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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

REPORT BY REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Melbourne, 26th March, 1867.

SIR,-

We have the honor to report to you the result of the proceedings of the Conference of
Delegates from the Governments of the several Australasian Colonies, on the subject of Ocean Postal
Communication, at which Conference we were authorized to represent the Government of New
Zealand.

The Conference met in Melbourne on the 4th instant, and was attended by Delegates from all
the Australasian Colonies (excepting Western Australia,) who undertook that their Governments would
be bound by such resolutions of the Conference as they themselves might individually assent to.

The Conference considered:-firstly, "The permanent arrangement which it may be desirable, with
the concurrence of the Imperial Government, to adopt for maintaining and improving the Postal
Communication between the United Kingdom and the Colonies in question;" and, secondly, "The
contribution to the cost of the existing Sydney and Panama Service, which, pending the coming into
operation of the permanent arrangement above referred to, should be made by the Colonies who are
not parties to this contract."

Upon the first branch of the subject, the Representatives from each Colony began by submitting
to the Conference their several views of the most satisfactory scheme for a postal service. After a
protracted discussion of the various proposals so made, the following arrangement was at length
unanimously adopted; namely-That three lines of Postal Communication between Australasia and
Great Britain should be established-1, by Melbourne, South Australia, and Galle or Mauritius; 2,
by New Zealand and Panama; 3, by Brisbane, Torres Straits, and Singapore. The Australian
terminus of all three lines would be at Sydney. It was agreed to provide in addition all the branch
are services which required to complete the communication with the principal Colonial Ports.

The total cost of the whole of these services was estimated, on reliable data, not to exceed
£400,000 a year. For reasons explained in the resolutions of the Conference, it was assumed that
the Imperial Government will agree to bear one-half the cost of the new services, as is the case with
the one now in operation. The remainder, as the Colonial moiety, was apportioned as follows :-

To Victoria
... ... ... One-fourth.
" New South Wales
... ... ... One-fourth.
" New Zealand
... ... ... One-fourth.
" Queensland
... ... ... One-seventh.
" South Australia
... ... ... One-twelfth.
" Tasmania
... ... ... One-fiftieth.

The Colony of Western Australia not being represented at the Conference, it was deemed advisable
to leave the contribution of that Colony at or near its present amount, which is represented by the
small fraction required to make up the total of the Colonial moiety.

In consequence of the length of the notices requisite for determining the existing contract with
the Peninsular and Oriental Company, the new arrangement can hardly, under any circumstances,
come into operation in less than two years and a half from the present time.

It was further resolved that the new contracts for the main services should be made for a period
of seven years. The agreement between the Colonies now entered into, may consequently, if given
effect to by the action of the Imperial Government, be deemed to be concluded for the same period.

In order to carry out the resolutions of the Conference, and to obtain for them the most
favorable consideration of the Imperial Government, a Memorial to Her Majesty was drawn up and
signed by all the Representatives. It was also agreed that the several Colonial Governments should
do all that may be necessary in London to further the objects of the Conference.

On the second branch of the subject, namely, the contribution to be made provisionally by the
non-contracting Colonies to the cost of the Panama service, we regret to state that no satisfactory
arrangement was arrived at by the Conference. The importance of a settlement of this question was
pressed on the consideration of the Conference by the Representatives of New South Wales and New
Zealand. But as, after several days' discussion, there appeared no prospect of a satisfactory result
being arrived at, it was eventually determined to refer the matter to private negotiation between the
Colonies concerned, by which means it was believed that a settlement would be most speedily arrived
at. We are glad to state that to some extent these negotiations have already been successful.

It was agreed that, in accordance with the suggestion emanating from the Imperial Government,
the Colonies in combination should undertake to call for tenders, and enter into the contracts
necessary for connecting the Australian Colonies with the lines of postal communication maintained
by the Imperial Government. With a view to the adoption of the measures requisite for this purpose,
and also for carrying out in other respects the resolutions of the Conference, it was deemed expedient
that a Federal Council, comprising Representatives from all the Australasian Colonies, should be
established. The meeting of this Council will be necessary when the answer of the Imperial Govern-
ment shall have been received.

The Conference was unanimously of opinion that other subjects of common interest, as they arise
from time to time, may be advantageously referred to this Council.

We have the honor to append to this Report copies of the Proceedings of the Conference, of the
Memorial to Her Majesty, and of Papers and Returns laid before the Conference.

We have, &c.,

JOHN HALL,
CROSBIE WARD.

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.