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(No. 2.) The Hon. Sir T. Mcllwbaith, Brisbane, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Genebal, Washington. Sic, — Chief Secretary's Office, Brisbane, 3rd July, 1893. I have the honour to inform you that a Postal and Telegraph Conference of representatives of all the Australasian Colonies was held in this town in March last, and I have been requested to communicate to you the following resolution which was adopted by the Conference, relating to the mail service between Australia and San Francisco : — " That this Conference directs that a communication be sent to the Postmaster-General, Washington, regretting the continued non-participation of the United States in the matter of the subsidy to the present San Francisco mail service, and also directs his attention to the excessive overland transit rates between San Francisco and New York, and respectfully requests him to urge the Pacific Eailway Company to give more favourable terms." With regard to this resolution, I take the liberty of calling attention to the fact that the overland transit rates between San Francisco and New York amount to over 70 per cent, of the total postage of letters carried by the line in question. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Washington. Thomas Mcllwbaith. (No. 3.) The Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington, to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral, Brisbane. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Sir, — Washington, 10th August, 1893. I have the honour, by direction of the Postmaster-General, to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 3rd ultimo, communicating, by direction of the Postal and Telegraph Conference held in Brisbane in March last, a resolution adopted by the Conference regretting the non-participation of this Department in the matter of the subsidy to the present San Francisco mail service, and calling attention to the excessive overland transit rates between San Francisco and New York. In reply, I have to inform you that the amount now paid by this Department for the sea conveyance of mails from San Francisco to the Australian Colonies is the maximum sum allowable under the statutes now in force in this country, and that the rate for the transportation of closed mails between San Francisco and New York is less than the actual cost of the transit in question. The questions covered by the resolution adopted by the Conference have already received the very careful consideration of this Department, and it has been found impracticable at this time to change existing conditions. I am, &c, A. M. Brooks, The Postmaster-General, Brisbane. Superintendent of Foreign Mails. (No. 4.) The Superintendent of Foreign Mails to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Queensland. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Sir,— Washington, 18th August, 1893. I have the honour, by direction of the Postmaster-General, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th ultimo, transmitting a copy of a communication embodying a resolution relative to the establishment of the parcels-post service between Australia and the United States, which was adopted at the Post and Telegraph Conference held at Brisbane in March last. In reply, I am directed to request that you will be so good as to inform the postal administrations of the colonies referred to that it is not deemed advisable by this Department to establish the service in question at this time. The matter will not be lost sight of, however, and as soon as the inauguration of the service appears to be practicable the administrations interested will be promptly advised. I am, &c, A. M. Brooks, The Postmaster-General, Queensland. Superintendent of Foreign Mails.

English (Paper 11. , Literature). — For Senior Civil Service. Time allowed : 3 hours. I. Explain the following references : — (1.) That tremendous storm, that " which of late o'er pale Britannia past." (2.) The next minute the necklace was where Belinda's cross is in Mr. Pope's admirable poem. (3.) We read in Shakspere (whom the writer for his part considers to be far beyond Mr. Congreve, Mr. Dryden, or any of the wits of the present period) that when jealousy is once declared nor poppy nor mandragora nor all the drowsy syrup of the East will ever soothe or medicine it away. (4.) " The Hind and the Panther shall run in the same car." (5.) " But Dulcinia del Toboso is peerless. Well, go and attack windmills." (6.) I have known a woman preach Jesuit's bark and afterwards Dr. Berkeley's tar-water. (7.) Odea certe ! (8.) Grub Street scribblers.