NEW SUEZ MAIL CONTRACT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 252, 28 November 1872, Page 5

NEW SUEZ MAIL CONTRACT.

The following telegram from Sydnej^ appears in the Argus of November 6 :—: — The following is a precis of the' telegram 3ent by the Governor to the Secretary of ■ State on Thursday last, and refered to in bis excellency's speech :— " A letter has been received by the Government from the Government of Victoria, stating that a telegram has been sent to England intimiting the willingness of the Government of Victoria to accept the proposal for a new mail contract between Galle and Australia. The letter of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury invites the whole of the colonies in combination to provide for the service on certain conditions, tbe object being to meet tbe interests of all alike. The Ministers of this Colony do not consider that the"" Victorian Government is in a position to undertake the service behind the backs of other Australian Governments invited to join, and when sufficient time had not elapsed for the Imperial despatch even to reach Queensland or New Zealand. The intention being that the Colonies should act conjointly or by a substantial majority, the Governor's advisers protest against the precipitate action of Victoria in order to gain undue advantage, and urge, the Governor concurring, that time be allowed for the Colonies to act in conference and combination." The reply to the above from London says that the " Secretary of State hopes that the colonies will confer immediately on the Suez mail contract." Prom the Age of the 12 th we learn that on the 6th of November Mr Francis sent a letter to Mr Parkes, pointing out the necessity for prompt action, and remindiug him that he had entered ini:o a Pacific contract without consulting Victoria. On the 12th instant Mr Parkas maintained that the cases were not parallel, inasmuch as there was no subsidy for the Pacific service, and no proposal from the British to the Colonial governments. On the sth of November Mr Langton addressed a memorandum to Viscount Canterbury, explaining the views of the Ministry on the subject. The Governor's despatch is not given, but it is, no doubt, an echo of the memorandum, the 'only important clause of which is as follows :—": — " In the event of the further negotiations to be entered upon failing to bring about an agreement between the Colonies as to the terms upon which the proposed service is to be conducted, his Excellency's advisers, considering the exigency of the case, are dc-* sirons that her Majesty's Government should be informed at once that the Government of Victoria will undertake, on the terms proposed, the sole responsibility of a coutract every four weeks between Point de Galle and Melbourne ; and, if necessary, receive, transmit, and distribute the mails for the other Colonies, on snch conditions, to be concurred in by the Imperial Government, as may appear just aud reasonable." Mr Langton is not to be congratulated "upon the corr"eludihg'proposition. It is by no means likely to conciliate the other Colonies, who will decidedly object to have their postal affairs made the subject of a bargain between Downing street and the Melbourne Treasury.