The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1884.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4965, 8 December 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1884.

The dispute between the Go?ernmenfc of this colony and that of New South Wales with regard to the Sao Francisco Mail Service has at last terminated, and, we are rejoiced to be able to state, in a manner quite satisfactorily to our own colony. From a Wellington telegram we learn that New Zealand had agreed to pay an annual charge of £31,250, while the sister colony was only rendered liable for the sum of £18,750 per annum, and managed to secure all the advantages and privileges of the service line terminating at Sydney. These however were by no means all the best of the bargain which New South Wales had by one means or another attempted to grasp. It was allowed by our colony that the other one could, if it so desired, withdraw from the bargain during the last 12 months of the contract, although New Zealand should continue in such a condition as to be compelled to carry out—single handed, if not aided— the contract, This delightfully one-sided arrangement gave our Sydney friends power to do what they liked in the matter, without inconveniencing themselves, as the steamers had—for the year—to proceed to Sydney. Our cousins gave the mail contractors the necessary notice, and conde* seendiogly informed our Government that the action taken would not prevent fresh proposals from the contractors being considered by them. This it will be seen they have had an opportunity of doing, but with what chagrin the result has been received, it is impossible to picture. New Zealand seems to have awakened to the fact that she could have the terminus of the mail route at her own doors if she thought fit, and decided that the provisions of the Post Office Act — which provides that steamers under contract to this Colony fop the carriage of mails shall not carry those of others without the consent of this colony— should be put in force. The telegram which has been received by us from Wellington, on the subject, states that; — "Accordingly, when the PostmasterGeneral of New South Wales announced later that he had arranged with the contractors for a reduction of £7000, and wished to rejoin as a eon tractor subject to New Zealand's consent, thp PostmasterGeneral positively refused such consent, gave notice of the clauses in the Post Office Act, and declined to allow the mails of New South Wale* to be carried unless a prior arraogemont was made with him. He informed the contractors he would not agree to their arrangement with New South Waiea pnless they made a corresponding reduction gf £7000 to New Zealand. The contractors jrefased to m&k& any allowance whatever to New Zeaiaad, whereupon the PostmasterGeneral gave them formal notice not to carry Ibe New South Wajes m»iis without

!»is consent. Prolonged negotiations followed, and have resulted at length in that colony agreeing to pay New Zealand £7000 for the carriage of its mails. New Zealand will also get the whole of the amounts from the other colonies for the carriage of their mails. The net payments to New Zealand will be abom £9000." This result is satisfactory from morethanone pointof view ; it is, of course, satisfactory from a financial and business point; it shows other colonies the futility of { attempting to trifle with the Government of this one, and reflects credit on our ad~ ministrators for the business-like way in which our interests have been conserved. It is to be hoped that no other colony will attempt to lower its dignity by trying such an overreaching policy as appears to have been attempted in this case, and should it have the temerity to do so, we have no doubt its questionable behaviour will meet with a similar fate.