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PAPEES LAID BEFOEE CONFEEENCE AND OEDEEED TO BE PEINTED. No. 1. — List of Subjects proposed for Consideration.—(Laid before the Conference by the Hon. Daniel O'Connor. 1. Eeduction of the cable rates. 2. Question of representation of the Australian Colonies at the Vienna Postal Union Congress to be held in May next. 3. Date on which Australian Convention should come into force. Difficulties re fresh legislation. 4. Proposed Canadian mail-service. 5. Advertising on the back of telegram envelopes. 6. Insurance,of parcels. 7. Question of allowing senders of books, &0., to write their names and addresses on same. 8. Proposal for steps to be taken to prevent the repeated delivery of English mails in Sydney on Saturday afternoons. 9. Proposed reduction of rate of commission on intercolonial money-orders. 10. German proposals.

No. 2. — List of Additional Subjects. —(Laid before the Conference by the Hon. J. Gavan Duffy.-) 1. Agreement with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company (to include Queensland and New Zealand). 2. Vienna Congress. Postal Union :On what terms can we join ? Delegates to Vienna. 3. Eeduction of inland transit rates with foreign countries. 4. Intercolonial postal regulations (including late-fee and money-order telegrams). Newspapers : Eegulations and postage. Parcel-post : Packets not to exceed lib., above that to be sent by parcel-post. Post-cards. 5. Eeduction of postage throughout Australia to Id. per 6. Detention of mail-steamers at Adelaide. 7. Intercolonial telegraph regulations. Money-order telegrams, discontinuance of, One telegram of advice. (" E.P.", Eeply paid.) 8. Pacific and Canadian mail-service. 9. Intercolonial telegraph rates.

No. 3. — Draft Agreement between Her Majesty the Queen and the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company. An Agreement dated the day of March, 1891, and made between Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of the one part, and the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company, Limited (hereinafter called "the Extension Company"), of the other part. Wheeeas as these presents are entered into on behalf of Her Majesty by authority of the respective Governments of the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Province of South Australia (hereinafter referred to as " the contracting colonies ") : And whereas the telegraphic traffic of Australasia with other countries is carried by the cables and telegraphic lines of the Extension Company, in connection with lines belonging to the Indo-European Telegraphic Department of Her Majesty's Indian Government, the Eastern Telegraph Company (Limited), and the Indo-European Telegraph Company (Limited), and the lines and cables connected therewith (hereinafter called " the Cis-Indian Administrations ") : And whereas the terminal stations in Australia of the Eastern Company's submarine cables are situated at Port Darwin, in the Province of South Australia, and Eoebuck Bay, in the Colony of Western Australia : And whereas the transmission of telegraphic messages to and from the terminal stations in Australasia (hereinafter referred to as " the Australasian traffic " ) is now charged for at the rates specified in the First Schedule heteto (hereinafter referred to as " the existing rates ") : And whereas the total receipts for the year 1889 of the Extension Company and the Cis-Indian Administrations in respect of the Australasian traffic under the existing rates, after outpayments to other telegraph administrations, have, for the purposes of this agreement, been agreed between the parties at the sum of £237,736 : And whereas it has been proposed that the existing rates shall be reduced upon the terms and in consideration of th« guarantee hereinafter contained : Now these presents witness, and it is hereby agreed and declared, as follows : — 1. The Extension Company will, from and after the Ist day of April, 1891, transmit or procure the transmission of all telegraphic messages exchanged between the places mentioned in the Second Schedule hereto, and South and Western Australia, at the rates specified in the Second Schedule (hereinafter referred to as " the reduced rates"), 2. The Governments of the colonies, parties hereto, will, from and after the Ist day of April, 1891, transmit or procure the transmission between the said terminal stations of the company, and other places in the contracting colonies, of all telegraphic messages exchanged between the Australasian Colonies and other places at the rates specified in the Third Schedule. 3. If in any year, while the reduced rates shall continue in force, by virtue of these presents, the total receipts of the Extension Company and Cis-Indian Administrations in respect of the Australasian traffic, after deducting all outpayments to other telegraphic administrations, shall be less than the sum of £237,736, Her Majesty will cau>e to be paid to the Extension Company out of the consolidated revenue funds of the contracting colonies a sum equal to half the amount by which such receipts shall be less than the said sum of £237,736. 4. Any sum of money payable under clause 3 hereof shall be paid to the Extension Company in London in sterling money, free from all deductions, within three calendar months from the close of each year. 5. If there shall at any time in any year while the reduced rates continue in force by virtue of these presents be a total interruption of telegraphic communication between Australia and Europe, arising otherwise than by reason of war, or any suchlike cause, which shall continue for more than one calendar month, inclusive of the day on which the interruption shall begin, a deduction of one 365 th part of any sum payable under clause 3 hereof in respect of such year shall be made for every day beyond the said month during which there shall be such total interruption, inclusive of the day on which it ceases : Provided always that if such interruption shall arise by

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