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9th MAY 1878. The following gentlemen assembled in the Executive Council Chamber, Government Offices, Melbourne, 9th May, at eleven o'clock :— The Honorable J. F. Burns, Postmaster-General, representing New South Wales ; The Honorable Charles Stuart Mem, Postmaster-General, representing Queensland ; Charles Todd, Esq., C.M.G., representing South Australia ; Tho Honorable Sir James Milne Wilson, M.E.C., President of the Legislative Council, representing Tasmania ; The Honorable Graham Berry, Chief Secretary and Treasurer ; and The Honorable Henky Cuthbert, Postmaster-General, representing Victoria. Sir James Wilson moved, seconded by Mr. Burns—"That the Honorable Graham Berry be elected the President of the Conference." — Carried unanimously. Mr. Berry took his seat accordingly. Mr. Webb Ware was appointed Secretary to the Conference. Mr. Burns moved, seconded by Mr. Mem—" That tho Proceedings of the Conference shall not be made public until sanctioned by its authority." — Carried unanimously. Mr. Burns moved, seconded by Mr. Todd—" That divisions upon questions proposed to tho Conference shall be taken by the votes of the Colonies." — Carried unanimously. Mr. Mem moved, seconded by Sir James Wilson —. " That the Secretary be required to prepare minutes of each day's proceedings, which shall be read over and confirmed at the next sitting before any new business shall bo entered upon ; and that such minutes shall be printed confidentially for the use of Members. 2. That in referring in any proceedings of the Conference to the several colonies represented the names be placed in alphabetical order."— Carried unanimously. Mr. Todd laid before the Conference a telegram from the Government of New Zealand stating that a letter was on its way explaining the views of that Government on the proposed duplication of the Telegraph, and moved—" That it be appended to the proceedings of the Conference." Seconded by Mr. Mem.— Carried unanimously. (Vide Appendix No. 1.) Mr. Burns moved, seconded by Mr. Todd—"That a copy of the circular letter from the Chief Secretary of South Australia to the other Australian Governments, dated 24th January 1878, regarding the negotiations with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, bo appended to the proceedings of tho Conference."— Carried unanimously. (Vide Appendix No 2.) Mr. Berry laid on the table a letter from Colonel Glover, offering to afford any information in his power on the questions before tho Conference. Mr. Berry also read a letter addressed to him by Mr. Linden (Reuters agent) suggesting that the letters a.m. or p.m. should be added to the date attached to messages at receiving stations, and that the office in Adelaide should maintain continuous communication with that at Melbourne, which, under existing regulations, is closed between the hours of 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Mr. Mem laid on the table, for the information of Members, a telegraph map of Queensland. Notices of motion for the next day's sitting were given. The Conference then adjourned until tho following day at half-past two o'clock. GEAHAM BEEEY, President.

10th MAY 1878. Present : The Honorable Graham Berry, in the Chair ; The Honorable J. F. Burns, C. Todd, Esq., C.M.G., The Honorable C. S. Mem, The Honorable H. Cuthbert. The Honorable Sir J. M. Wilson, The Honorable James P. Boucaut took his place as a representative of South Australia. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Cuthbert laid on the Table a map of the world showing the telegraph lines in operation. Mr. Cuthbert also laid upon the Table papers dealing with the subject of telegraphic communication, between Australasia and Europe. ( Vide Appendix No. 3.) The following gentlemen were called in and gave evidence : — Colonel Glover, Managing Director of The Eastern Extension Telegraph Company ; Mr. Cracknell, Superintendent of Telegraphs, Now South Wales ; Mr. McGowau, Superintendent of Telegraphs, Victoria ; Mr. W. J. Cracknell, Superintendent of Telegraphs, Queensland. Mr. Boucaut laid on the Table a plan of the overland line between Adelaide and Port Darwin, and stated that Mr. Todd was available to be examined, notwithstanding that he was a delegate, if tho Conference desired. The Conference adjourned until the next day at half-past ten o'clock. GEAHAM BEERY, President.

MINUTES OF THE PKOCEEDINGS.