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consider the question very carefully ; at the same time he quite understood the value of Mr. Duffy's The' Hon. J. Forrest said his Colony of Western Australia would look with satisfaction on any such alteration, as they felt considerable difficulty in sending information regarding the colony and its resources. He promised, on behalf of Western Australia, to welcome any alteration that would have the effect of lessening the charges on Press messages. [At this stage Mr. Warren, of the Cable Company, being in attendance, was asked m relative to proposed alterations in the draft agreement. He said he had not yet received a reply from London ; but, on behalf of the company, he would accept clause 10. There might be some slight amendment required, but nothing material.] Report of the Conference. Mr. Budge read the report of the Conference, Mr. Duffy formally moved its adoption, Mr. Bird seconded, and the President declared it carried. Vote of Thanhs to the President. Sir John Bray said that as the Conference had now drawn to a close, he would like to be permitted to move a vote of thanks to the President, the Hon. Daniel O'Connor, for the ability with which he had discharged the duties of that position, and for the kindness and hospitality he had shown to the delegates. They had done some hard work, especially the heads of departments; and the Ministers, in giving careful consideration to the matters brought under their attention, had been greatly helped by his tact and kind assistance. He tendered to Mr. O'Connor, on behalf of his own and the other colonies, their sincerest thanks. The Hon. B. S. Bird seconded the motion, and joined in hoping that at future Conferences they would again have the pleasure of the presence of Mr. O'Connor, who had proved so able a President. , . The Hon. J. Gavan Duffy supported the motion. They all knew that m conferences such as this a great deal depended on the chairman. If he were wanting in ability, tact, discretion, and experience things went wrong; if, on the other hand, he possessed those qualities, all went well. The result'of this Conference showed that things had gone well; they had not perhaps gained all they wished, but it was satisfactory enough to show that their President had not only the tact and ability to conduct the business ably, but in his capacity of host to the other colonies he had been most hospitable. They hoped some day to be able to repay him. He might also take this opportunity to recognise the labours of Mr. A. C. Budge, the Secretary to the Conference, upon whom a great deal of hard work had fallen, and accord him well-deserved thanks. The Hon. Messrs. Ward and Forrest also supported the motion, which was carried. The President returned his thanks to Sir John Bray and his colleagues for their kind and all too flattering speeches. When the Conference first assembled he assured them he felt a great deal of doubt as to his ability to fill the chair, but he also felt a great deal of confidence and good faith in the kindness and intelligence of the gentlemen whom he had met before, as well as m those whom he knew by reputation ; and throughout the conduct of business his position of chairman had been made a'very pleasant one by the ability of those who surrounded him. He thought he could say without egotism that it rarely fell to the lot of any one to occupy the chair surrounded by men of such conspicuous ability, representing every colony in Australasia. Whatever little he might have done in the way of attention to them he had done in the name of New South Wales. If that attention had conduced to their comfort and convenience, it gratified him and those whom he had the honour to represent. Nothing pleased the people of New South Wales better than to know that visitors who came here from any other part of the globe—particularly the children of the Mother Colony—were received with arms wide open, eyes that brightened with delight, and a heart that grew big with generous emotion. He again thanked them, and was glad to say that if their labours had not resulted in everything they desired, they had yet been successful in an eminent degree ; and he felt certain that the Conference had done much to promote and to bind more closely the various colonies of Australasia. He looked confidently to yet seeing New Zealand and Queensland coming into the contract with the Eastern Extension Cable Company, and, further, that they would yet have the pleasure of entering into a contract with these colonies for another cable; for anything they entered into for the benefit of one colony would benefit all. A great deal of. good practical work had been done at the Conference ; all the results might not at once appear on the surface, but would be seen hereafter. Much had been the outcome of the splendid labours of the heads of departments. It was from the knowledge and energy they had thrown into their reports that the Conference had been in a position to legislate in matters to which they would give life and vitality in the different Parliaments in which they sat. During his relationship to the delegates present he had spent some of the happiest times of his life, and again he thanked them for their good wishes. . , The Hon. J. G. Ward then moved, "That the thanks of the Conference are due to the secretary, and to the heads of departments connected with it." The Hon. B. S. Bird seconded the motion with pleasure. Mr. A. C. Budge, secretary, briefly responded. _ ~'.,, Mr. S. H. Lambton, in reply, said he knew he echoed the sentiments of his able colleagues when he tendered to the Hon. Mr. Ward and the other delegates their most since thanks for the kind and hearty appreciation shown of their humble services. With only a short time at thendisposal, they had done their best to make the regulations uniform and successful m operation. The aim had been to study the public convenience as far as possible, to give the people all practicable facilities—and, in a word, to try as much as they could to federate the Australasian post offices. It was difficult, as they knew, to adopt strict uniformity; there must be a great deal to give and B—F. 8.