The Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 99, 30 April 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1867.

The oft-recurring inconvenience to which we are subjected by the unpunctual arrival of our mails from Europe makes us view with still greater regret the probability that the Conference on the postal system> lately held in Melbourne, is fated to be numbered among the many failures which have resulted from attempts to promotef co-operation between the colonies in matters -affecting the common interest o all.

"When the result of the Conference was published simultaneously in all the colonies interested, it was welcomed by each and all of them. "We flattered ourselves with the idea that now at length we were assured such postal arrangements as would serve materially to develop our trade, and secure speedy communication witli the great manufacturing depots of the world. The Torres Straits route would open up India, China, and Japan; the Panama line would extend our relations with North and South America ; while the Suez route, as heretofore, would furnish us with the speediest postal and telegraphic communication with Great Britain and the European Continent. No complaints were heard as to the injustice or unfairness of the subsidies allotted to the various colonies ; none as to the relative value of the services, and each was admitted to be worth the price marked down for it; the endorsement of the several legislatures and the consent of the Imperial Government were all that stood in the way of the adoption of the line of action agreed upon at the -Conference. The first doubt as to the reality of our happiness was born of intelligence received from Melbourne. We were informed that matters were not, after all, definitely arranged; that the labors of the great Conference had not been perfected to the degree we had been led to believe ; that the consent of Victoria had been given merely conditionally. Very soon afterwards we were made acquainted with the fact that popular excitement was running high against it, and that it was more than questionable whether Parliament would support the decision of the Ministers who represented Victoria at the Postal Conference.

Admitting the propriety of not entrusting the disposal of such large sums of money as the subsidies represent, to the discretion of one or two individuals, however responsible their positions ; and admitting, moreover, the propriety of reserving a parliamentary veto upon their agreement, the conduct of the Victorian Government hardly bears a bona fide aspect. "We lay aside the seeming probability that the Melbourne Ministers were present at the Conference merely to delude the rest, and, not discussing it, will merely say that they have at all events sadly disappointed the public expectations.

There is, however, no disguising the fact that the reason for all this may be found in the discreditable jealousy of New South "Wales felt by the people of Victoria. The Melbournites have indeed openly avowed their discontent that Sydney should be the terminus of the three routes. Now, a moment's thought would suffice to show that Melbourne has the scantiest claims to that position, and this being so, it certainly does savour very strongly of the dog-in-the-manger policy to object to Sydney because she happens to be more

highly favored by nature for this especial purpose. With the greatest possible respect for the progress which has been achieved by the Victorians, and rating at its proper figure their public spirit, we may yet very justly observe that nature has given to the port of Sydney advantages as a great maritime depot which she has denied to that of Melbourne. And, moreover, it would take a considerable space of time, and much more money than even the Victorians, wealthy as they are* could well spare, to neutralise these natural advantages by artificial works in Port Philip, such, for instance, as the dock which it is intended to construct at Williamstown. It must not be forgotten, too, that hitherto all the large intercolonial steamers have been taken to be repaired in the Sydney docks, and it seems only fit and proper that the steamers on the three lines proposed by the Conference should end their diiferent voyages where they can best be cared for. When any other port possesses superior advantages, interest will, no doubt, dictate to the persons most concerned the course they should pursue ; but until that happens, the claims of Sydney cannot be overlooked, even consistently with safety to the ships them-

selves.

It maybe in the power of Victoria to frustrate the plan of postal arrangements whieh augured such a happy future for all the colonies. She may be able to create disunion, and throw each colony back upon its individual resources; but her motives for doing so will be thoroughly understood, and appreciated accordingly. A selfish marplot is not a very creditable role to play; but the Victorians have selected it for themselves, even at the risk of calling down upon themselves the hearty anathemas of all their brothercolonists.