POSTAL AND TELEGRAPHIC CONFERENCE, 1896.

Report of the Delegates to the Intercolonial Conference, HELD AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, SYDNEY, IN NOVEMBER, 1896.

President: —The Honorable Joseph Cook, M.P., Postmaster-General of New South Wales. All the Colonies of Australasia were represented except NeAV Zealand. The Conference opened its session on Saturday, the 14th, and concluded its business on the 19th November, 1896 : — The Conference was mainly convened for the purpose of considering two matters, viz. : — 1. The business connected with the tenders for the Federal Mail Service, copies of which tenders had been forwarded to the Governments of the respectiye Australian Colonies by the Imperial Government. 2. The question of representation at the Universal Postal Union Congress to be held at Washington in May, 1897. But it was determined to take advantage of the meeting for the consideration of other matters deemed to be of sufficient Intercolonial urgency and importance. The result of the deliberation of the Conference is shown by the following proceedings and resolutions, viz.:— FEDERAL MAIL SERVICE. In regard to this matter it was decided to despatch the following cablegram to the Right Honorable the Postmaster-General, London, viz.:— Fedkb.vl Mail Tenders. —In view of your cables on the subject, and our desire to secure continuance of Federal Mail Service, there appears no alternative but to consent acceptance tender P. & O. as well as Orient Company, as suggested by Imperial (lovernment. Conference in consenting urges negotiations to secure following modifications : — 1. Term of contracts —five years. 2. Duration of voyage —072 hours for both Companies between Naples, Brindisi, and Adelaide. 3. Time of departure from Adelaide —Saturday, 23() p.m. 4. Steamers to enter Princess Eoyal Harbour, Albany, until Freemantle Harbour approved by Admiralty Surveyors, after which steamers to enter latter harbour. JOSEPH COOK, President of Intercolonial Conference, Sydney, 19/11/96. PROPOSED UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION CONGRESS AT WASHINGTON IN MAY, 1897. It was resolved as follows :—"That a Minister controlling an Australasian Post Office —accompanied by Mr. James Smibert, Deputy Postmaster-General of Victoria, as postal expert —attend the Washington Congress as Representative of Australasia" ; and in regard to the Report of the Permanent Heads as to certain of the subjects that are likely to be discussed at the Congress in question, the following resolution was ariived at, viz.: " That the Report be adopted, subject to such addition and amendments as may be forwarded by the Colonies previous to the departure of the Australasian Delegate for Washington." The

80—A