9

A.—4

You may have since observed that on the 12th instant Mr. Gladstone stated in the House of Commons, in reply to Mr. McCarthy, that Her Majesty's Government have decided not to introduce such a measure this session, and in reply to Sir S. Northcote, that, in the view of Her Majesty's Government at present, the consideration of any other subject but the Franchise Bill would be out of place in the autumn session. Lord Derby would be glad to learn when it is anticipated that the Legislature of New South Wales will proceed to consider the resolution of the Intercolonial Convention. I have, &c, E. H. Meade.

The Agent-General to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. g IH _ 22nd August, 1884. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Meade's letter of the 15th instant, and to state that I am daily expecting to hear that the resolutions of the Intercolonial Convention have been considered by the New South Wales Legislature. Immediately I hear the result I will communicate it for the information of the Earl of Derby. I have, &c, Saul Samuel.

No. 10. His Excellency the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. My Lord, Government House, Sydney, 6th November, 1884. I have the honour to enclose to your Lordship copy of a letter which I have received from the President of the Legislative Council, transmitting to me, for presentation through your Lordship to Her Majesty the Queen, an address of the Legislative Council in reference to the subject of Federation. 2. I also annex copy of the reply which I have addressed to Sir John Hay. I have, &c, Augustus Loftus.

Enclosures. The President of the Legislative Council to His Excellency the Governor. Legislative Council Offices, Sydney, 31st October, 1884. May it please your Excellency,— In accordance with tho seventy-third section of the Standing Orders of the Legislative Council, I have the honour to transmit herewith an address, adopted on the motion of Mr. Dalley, communicating to your Excellency certain resolutions in reference to Federation, &c. I have, &c, John Hay, President.

That this House, having under consideration the following resolutions adopted at the Australasian Convention held in Sydney in November and December, 1883—namely, (1) 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 ; (2) 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 ; (3) that the Convention protests in the strongest manner against the declared intention of the Government of France to transport large numbers of relapsed criminals to the French possessions in the Pacific, and urges upon Her Majesty's Government to use every means in its power to prevent the adoption of a course so disastrous to the interests of Australasia and the Pacific islands ; (4) that the Convention expresses a confident hope that_ no penal settlement for the reception of European criminals will long continue to exist in the Pacific, and invites Her Majesty's Government to make to tho Government of France such serious representations on this subject as may be deemed expedient—records its approval of the said resolutions. 2. That this House, recognizing that the time has not yet arrived at which a complete Federal Union of the Australasian Colonies can be attained, but considering that there are many matters of general interest with respect to which united action would be advantageous, recommends the adoption in substance of the accompanying draft Bill for the constitution of a Federal Council, as defining the matters upon which such united action is both desirable and practicable, and as embodying substantially the provisions best adapted to secure that object. 3. That a humble address be presented to -Her Majesty, praying that Her Majesty may be graciously pleased to cause a measure to be submitted to the Imperial Parliament for the purpose of 2—A. 4.