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further than to say, that so far as Queensland and New South Wales are concerned, they show a great amount of enterprise in giving their support to such a project. I have indicated that my desire is to see a cable on such a route as I have suggested, and now move the motion standing in my name. The PRESIDENT: Before I put this motion I would take the opportunity of making a slight correction in reference to the remarks I myself made on this subject; that is, I desire to refer to the interpretation which the Postmaster-General of New South Wales has placed upon my remarks —that I advocated in 1891 a charge of 6s. per word instead of entering into this guarantee. He seems to have inferred from my remarks that I did so solely for the purpose of encouraging opposition. If I did so, I certainly had no intention of doing so, nor do I believe I did so express myself. My object in advocating that course in 1891 was simply to let the public know exactly what the colonies, or the public, were called upon to pay for their messages. That is to say, I did not wish them to be under tho belief that whilst they could go to the counter and only pay 45., that that was all. Because what is the Treasury ? It belongs to the public, and surely whatever is drawn from the Treasury is contributed by the public. Therefore I maintain that tho most straightforward course was to have at once said we were called upon to pay 6s. a word. I well remember a calculation made at that time, which showed that if the charge were 4s. a word another 2s. a word would be required from the Governments, and the company was prepared to lose 2s. I then suggested, in order to have the matter perfectly straight before the public, and let them know what we were paying, we should at once offer to accept messages at 6s. a word, and let the company take the risk for the rest. I do not wish to enlarge upon any other subject, but merely make this explanation in justice to myself. Mr. C. TODD (S.A.) : I wish to say a word, in reply to the Hon. Mr. Ward, in regard to the distance. If we turn to page 98 of the proceedings of the Imperial Conference of 1887, we will see a memorandum by Mr. Sandford Fleming, in which he states:— Knots. (1) Brisbane or Sydney to North Cape, connecting at the former with the Australian telegraph system, at the latter with the telegraph system of New Zealand 1,300 (2) North Cape to one of the Fiji Islands 1,240 (3) Fiji to Fanning Island 2,270 (4) Fanning Island to one of the Sandwich Islands ... ... ... ... 1,260 (5) Sandwich Island to Barclay Sound or Port San Juan, Vancouver Island ... 2,730 (6) Barclay Sound, across Vancouver Island and the Straits of Georgia to Vancouver City, the terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway ... ... 100 Geographical miles... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8,900 Ido not suppose the earth has become any smaller since that time; but Mr. Audley Coote, of course, leaves New Zealand out. The Hon. J. G. WARD (N.Z.) : I do not think Mr. Todd has replied to what was the point of the argument. I may also be allowed to say that I think, with that astuteness for which he is remarkable, he is rather drawing a red herring across tho trail. He should have deducted 1,300 miles from his figures, in order to be in keeping with the argument he was placing before the Conference at a former sitting. According to his then argument, the distance was over 8,000 miles, and now he comes forward and places on record a report from some Imperial Conference. Mr. C. TODD :Itis a memorandum from Mr. Sandford Fleming. He is not an interested person. Tho Hon. J. G. WARD : He should have deducted 1,300 miles from the figures he gave at the last Conference. The distance is really 7,359 miles, and the cost would be under £1,500,000 instead of £2,000,000. Ido not think the public should be led to believe that this cable would cost £500,000 more than we know it would. Mr. R. A. SHOLL (W.A.): I just wish to say a word or two on this subject. It is not my intention to oppose the motion, nor is it my intention to support it. I have received a telegram from Sir John Forrest on the subject, and it is his wish that I should not bind the colony on this question. Question put and carried, South Australia and Western Australia not voting. The PRESIDENT : Allow me to take the opportunity of congratulating the colonies on this resolution being carried. It is one that will bear fruit in spite of all opposition which may be launched at it by the present company, which has enjoyed a huge monopoly. It is one of the best things ever done by a Postal Conference. I congratulate the colonies on carrying the resolution, and am satisfied you will see, in a very short time, that it will bear fruit. CANADIAN POSTAL SERVICE. The Hon. J. G. WARD (N.Z.), in moving, pursuant to notice— " That this Conference considers it desirable to negotiate for a Canadian Pacific Postal Service " —■ said : I move this resolution because it is generally recognised that both passenger and goods trade are likely to develop to very considerable proportions if such a service be established, and in view of the desire of the Canadians to be in touch with the colonies by means of a mail service it behoves us as colonists to give them an indication that we are prepared to negotiate for a CanadianPacific Mail Service. Of course we know at the present time a portion of our mail service which would go by this route is carried via San Francisco. My own opinion is that the United States