15

F.—3

The Conference, shortly after 1 o'clock, adjourned until Monday, the 29th instant, at half-past ■ 10 o'clock. John Robeetson, Chairman.

he Conference.

Monday, 29th January, 1877. [The Hon. Malcolm Fraser, representative of Western Australia, was present at this and each subsequent sitting.] The Conference having met at half-past 10 o'clock, the minutes of the proceedings on the 27th instant were read and confirmed. The Hon. Alex. Stuart then proposed the following motion : — "That the subsidy on ocean cables to connect Australia with Europe be borne by the several Australian Colonies in proportion to population," and the same having been discussed by the Conference, and verbally amended, was unanimously adopted. The motion as passed is as follows : — " That any subsidy on ocean cables to connect Australia with Europe, shall be borne by the several Australian Colonies assenting thereto, in proportion to population." The Hon. Alex. Stuart then proposed the following motion : — " That the loss, if any, on colonial lines, to connect the cables with the main telegraphic system of each colony, shall in like manner be borne by all the colonies concerned." Tho Hon. R. S. Anderson then moved an amendment that after the word " lines," the words " that it may be found necessary to construct" be inserted. After discussion, the Conference unanimously agreed that the further consideration of the motion should be postponed until to-morrow. The Hon. Alex. Stuart then moved that the motion (No. 4) on the paper should stand over until No. 3 shall have been disposed of. The Hon. Samuel Walker Griffith then moved — " That any duplicate system should be by a distinct route throughout from that now in use." After discussion, the Conference resolved to postpone the further consideration of the subject until the next meeting. The Hon. Ebenezer Ward then gave notice of the following motion for to-morrow: — " That this Conference approves of the construction of duplicate cables from Singapore to Banjoewangie, and from Banjoewangie to Port Darwin, and that it is advisable offers should be invited from persons or companies willing to construct and maintain such cables." The Hon. Malcolm Fraser gave notice of the following motion for to-morrow :— " That any duplication of the present cables start from the north-west coast of Western Australia." The Council then adjourned at a quarter to 2 o'clock until next day, at half-past 10 o'clock. John Robeetson, Chairman.

Tuesday, 30th Januaey, 1877. The Conference having met at half-past 10 o'clock, the minutes of the proceedings on the 29th instant were read and confirmed. The Hon. John F. Burns laid before the Conference a report from the Acting Superintendent of Telegraphs on the subject of a duplicate cable, which was read by the Secretary. The consideration of the following resolution, moved by the Hon. Samuel Walker Griffith, was resumed, viz., — " That any duplicate system should be by a distinct route throughout from that now in use." And after discussion, the Conference, on the motion of the Hon. R. Ramsay, resolved to examine such of the professional and other gentlemen in attendance as they might consider to be necessary. Messrs. Taylor, Knevitt, and Audley Coote werre then separately examined. (For Evidence see Appendix.) The Hon. Sir Henry Ayers, on behalf of the Hon. Ebenezer Ward, moved the resolution of which notice was given yesterday, as an amendment on the resolution of the Hon. Samuel Walker Griffith, That all the words after the word " that" be omitted, with the view to the insertion of the following words:— " [That] this Conference approves of the construction of duplicate cables from Singapore to Banjoewangie, and from Banjoewangie to Port Darwin, and that it is advisable offers should be invited from persons or companies willing to construct and maintain such cables." The Hon. James Whyte moved as a further amendment, — " That the further consideration of the resolution and amendment be postponed until resolution No. 3 (moved by the Hon. Alex. Stuart), and the amendment thereon (moved by the Hon. R. S. Anderson), shall have been disposed of." After discussion, the amendment proposed by the Hon. James Whyte was put and negatived on the following division : — Ayes. Noes. New Zealand. New South Wales. Tasmania. Queensland. Western Australia. South Australia. Victoria. The question was then put, That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question :— Aye. Noes. Queensland. New South Wales. South Australia. Victoria.