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business of the Conference has been terminated so speedily, and I have no doubt that good results will accrue from our deliberations. I have much pleasure in moving that the heartiest thanks of the Conference bo tendered to the President for his hospitality and the able manner in which he has conducted the proceedings of the Conference. The Hon. A. WYNNE (V.) : I have great pleasure in seconding the motion. I know our President is a man who does not like to hear nice words spoken about himself, and it is therefore very difficult for one to express all ■ one feels; but I must say that he has presided over this Conference in as able a manner as any man could do, and'has treated us most generously; his every thought has been for our welfare during our visit to Queensland. The feeling of myself, and lam sure of every other delegate, is one of deep gratitude to him for his kindness and courtesy. Queensland has always taken a leading part in the federation movement, and these meetings of the Postal Conference help to make us all feel that our neighbours are good fellows, from whom we should not be separated by imaginary lines, so to speak, as is the case with New South Wales and Victoria. The boundary between those colonies is really undefined at the present moment, and yet they are separated. But the feeling that the colonies should be united is growing day by day, and I am satisfied that we shall eventually become a united Australia. These Postal Conferences have shown the way, and the establishment of a Customs Union would be a second step in the same direction. On behalf of the colony I represent, I thank you, Sir, for the kindness and courtesy you have shown us since our arrival in Queensland. The Hon. J. G. WARD (N.Z.) : I very heartily echo the sentiments expressed by my friends, the Hon. Mr. Kidd and the Hon. Mr. Wynne. It is not too much to say that since we came here the President has devoted himself exclusively to the business of the Conference and to our entertainment. The result of our deliberations will be to promote uniformity in the conduct of postal business in the different colonies, and no one has done more to promote that than our worthy and esteemed President. When I shook hands with the President I felt that his interest was in Queensland, and far removed from my own in New Zealand ; when I shake hands with him at our departure I shall go away feeling that I am not so distant from this colony as formerly, and that 1 shall want to shake hands with the President more frequently, and that New Zealand also will .want to shake hands with Queensland oftener than she has done hitherto. The Postal Conference has done a great deal to bring about this feeling, and I desire to tender my sincere thanks to the President for his courtesy and kindness, and for the efficient manner in which he has presided over the Conference. Mr. C. TODD (S.A.) : I am sure you all understand my feelings when I say that I wish the Hon. Mr. Copley were here to speak on behalf of South Australia. When Igo back I shall be able to give him such an account of the reception I have met with at your hands, Sir, as will make him so anxious to meet you that it will not be necessary to remind him that Ministers should be present at these Conferences, as was suggested by the Hon. Mr. Ward. Since our arrival at the border we have received nothing but kindness and courteous attention, and I shall go away feeling more than I did before that I have a friend in the Hon. Mr. Unmack. The success of the Conference and the good fruit it will bear are due very largely to the able manner in which he has presided over its proceedings. Mr. R. A. SHOLL (W.A.) : I cordially echo the sentiments expressed by the delegates who have already spoken, and thank you sincerely, on behalf of myself and the colony of Western Australia, for the very great courtesy and kindness I have received since I have been here. The Hon. J. Kidd (N.S.W.) then put the motion, which was carried unanimously. The PRESIDENT: Mr. Kidd, Mr. Ward, and gentlemen,—You have been good enough to refer to the attention which has been paid to you here ; but I can only say that, in my opinion, we have not been able to approach anything of the kind shown to us in the sister colonies. Unfortunately, we are labouring under somewhat unfortunate conditions here at present; but I am sure the members of the Government and the people of Queensland would censure me if I had done anything less than I have done for your entertainment during the time you have been with us. We are all glad to know that you appreciate what little has been done for you, and I trust that any kindness and hospitality shown you may be the means of inducing further visits on your part in time to come to this great colony of Queensland. If it does, we will all be glad to welcome you, and pleased to see you. As regards myself, I may possibly never have another opportunity of meeting you officially; but I feel that, though that may be the case, when I travel through the other colonies, as I hope soon to do, I shall find warm friends in every colony I may visit. You have so heartily entered upon your work here, and with a spirit so worthy of representatives of these colonies, that you have in a measure rendered my duties as President merely nominal. I express the hope that, at any future Conference of the kind which any one of you may be called upon to attend, you will meet with a number of gentlemen animated equally with yourselves with the federal spirit, and as kindly and readily disposed to give and take. In that spirit any matters of contention that have arisen during this Conference have been pleasantly passed over and dealt with. I may say, with respect to the remarks made concerning myself, that the bulk of the work has been performed by Mr. McDonnell and Mr. Buzacott. I would say that it has been a source of special satisfaction and pleasure to me to meet you all, and to spend every moment I could spare amongst you. Each one of you has tried to be more kind to me than the other; and in expressing my sincere appreciation of your expressions of thanks to me, I trust you may never think loss of me than you do at the present time. (Hear, hear.) The Hon. J. G. WARD (N.Z.) : I have much pleasure in moving that the cordial thanks of this Conference be accorded to the permanent heads for their able services, and also to the secretary, Mr. Buzacott, for the able and courteous manner in which be has discharged his duties. I feel sure that the Ministerial representatives of the different colonies will endorse what I say when I express the opinion that the colonies should be proud of the ability possessed by the heads of their respective postal departments. I have had occasion, during a not very long period of public life, to meet the heads of various departments in the different colonies, and I think it no disrespect to other officers to say that I place in the