THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1568, 22 March 1887, Page 1

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

London, March 17. It is annrunced that the Imperial Government has prepared an extensive scheme for colonial defence, which will be submitted to the colonies repressed at the approaching Imperial Conference. It is announced that the first meeting of the Imperial Conference will be held at the Foreign Office on April 4tb, when the Marquis of Salisbury and other Ministers will be present. Subsequent meetings will be held at the Colonial Office until April 7th, nben the conference will be adjourned till April 15th. March 18. With the exception of the first meeting, the sittings of the Imperial Conference will be held with closed doors. The Crown colonies are not official I j represented, but Sir ti. Holland has invited several gentlemen specially conversant with these colonies to attend the opening, and they will be permitted to attend subsequent meetings when matters of which the have a knowledge are under consideration. Sir Henry Holland will preside when convenient, and in his absence Lord Onslow will take the chair. Mr W. A. Baillie Hamilton, Private Secretary of the Colonial Office, will act as Secretary to the conference. A feeling of regret is widespread at the decision to hold its meetings in private, as the various newspapers bad made elaborate preparations for reporting the proceedings. The opinion prevails that the Queen ought to open the conference. The Carlton Club admit the members of the conference is honorary members, which is quite uprecedented, so far as the Club is concerned. March 19. Mr Downer intends to propose at the Imperial Conference that the Government should introduce a Bill with the object of making it legal to extradite absconding debtors,