and those with me upon each of our visits to the Australian Colonies, and if in New Zealand we have extended hospitality and courtesy we have only followed the good example set us when we were upon your shores. When you leave New Zealand we shall feel we have lost a number of friends. And if my friend regrets he has not been born in New Zealand I can only express my regret that I have not tieen born in each of the other colonies. However, I can only hope for good results from this Conference , that it will be productive of a considerable amount of good in the future. And I trust that at no distant date another Conference may be held in the direction to which this Conference has given utterance—a tariff Conference. I feel, myself, it is of the greatest importance to the whole of the colonies that such a Conference should be held. If our statesmen could only see their way to have a Customs Union it would be, in my opinion, of very considerably more importance than what is known as federation—in the meantime at any rate. I trust, as the result of the colonies' enterprise in sending their representatives here, that we may before long see some practical steps taken to adopt a Customs tariff which will enable the colonies to carry and improve regulations which day by day become necessary I have only to thank you, Mr Kidd, and the gentlemen here, for the resolution you have passed, and the kind expressions to which you have given utterance, and I shall have very great pleasure in informing Mrs. Ward of the kind way in which you have spoken of her VOTES OF THANKS. Votes of thanks having been proposed by the various delegates to Mr W Gray, Chairman of the Heads of Departments, to the Departmental Heads, to the Press, to the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, and to the Secretaries to the Conference, And the question being severally put thereon, they were unanimously resolved in the affirmative. BUSINESS OP CONFEEENCE TO BE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE HON. THE PRESIDENT. On motion of Hon. Dr Cockburn (South Australia), seconded by Hon. Mr Paekee (Western Australia), Besolved, That all communications arising out of the business of this Conference should be despatched through the President of the Conference, and that there should be a distinct understanding on this point. NEXT MEETING OF THE POSTAL AND TELEGEAPH CONFERENCE. On motion of Hon. Mr Wynne (Victoria), seconded by Hon. Mr. Wabd (New Zealand), Besolved, That the next meeting of the Postal and Telegraph Conference should be held in Melbourne. ADJOURNMENT. On motion of the Hon. Mr Wabd (New Zealand), Besolved, That this Conference do now adjourn. The Conference accordingly adjourned sine die. 5—F 2.