THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 260, 19 April 1867, Page 3

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

(ritosi THE ARGUS.) The Intercolonial Postal Conference lias j vc understand, ended satisfactorily to the i -sever.il delegates. Although it was agreed | that the result of their deliberations should j not he made public until the 28 tli Inst,, J when it will be published simultaneously j in the different colonies, yet v/c believe we j • are not far wrong in stating that it was; decided to maintain mail communication \vith Eurcpe-by.the three routes, namely, j Sue.-, Panama, a.d Torres Straits- The j .preliminary steps to permanently cai ry out this arrangement will be to memorialise the Imperial authorities to terminate the existing contract with the P. and 0. Com pany ; and at the same time to ask the hj nnc Government to grant a moiety of the whole of the subsidy requisite for the new undertaking ; the other moiety to be contributed in agreed to proportions by the different colonies. The delegates are sanguine that their unanimity and earnestness in the prayer of the memorial will secure for it more attention than would be given to the request of any one or two of the colonies acting independently of each other. The sanction and assistance of the Imperial Government having been obtained, the arrival and departure of the mails will be so arranged as to afford its all the benefits of at least fortnightly communication with England. It is expected that the Torres Straits route will be of great advantage to Queensland, in indirectly helping to open up the northern portions of that vast colony. By the new arrangement on this route it is intended that the mail steamer will sail direct from Singapore, without calling at I'a'avia, as doing so would involve a loss of two days. Queensland undertakes to light and buoy the Straits, and ultimately to extend the telegraphic wires to Cape York. When this is done—and it is expected that two years will see its accomplishment—Aus tralia will be placed within twelve days' 'telegraphic communication with Fngland. Of course the diffcrerit intercolonial Parliaments will have to endorse the doings of the delegates in Melbourne before a- y decided action can be taken ; but where the advantages are believed to le so obvious, it is not expected that difficulty or delay will ensue on this score. We believe we are not far wide of the mark when we state that the sum of £•100,000 was the amount agreed upon by the Intei - colomal Conference as a sufficient subsidy to cany out the recommendations of the delegates ; and we believe we are also pretty near the truth in apporti nning the moiety of the sum as follows — the other half to be contributed by the Imperial Government: Victoria, £50,000 ; New South Wales, £50,000; >'ew Zealand £50,006'; Queensland, £21,000; South -Australia, £14,000 ; Tasmania, £1.2,000.