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R—3a

(8.) That in consideration of the advantage afforded to the Australasian Colonies by the maintenance by Queensland of a duplicate land line of telegraph terminating at Normantown, the colonies represented at this Conference consent to recognize any cable that may be laid across the Gulf of Carpentaria, of say 360 miles in length, between Normantown and Roper's River, as an ocean line within the meaning of Resolution 1. (9.) That in any arrangement entered into with the Eastern Telegraph Extension Company for subsidizing a duplicate cable provision should be made for the maintenance by such company during the subsistence of tho contract of both the old and the new lines in full working order. Sir James Wilson, with tho leave of the Conference, withdrew the resolutions 8 and 9. The Conference then divided on the remainder of Sir James Wilson's resolutions, Nos. 1 to 7, with the following result :— For. Against. Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania. South Australia, Victoria. Mr. Burns, with the permission of the Conference, withdrew the contingent motion of which he had given notice, and proposed the following amended resolution in lieu thereof :— That the Eastern Extension Company should, without any additional subsidy, other than already agreed to for the duplication of the line from Singapore to Port Darwin, reduce their charges for Governmental messages between England and Port Darwin to the extent of 50 per cent., and their charges for press messages to the extent of 75 per cent, on the present rates. Discussion ensued. Carried without dissent. Mr. Cuthbert moved the following resolution, of which he had given notice:— That such subsidy shall cease whenever the profits of the company are sufficient to pay a dividend of £10 per cent, on the capital invested. Discussion ensued. Motion, by leave, withdrawn. Mr. Cuthbert then moved— That provision be made in the contract with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company for the purchase, by the combined colonies, of the duplicate cable, on equitable terms, at any time during the currency of the subsidy. Discussed ensued. Carried without dissent. Mr. Cuthbert then moved—That in calculating the amount of subsidy to be paid to the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, the actual cost of the duplicate cable shall be the basis. Carried without dissent. Mr. Mem then moved the following resolutions, of which he had given notice :— That the Queensland lines of telegraph terminating at Kimberley, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, be connected with the terminus of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company's cables at Port Darwin by means of a cable from Kimberley to the mouth of the Roper River, and thence by a land line to Port Darwin. That the land line from the Roper River be constructed and maintained at the cost of South Australia, and that so long as such line shall be maintained in full working order the other colonies shall pay to South Australia an annual sum equal to six pounds per centum of the original capital amount expended by that colony in the construction of such line. That the cable between Kimberley and tho Roper River be constructed at the joint cost of the different Australasian Colonies, except South Australia, such colonies to contribute thereto in amounts proportionate to their population as officially estimated on the 31st day of December 1877 ; and that the income derivable from such cable be set apart as a reserve fund for the renewal thereof. That the rate payable to South Australia for international messages transmitted across the present trans-continental line bo reduced to Is. per word. That tho rate to be charged by South Australia for international messages between Port Darwin and the Roper River be 4d. per word. That the rate to be charged for international messages by the cable between the Roper River and Kimberley be 6d. per word. That the rate to be charged by Queensland for international messages across her lines of telegraph shall not exceed 2d. per word. That ill all instances the senders of international messages shall be at liberty to elect the route by which such messages shall be forwarded ; and, in the event of no election being made at the time of the delivery of messages for transmission, messages to and from New Zealand, New South Wales, and Queensland shall be transmitted by way of the Queensland lines, and the new route to be established between Kimberley and Port Darwin, and all other messages shall be transmitted by way of the present trans-continental line of South Australia. Sir James Wilson seconded tho resolutions. Discussion ensued, and the Conference divided, with the following result : — For. Against. Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania. South Australia, Victoria.