6

A.—s

proceedings was a motion by Sir Charles Mills, one of the Cape delegates, in the direction of extending the line to that colony, which was also eventually carried. After this the Hon. Mr. Thynne, of Queensland, submitted his motion in favour of undertaking the construction of the cable as a national work, which, however, was almost unanimously resisted, the result being that it was withdrawn. Then followed a motion by the Hon. Mr. Foster : " That the Imperial Government be respectfully requested to undertake at the earliest possible moment, and to prosecute with all possible speed, a through survey of the proposed cable route between Canada and Australasia, the expense to be borne in°equal proportion by Great Britain, Canada, and the Australian Colonies.'' This met with the approval of every member but the writer, who, regarding it as a mere repetition of what had been done at previous Conferences, at first opposed the step as being ineffective for obtaining what was required; but, on being generally appealed to not to destroy an otherwise unanimous vote, he, without prejudice to his own proposals, eventually agreed to support the motion. This cleared the ground for the introduction of the resolutions of the writer in regard to calling for tenders. It was evident from the first that this step was against the views of the rest of the members, and it was only seconded pro forma by the Hon. Mr. Playford for the purpose of discussion, after the Hon. Mr. Fitzgerald, a Victorian delegate, had first said that "he hoped the mover would stand alone." As a matter of course, the resolutions were lost by " the mover standing alone." The very next day, however, Mr. Fitzgerald, having in the meantime, no doubt, reconsidered the matter, brought forward a motion as follows : " That, in the opinion of this Conference, immediate steps should be taken for the construction of the cable from Australasia to Canada as far as the Colony of Fiji, to which place the survey is already completed, on a tripartite arrangement between Great Britain and Canada and the Australasian Colonies." In introducing his motion, Mr. Fitzgerald made the following reference to the writer's speech of the day before when introducing his resolutions : " I feel the force of the observations made by Mr. Lee-Smith yesterday—that this was simply an abstract resolution "—i.e., the one regarding survey—" and that it was necessary on such important questions to take some definite action showing our sincerity." Mr. Fitzgerald's motion was ultimately withdrawn. This completed the business connected with the Pacific cable question, excepting the passing of a motion on the last day of the Conference to the effect " That the Canadian Government should take such steps as may be expedient in order to ascertain the cost of the cable." The writer gave this motion a hearty support, because, in his view, no steps other than the calling of tenders could possibly be of any practical avail for carrying out its object, a view that was afterwards indorsed by the almost immediate action of the Canadian Governments following out that plan. Hence the same purpose has been secured by the passing of this motion as would have been the result of the writer's first resolutions had they been carried. A considerable space has been given to this subject, but its importance, and the many conflicting interests which surround it, necessitate a pretty full account being given of the views taken by the Conference. It will be noticed that but little reference has been made to the question of routes. This branch of the subject, and also that of the cost, were of course debated; but in the absence of any definite conclusion thereon it is not thought that a detailed account of what passed would be of interest or value. It may be added that some disappointment was felt when it was found that the Hawaiian Government had taken possession of Neckar Island, for this will probably prove to be a source of difficulty in finding a landing-place for the first link from Vancouver southwards. Finally, it is gratifying to learn that in response to the Canadian Government's advertisements for tenders —the particulars of which are appended—several offers have, it is understood, been sent in at considerably less than the previously estimated cost. Should this prove to be the case, the matter will then be ripe for the immediate and active co-operation of the various Governments interested in taking measures towards its early completion. TEADE WITHIN THE EMPIEE. It will be remembered that in the early part of the Conference a motion had been passed expressing the desirability of provision being made by Imperial legislation to enable the dependencies of the Empire to enter into agreements of commercial reciprocity, including power to make differential tariffs with Great Britain or with one another. This, of course, was only a preliminary step towards a more advanced movement in the direction of establishing closer trade relations. The Hon. Mr. Foster therefore moved the following resolutions: " Whereas the stability and progress of the British Empire can be best assured by drawing continually closer the bonds that unite the colonies with the Mother-country, and by the continuous growth of a practical sympathy and co-operation in all that pertains to the common welfare : And whereas this co-operation and unity can in no way be more effectually promoted than by the cultivation and extension of the mutual and profitable interchange of their products : Eesolved, That this Conference records its belief in the advisability and practical possibility of a Customs arrangement between Great Britain and her colonies by which trade within the Empire may be placed on a more favourable footing than that which is carried on with foreign countries. And further resolved, That, pending the assent of the Mother-country to such an arrangement, in which she shall be' included, it is desirable that the colonies of Great Britain, or such of them as may be disposed to accede to this view, take immediate steps to place each other's products on a more favoured basis than is accorded to the like products of other countries." Mr. Foster is the Canadian Minister of Finance, and is a gentleman possessing great practical knowledge of all matters connected with the interests of his department. He is, moreover, an eloquent speaker, with much debating pOwer. His speech was an exhaustive examination of the whole subject of commercial intercourse. It was pitched in high tones, the key-note being the im-