E.—No. 4.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Heney Halloean to the Hon. E. W. Stapfoed. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic,— Sydney, New South Wales, 31st August, 1867. Eefcrring to my letter of the 12th instant, I have the honor to enclose for your information a copy of a further communication that has been addressed to the Chief Secretary of Victoria on the subject of the Federal Council Bill now before the Barliament of this Colony, together with a copy of the papers transmitted therein. I have, &c, The Hon. tho Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Heney Halloean. (for the Colonial Secretary.)

Enclosure in No. 2. The Hon. Henet Paekes to the Hon. the Chiep Seceetaby, Victoria. • Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic,— Sydney, New South Wales,, 29th August, 1867. Eefcrring to my letter of the 6th instant, enclosing copies of the Federal Council Bill, and informing you that the second reading of that Bill would not be proceeded with before the 15th, in order that time might be. afforded for you to offer any observation that you might desire to make on its provisions, I now beg to transmit, for your further information, a copy of the Bill as it was read a second time, and passed through Committee yesterday. I also send, by the same post, a copy of the Sydney Morning Herald, containing a report of the proceedings in the Legislative Assembly on the occasion, though I cannot undertake to say how far this is an accurate rejaort of what occurred. 2. It will be observed that this Government waited a fortnight beyond the time fixed in my letter of the 6th for the second reading. Eeceiving no reply to my communication I infer that you do not desire to discuss the matter of our correspondence any further at this stage. 3. In deference to the objection raised by you, the third clause has been amended by expunging from it the provisions for unanimity in tho decisions of the Federal Council. I have, <&c, The Hon. the Chief Secretary, Victoria. Heney Baekes.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 2. Tins Public Bill originated in the Legislative Assembly, and having this day passed, is now ready for presentation to the Legislative Council for its concurrence. Clerk of Legislative Assembly. Legislative Assembly Chamber, Sydney, 1867.

NEW SOUTH WALES. Aoto Tkicessimo Peimo Victori_e Reg-in_e, No. —. An Act to authorize tho appointment of Members of the Executive Council to be Members of a Federal Council of the Australasian Colonies. Preamble. Wiieeeas the Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, New Zealand, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, respectively agreed to depute certain of their members to meet in Conference to consider and determine the best means of establishing a satisfactory system of steamship communication between the Australasian Colonies and Great Britain, for postal and other purposes. And whereas in pursuance of such agreement a Conference was held in the City of Melbourne, at which certain resolutions were unanimously passed, and a certain Memorial, to be addressed separately by the respective Governments to Her Majesty the Queen, was unanimously adopted; and it was further resolved unanimously that it was expedient to establish a Federal Council, consisting of representatives from the Australasian Colonies, in order to carry into effect tho agreements embodied in the said resolutions and the said Memorial: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the consent and advice of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly of New South Wales, in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: — Executive Councillors may be appointed to represent the Colony in any Federal Council. 1. It shall be lawful for the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, to appoint one or more members of the Executive Council to represent this Colony in any Federal Council which may hereafter be created by tho authority of the Parliaments of any two or more of the Australian Colonies. Special powers of members of Federal Council. 2. It shall bo lawful for the member or members representing this Colony in any such Federal Council to deliberate ' upon, vote for, and give assent to any resolutions or measures that may be necessary to carry out and establish the system of steamship communication for postal and other purposes, embodied in the proceedings of the Melbourne Conference, as contained in Schedules hereto, A, B, and C, or any modification thereof, not exceeding the annual expenditure for Ocean Mail Services of £55,000, which may secure to this Colony the benefit of the proposed system; and the decisions of any such Federal Council in respect to the matters set forth in the said schedules, in which tho member or members representing this Colony shall deliberate, vote, and give assent, shall be binding. 2

See Schedule to Enclosure in No. 1.

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MELBOURNE POSTAL CONEERENCE.