THE INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 894, 30 November 1871, Page 2

THE INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE.

The conference of delegates from the various Australasian Colonists (exclusive of New Zealand), for some time past sitting at Melbourne, has concluded its deliberations, and presented its report to the Victorian Parliament. From that report, which is published in full by the " Australasian," wo learn that the present conference, like those which have preceded it, has proved singularly barren of results, and extremely little has been done towards that more intimate uuion amongst the young states of the South Pacific so much needed to ensure their healthy and rapid growth. Of course a number of important question were discussed, the most serious of which seems to have been the border duties, but on nearly all of them the delegates agreed to disagree, leaving them, if anything in a worse state than they found them, and almost certain to prove the germs of future trouble. On one point, however, there has been an approach to unanimity, a point too, in which we are much interested—the postal route to Europe. Two lines are to be maintained; the one via Suez with its termination at Sydney a? at present, and the other via San Francisco with its terminus at Melbourne. The mail steamers belonging to the former are to call both ways at Glenelg, South Australia, and those on the former route are to call both ways at Moreton Island and Sydney. The mails are to be delivered within forty-eight days, and tenders are to be invited in England, America, and Australia for both services. The time tables of the two lines will be so arranged as to provide for a fortnightly mail. All the Australian colonies with the exception of Western Australia, will be asked to contribute towards the maintenance of these lines a sum not exceeding £123,000 per annum, in proportions based on their relative population. The heaviest part of the burden will, of course, fall upon Victoria and New South Wales, the share of the former being £51,658, and of the latter £37,827. New Zealand is to he allowed to participate in this undertaking, provided she consents to pay her share of the cost, which, calculated on the basis of population, will amount to £ 10,709 ; as well as to provide any branch service necessary to avail herself of the arrangement. The sura of £123,000 is fixed on the assumption that one-half the total cost

of both services will be borne by the Imperial Gjvornment, aud contributions from other places such as the Sandwich Islands and Western Australia, will be employed to lessen the .amount exacted from the first-named contributors. Such is a brief outline of the scheme proposed for postal communication with Europe. The delegates, however, were not unanimous on the matter, as the Queensland representatives insisted upon Brisbane being made the terminus, and as the others would not agree to this, Queensland threatens to withhold her assent from any general scheme. Under this arrangement it would be open to this colony, to adopt a service at a saving annually of £28,000.