SECOND REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED AT THE POSTAL AND TELEGRAPHIC CONFERENCE HELD AT HOBART, 1892, FOE THE PURPOSE OF DRAFTING A CODE OF RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE ERECTION AND LAYING OF ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER WIRES.

The Committee lias the honour to report that, in compliance with the following resolution passed at the Postal and Telegraphic Conference held this year in New Zealand, viz.:— " That the Committee be requested to complete their labours by reporting on electric tramways and drafting regulations in regard to electric power leads generally," it met at Melbourne on the 30th of October, its sittings extending over the 31st of October, the Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, and Bth of November—the following members being present :— Sir Chaeles Todd, K.C.MG, M.A., F.R.S., M.1.E.E., PostmasterGeneral and Superintendent of Telegraphs, South Australia. Major P B. Walker, M.1.C.E., M.1.E.E., Secretary of the Telegraph Service, New South Wales; also representing New Zealand. George Smibekt, Esq., A.1.E.E., Telegraph Engineer and Chief Electrician of the Post Office and Telegraph Department, Victoria. Robert Henry, Esq.. Superintendent of Telegraphs, Tasmania. 0. Haes, Esq., M.T.E.E., Engineer of the Brush Electrical Engineering Company, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. A. J Arnot, Esq A.M.1.C.E., M.1.E.E., Melbourne City Electrical Engineer Jas. 0 Callender, Esq., A.1.E.E., Callender's Bitumen Telegraph Waterproof Company Limited, London and Sydney The members at their first meeting were received and welcomed by the Hon. J Gavan Duffy, M.P., Postmaster-General, who alluded to the important business which would occupy the attention and consideration of the Committee, and referred to the necessity for the proper regulation of electric lighting and power wires in order to insure public safety Among other things he mentioned that a Bill intituled the Electric Light and Power Bill was about to be introduced into the Victorian Parliament, a copy of which Bill would be supplied to each member of the Committee, and he would be glad to receive from the Committee any suggestion they might desire to make on the Bill. Major Walker proposed, and Mr G Smibert seconded, that Sir Charles Todd be appointed Chairman, which was unanimously agreed to. On taking the chair, Sir C. Todd thanked the members of the Committee for the honour they had conferred upon him in again electing him their Chairman. He reported, for the information of the Committee, that the report and draft regulations to be observed in the erection or laying of electric light and power wires, drawn up at their first meeting in Sydney in March, 1893, w r ere laid by him before the Postal and Telegraph Conference held at Brisbane the same month, and favorably received. 8625.