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41. Telegraphic Correspondence with International Bureau. We advise that the present arrangements be continued —viz., that Berne Bureau communicate direct with all the colonies, and vice versa. 42. Postage on Telegrams. We recommend that the existing arrangement in all the colonies for local messages should not be disturbed, but that on messages addressed to places beyond the colonies the usual postage be charged. The Hon. J. G. WARD (N.Z.) moved that the report, as amended, be now adopted. The Hon. J. KIDD (N.S.W.) : I wish to have it recorded that New South Wales dissents from Recommendation 36, which deals with " Urgent telegrams." Question put and passed. TRANSMISSION OP RESOLUTIONS. On the motion of the Hon. J. G. WARD (N.Z.), the President was requested to transmit — (1.) The resolution of the Conference re Canadian Mail Service to the Canadian and Imperial Governments. (2.) The resolution re Pacific cable to the Canadian and Imperial Governments, and to all recognised authorities in the several Pacific Islands concerned in such cable service. (3.) The resolution relative to the renewal of the Federal Mail contract to the Imperial Government. (4.) The resolution relative to the San Francisco Mail Service to the United States Government. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAPHIC RETURNS. The .PRESIDENT laid on the table the return of the international telegraphic traffic through South Australia from May, 1891, to February, 1893. Ordered to be printed. REPORT. The PRESIDENT brought up and read the draft report of the delegates, which, after amendment, was adopted. VOTES OP THANKS. The Hon. J. KIDD (N.S.W.) said : Mr. President, —It gives me pleasure now, at the close of these proceedings, to move a resolution thanking you for the able manner in which you have presided over the deliberations of this Conference. No other gathering of a similar character has been more ably presided over than has the present Conference. The business way in which you have discharged the duties of President, and the kind consideration you have extended to every member of the Conference, can only evoke from us our very best thanks. In connection with the business of the Conference, nothing has been wanting. You have realised the best possible way of getting through the business. You have had everything in readiness the moment we met, and we have been able to get through the work very much more speedily than I ever anticipated. But it is due to the manner in which you have been able to get the officers under you to have everything prepared for us when we met, and by that means we have been able to get through the business much sooner than we anticipated. Not only have you done that in connection with your position as President of this Conference, and discharged your duties with ability; but you have by your kindness and the manner in which you have received tho delegates, from the time you met us on the border to the present moment, seemed to have made it a study to make everything as agreeable and pleasant as possible. We thank you very much for the kindness you have extended to us on behalf of the colony of Queensland, and it redounds very much to the credit of the colony. I do not intend to say much upon this occasion ; but greater kindness and greater consideration and hospitality could not have been extended by anyone. I had the pleasure of being at the Conference held at Hobart, and think the system of holding conferences periodically in one colony or another animates the federal spirit which seems to prevail over all the public men of these colonies, and the outcome of which seems to be the realisation of the hopes of many —that before long we will not only have a Customs Union, but that we will have other questions in connection with the Government of these colonies brought into a similar position to the Postal Union. I have expressed a hope that before many years these colonies will be federated, but I think it will be a gradual process, and no surer way can be found to bring that federation about than the federating of one department with another, as the Postal Departments are. We are desirous of having these services federated and worked as though controlled from one central source. With regard to the progress of federation in these colonies, of course that will be a question of time; but the first thing to do is to break down the barriers that exist between the colonies. Ido not think we should expect a full measure of federation at once on the scheme set forth in the, constitution submitted to the Federal Convention lately held in Sydney. When our Postal Union is followed by a Customs Union the colonies will have gone a very long way in the direction of federation, and we will thus obtain more than by demanding everything at once. Federation seems to be a thing of slow growth ;at least, it has been so in other countries. The United States were a very long time before they were able to have the fullest measure of federation there, and the same will be the case here. In Canada they have been able to accomplish what we have been aiming at for some time past and what, I hope, may be consummated here within a few years. But my duty now is to return you our heartiest thanks for the able manner in which you have discharged the duties of President of this Conference and the hospitable way in which you have entertained the representatives of the various colonies since you received us at the border. It is due to you that the business