THE INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1051, 4 March 1873, Page 3

THE INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE.

The following summary has been "telegraphed of the results arrived at from 'themeeting of delegates in Conference at Sydney:— The arrangement as to mail services has resulted in Melbourne being ■chosen as the terminus for the Suez •service. But in the cost of such service, all branch services will be .paid for from the general cost of the line, to which all the colonies will contribute fro rata on the actual amount •of correspondence transmitted to or from each colony. New Zealand will, by this arrangement, be placed in a much better position than of late, seeing that heretofore the entire cost of the branch service between New Zealand and Melbourne has been hitherto borne by this colony, and again, because, as correspondence from New Zealand via Suez is comparatively small, so also our contribution to that service will, be comparatively inconsiderable. It will be seen by the third resolution that the Californian service remains for the present intact, except that a subsidy of £20,000 will be asked from the Home Government: but for which as yet the British Government bave in their last mail proposals made no provision. First.—Melbournetobe]theterminus of the Galle service, branch services including in the cost of the general line, to which other colonies contribute on a general basis, on the amount of matter trasnrcitted. The 'Sydney delegates' resolution to call for tenders for Melbourne and Sydney,! and to accept the lowest, was negatived. A formal protest was entered. Second. —The Torres Straits line to be established at a cost not exceeding £25,000, the Imperial Government to be asked to pay a subsidy of £SOOO Third.—The Imperial Government to be asked to pay £20,000 towards the Californian line, as arranged by New South "Wales and New Zealand ; also to arrange for the conveyance of mails between London and San Francisco. Fourth.—The present ocean postal Tates to continue, but the Intercolonial rates to be reduced next year to 2d. Fifth.—A second cable from Singapore to Norman town is recommended, ■aad the Home Government io asked

to join the Colonists in the subsidy of £25,000, to reduce the general charge of telegrams, lutercolouial telegrams to be reduced to a shilling for ten words within each Colony. The question of a free press telegram, daily, was negatived. Sixth.—Kimberly is urged to reconsider restrictions on Intercolonial commercial reciprocity. Seventh.—An Intercolonial Customs Union is recommended on the basis of a tariff arranged for the purposes of revenue only, and not for protection. Eight.—The Conference affirmed the desirableness of abolishing collection, and substituting the payment of a lump sum. Ninth.—The question of coast lights is referred to a commitee. A lighthouse on the Snares and Auckland Island is recommended. Tenth.—The Home Government is asked to alter the wine traffic, which now precludes the admission of colouial wines on the. footing of French wines. Eleven.—The Colonies to pass laws to facilitate arrest 3of absconding debtors and criminals. Twelve.—The Home Government is asked to legalise the investment of English trust funds in colonial securities. Thirteenth.—A refuge for distressed seamen to be maintained at Somerset, Queenland to defray one-third of that cost. Fourteenth.—All the Colonies to prohibit the importation of live stock for two years from foreign countries where any infectious disease exists. Fifteenth.—The British Government is urged to assume the protectorate of Fiji. _ Sixteenth. —In future, Colonial statistics are to be collected on a uniform plan, to be arranged by the Governments of Victoria and Sydney. The Sydney papers publish a letter from Messrs Vogel and Keynolds to Mr Parkes, proposing that New South Wales should join New Zealand in the maintenance of Webb's line, and that both should run in the manner provided in the Provincial contract between Vogel and Duffy last year— Sydney being substituted for Melbourne. They estimate that such a service could be obtained for a subsidy of from L 45,000 to L 50,000 per year, and if the Imperial Government pay L 20,000 of amount they undertake that New Zealand shall pay the ballance, the only charge to make upon New South Wales for the use of the line being postage upon letters carried, to the extent of L 500 0; New Zealand also to retain the postage fees received from other Colonies. A. further offer is made to fix, the time table so as to give Sydney the benefit of a fortnightly service.