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Southland Times, Issue 666, 6 May 1867, Page 2

Speaking of the late Postal Conference at Melbourne, the "Argus" of the 27th ult, sa y 9 . — «A very serious effort will be made, after the re-assembling of the two Houses, to prevent the country becoming pledged to the scheme of the Conference, which would bind all parties for the next five yearß. It is sincerely to be hoped that the home Government will not assent to the scheme submitted to it by the Conference. Unquestionably, whatever view a majority in Parliament may take, public opinion in Victoria is decidedly opposed to the plan adopted by the delegates without opportunity having been afforded to the public to criticise the arrangement." The "Hobart Town Mercury" of the 19th ult., reports " that on two days previously Mr Alderman Crisp and a small party . of gentlemen were fishing at the mouth of the Jordon, near the Old Beach, when they observed « fine salmon, weighing about 71b. or 81b., disporting itself close inshore. At first they doubted the character of the fish, but when enabled to obtain a second and full view of it they were fully satisfied as to its identity." . The " Melbourne Herald" of 27 th ult. says : — " The new Post-office building, which has so long been in course of erection, is now rapidly ap_prpaching completion, and will very shortly be ready for occupation. Mr Samuel Amess, the contractor, will have altogether finished his work in about a fortnight from this time, but the Postoffice officials will be delayed from completely oocupying the building for about three months, owing to the contract, for the fittings not yet having been taken. Already there is about £2,000 worth of the most expensive description of furniture within the building, the presses, tables, &c, all being constructed of the finest polished cedar from New South Wales ; and yet we are told that it will require something like £4,000 more for providing fittings alone. The building as it stands has cost about £130,000 or £140,000, and any one who takes the trouble of going over the plac9 will very soon see how all this money has b >en spent. In every part of the edifice immense walls, 3ft. thick, have been erected, literally supporting nothing, and of no earthly use at all. Indeed, so great has been the waste of material, that a large and handsome building could well be erected from the surplus work, without in the slightest degree destroying the appearance or affecting tho Btrength of the present Post-office structure. The building has also been most awkwardly designed, so far as the interior portion is concerned, and but very little, if any, additional room will be given to the clerks over what they at present possess. The whole of the ground floor has been taken up with a large hall, where the letters are to be sorted, and the mails received and dispatched. It ia so constructed that a complete system of official surveillance can be established over those engaged at their duties in the hall. It is probable that tlus part of the building may be occupied by what is called the " working staff" in about a fortnight. A corridor runs around three sides of the hall, and upstairs are suites of good-sized, lofty, and well-ventilated rooms, which are to be occupied by the clerical staff of the various departments in the office. The rooms of the Postmaster-Q-eneral, the secretary, and principal officials, are approached by the principal staircase from the front, and are all large, well-lighted apartments. There is a bathroom, lavatories, and other luxuries. Indeed, throughout the whole arrangements everything has been carried out in the most expensive man- i ner. Around the arcades, which extend along the two street fronts of the building, tessellated pavement has been laid down, costing about £2 2s per yard. With the large traffic which must always prevail around the BuHaing, such a description of pavement probably will not last very long. The private boxes are just within the entrance fronting Bdurk-street, "and the delivery-windows and receiving-boxes are under the arcade fronting Elizabeth street. A flight of stone steps lead up to the approaches ; and so soon as the pavement is laid down along the pathway, the unsightly boarding will be removed, and the premises left exposed to the public view." The Paris Exhibition (says a home paper), will positively open April Ist, and continue for seven months. H.M.S. Charybdis, 17, Captain A. M. Lyons, has left (Jravesend for a three-years' cruise on the Australian station. The number of visitors during the past year to the People's Palace at Sydnenham amounted to the enormous number of over two millions.