3

A.—3d.

The Honourable the Premier of Queensland has had a Bill drafted for the purpose of giving legal effect to the intentions thus expressed. This Bill I have now the honour to submit for your consideration. I dare say it will be obvious to you that it is desirable to pass in the several colonies Acts as nearly identical as conveniently may be ; and I shall be glad, therefore, to learn whether you see your way to adopt the Bill now submitted. I would explain that, though the proposed subsidy is asked for more particularly in connection with New Guinea, it has been thought well, in drafting the Bill, to give expression to the entire policy of the Convention ia its relation to the other islands, as well as New Guinea ; and, therefore, in the preamble, the Convention's resolutions respecting all the islands have been recited, and the appropriation clause is made of similarly wide application. I have, &c. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. James Seevice, Chairman.

Enclosure. A Bill to make Provision for the Payment by the Colony of of a Proportionate Share of the Expenses incurred by Her Majesty's Government in giving effect to certain Resolutions arrived at by the Convention of Australasian Delegates which met in Sydney in November and December, 1883. Whereas at a Convention of representatives of the Governments of the several Australasian colonies, lately held at Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, it was, amongst other things, resolved, — (1.) That further acquisition of dominion in the Pacific, south of the Equator, by any Foreign Power, would be highly detrimental to the safety and well-being of the British possessions in Australasia, and injurious to the interests of the Empire ; (2.) That, having regard to the geographical position of the Island of New Guinea, the rapid extension of British trade and enterprise in Torres Straits, the certainty that the island will shortly be the resort of many adventurous subjects of Great Britain and other nations, and the absence or inadequacy of any existing laws for regulating their relations with the native tribes, this Convention, while fully recognizing that the responsibility of extending the boundaries of the Empire belongs to the Imperial Government, is emphatically of opinion that such steps should be immediately taken as will most conveniently and effectively secure the incorporation with the British Empire of so much of New Guinea and the small islands adjacent thereto as is not claimed by the Government of the Netherlands ; . " (3.) That although the understanding arrived at in 1878 between Great Britain and France recognizing the independence of the New Hebrides appears to preclude this Convention from making any recommendation inconsistent with that understanding, the Convention urges upon Her Majesty's Government that it is extremely desirable that such understanding should give place to some more definite engagement which shall secure those islands from falling under any foreign dominion ; at the same time, the Convention trusts that Her Majesty's Government will avail itself of any opportunity that may arise for negotiating with the Government of France with the object of obtaining the control of those islands in the interests of Australasia ; and (4.) That the Governments represented at this Convention undertake to submit and recommend to their respective Legislatures measures of permanent appropriation for defraying, in proportion to population, such share of the cost incurred in giving effect to the foregoing resolutions as Her Majesty's Government, having regard to the relative importance of Imperial and Australasian interests, may deem fair and reasonable: And whereas we, your Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the members of the Legislative Assembly of , are desirous of making permanent provision for defraying, out of the Consolidated Eevenue Fund of , a proportionate part of the cost to be incurred by your Majesty in giving effect to the foregoing resolutions, or any of them: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly of , in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : — 1. There shall be issued and paid to Her Majesty, out of the Consolidated Eevenue Fund, in each and every year during the continuance of this Act, for and towards the expenses incurred in respect of the maintenance of a naval force in the waters of New Guinea, and the exercise of protection in Her Majesty's name over the eastern shores of that island, or over any other island or islands in the Pacific Ocean over which Her Majesty may be pleased to exercise protection, a sum bearing the same proportion to the sum of fifteen thousand pounds as the population of the Colony of bears to the total population of the Australasian Colonies which for the time being contribute towards such expenses. In case of any difference arising as to the amount of such contribution, the same shall be referred to and decided by one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State. 2. The Colonial Treasurer shall issue and pay the amount of such contribution to such person and in such manner as the Governor, by any warrant or order under his hand, shall direct. 3. The Colonial Treasurer shall, in his accounts, from time to time be allowed credit for any sum or sums of money paid by him in pursuance of any such warrant or order ; and the receipt or receipts of the perspu to whom the same shall be so paid shall be a full and valid discharge to him in passing his accounts for any such sum or sums as shall be therein mentioned, and he shall receive credit for the same accordingly. 4. This Act may be cited as " The New Guinea Jurisdiction Contribution Act of 1884."