The session of 1887, though less fruitful than the three preceding sessions, was by no means barren. Twenty-one bills were passed, one of which made provision for a contribution to the British New Guinea civil list. The Divisional Boards Bill, which had been laid aside by the Council in 1886, was reintroduced. The taxation clauses were this year embodied in a separate bill--the Valuation Bill--and both measures became law. An Electoral Districts Bill was also passed, increasing the number of members of the Assembly to 72. No change has since been made in the representation of the State. The passage of this bill was urged as a reason for not passing the Australasian Naval Force Bill, the Opposition contending that no important legislation should be attempted after Parliament had agreed to a redistribution of seats, and Sir S. W. Griffith was in this way prevented from giving legislative force to the agreement which he had drafted, and which was passed into law in all the other colonies before its author finally succeeded in securing its passage in Queensland in the year 1891. The session closed in December, 1887, but the Assembly was not dissolved until four months later. THE TENTH PARLIAMENT: 12th June, 1888-5th April, 1893. The tenth Parliament opened on 12th June, 1888, and the Griffith Ministry gave place to that of Sir Thomas McIlwraith. Only ten public measures were passed, however, exclusive of appropriations. The struggle of the session arose on the Customs Bill, imposing protectionist duties, and increasing the complexity of the tariff. On entering Parliament in 1874, Mr. Macrossan had earnestly demanded, on behalf of the Northern miners, effectual anti-Chinese legislation, but the attitude of the Imperial Government compelled the Queensland Parliament to proceed warily. In 1877 an Act was passed requiring the master of any ship to pay L10 for each Chinese passenger landed, and forbidding more than one to every 10 tons burthen, a penalty of L10 being imposed in each case of breach. In 1884 the number to be introduced was further restricted to one Chinese for each 50 tons, with a landing payment of L30, and L30 penalty for each landed in excess of the prescribed number. In 1888 the representatives of the various Australasian Governments met at Sydney, as, owing to the unwillingness of the Imperial Government to give the Royal assent to the legislation desired, there was doubt as to whether a measure passed by an individual colony would be assented to. The conference agreed to a bill, and the Queensland Parliament passed it in 1888, but it did not become law until February, 1890. It placed the limitation at one Chinese passenger to every 500 tons registered, made the penalty on the master L500 for every Chinese landed in excess of the number, and, in default of payment, twelve months' imprisonment, and L100 for a master failing to report at the Customs. For failure to supply a correct list of Chinese passengers the master rendered