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No. 3.— ltaly charging Sea Surtax: Report by Postmaster- General, Adelaide. The Postmaster-General, Adelaide, reports that Italy, from Ist January, 1895, abolished Sea Surtax of \sd. as recommended at Wellington Conference, which amounts to reduction of postage from id. to 2%d. No. 4. — Stoppage of Letters addressed to senders of Obscene Matter Nos. 4 and 22.—We are of opinion that when letters are addressed to persons who have sent photographs and catalogues of a decidedly obscene character, they should be stopped in the manner provided for in the case of sweeps, &c, and in any amendment of the Postal Laws we advise that provision be made accordingly With reference to obscene circulars sent by post by a firm in Holland, we find that steps were taken by the various Administrations to prevent the delivery of these circulars, and we recommend, that a joint protest be sent to the Berne Bureau, and as there appears nothing in the Universal Postal Union Convention directly dealing with the transmission of obscene matter, we think that the question should be brought up at the next Quinquennial Congress. No. 6. —Delivery of indefinitely addressed Letters to business people. The Berne Bureau wrote at the instance of the Hungary Office, inquiring whether the Post Office would undertake to distribute packets of fully prepaid letters which do not bear a precise address, but only a vague one, such as Mr , tailor, grocer, &c. The Berne Office has recently forwarded summary of replies received from other Postal Administrations, most of which are adverse to the proposal of Hungary We, however, see no objection to deliver in Australia any single article bearing such address, provided that it bears full rates. No. 7.— The Colonies remitting through the Treasury. We suggest that the Australian Postal Administrations be permitted, as formerly, to adjust accounts direct one with the other, and remit their balances direct instead of through the Treasury The question was considered at the Wellington Conference, when it was reported "that the present arrangement caused delay, but it was proposed to give it a further trial, and the result reported at the next Conference." Further experience has shown that continued delay arises in the settlement of accounts, the amounts due to the Postal Departments frequently remaining unpaid for considerable periods. No. B.— Uniform Statistics We recommend the acceptance of the Forms as prepared by the Sydney Office, with the following exceptions :— Form 3. Columns Nos. 8 to 11 to be retained. „ 5. Column 3. The word " Offices "to be substituted for " Statistics." „ 5. The words " Despatched "to be substituted for " Transmitted." „ 10. Omit Revenue No. 3, and insert under Expenditure No. 3, "Conveyance of Mails less Contributions from other Administrations. ,, „ 10. No. 1 to be amended to read as follows:—"Estimated proceeds of sale of Postage Stamps used for payment of correspondence." No. 9.— Notification of promotion of higher grade Postal Officials. The Berne Bureau forwarded a proposal from the Egyptian Office that the offices of the Union should be kept informed of the personnel of the higher class of the various Administrations, and that the " Postal Union Journal " might give this information, which could be supplied to the Editor by the Head Offices. We see no objection to the information being given, restricted, however, to the Ministers, Permanent Heads, and Heads of Principal Branches. No. 10.— Postal Guides: uniformity of We recommend that the Postmaster-General of South Australia be asked to revise a Guide on uniform lines, and submit the same to next Conference. No. 11.— Post Cards of private manufacture: Regulations. We beg to recommend that private cards, bearing adhesive stamps of proper value, measuring not less than A" x 3", and not more than 6\" x not of thicker material than that used for official Post Cards, be adopted in the various Colonies, and accepted reciprocally under the same conditions as official Post Cards. In reference to this matter the London Office wrote asking the following four questions : — (1) Whether a plain card with an adhesive stamp might reasonably be allowed to circulate in the Union as a postcard under the usual regulations? (2) If not, whether a plain card with the word " post card " written upon it, and with an adhesive stamp, might reasonably be admitted ? (3) Whether any relaxation of rules that might be deemed reasonable for single cards should apply to reply cards ?