MELBOURNE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

35

E.—No. 2.

G. That in the proposed federal action the Colonies of Victoria, New South "Wales, and New Zealand are considered as possessing equal interests, which may be approximately estimated as follows : Victoria. —On the basis of population and commerce, with her general interest in Australian progress and her special interest in the maintenance of the Suez route from her undoubted • priority of advantages derived from it. New South "Wales.—On the basis of population and commerce and the same general interest, with her supposed greater interest in the Panama route. New Zealand. —On the same basis of individual and general interest, with her undoubted priority of advantages in communication via Panama. 7. That the interests of Queensland, governed by her geographical situation, requires a special service which does not present any considerable advantages to the other Colonies, but that it is not desirable that Queensland should be disunited from the other Colonies in the settlement of this question. 8. That the Colonies of South Australia and Tasmania, partly owing to the specialities of social character, and partly to the limitation of their Intercolonial relations, will be least affected by any new adjustment of the existing postal arrangements. 9. That in order to establish an aggregate system, affording regular monthly communication from the port of Sydney via Brisbane and Torres Straits to Singapore, and via Melbourne and Gralle to Suez, and via New Zealand to Panama, with the necessary branch services, the six Colonies represented at this Conference should contribute a sum of £197,900 by the following proportions, or a larger or smaller sum, not exceeding £200,000 in the whole, by the same rate of apportionment, viz.:— £ Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... 50,000 New South "Wales ... ... ... ... ... 50,000 New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 50,000 Queensland ' ... ... ... ... ... 27,500 South Australia ... ... ... ... ... 15,500 Tasmania... ... ... ... ... ... 4,000 £197,000 10. That it is expedient that the six Colonies represented at this Conference should act in concert in enforcing these views, and should join in a Memorial to Her Majesty, setting forth the mutual advantages to be derived by England and Australia from their adoption.

A LIST of Brancii Maii Services required to connect the whole of the Australian Colonies with the three lines of Postal Communication between Great Britain and Australia via Suez and King Greorge's Sound, via Suez and Singapore, and via Panama and New Zealand. I.—Fob the Service via King George's Sound. On the arrival of the Suez steamer at Melbourne, one branch steamer to leave for Launceston and another for New Zealand. On the arrival of the same Suez steamer at Sydney, a branch steamer to leave for Brisbane. Return branch steamers to leave Brisbane, New Zealand, and Launceston, in time to reach Sydney and Melboiirne respectively before the departure of the steamer for Suez. The Adelaide mails by this line will be delivered by the Suez steamer at Kangaroo Island, and conveyed to and from thence by the South Australian G-overnment. ll.—For the Service via Singapore. On the arrival of the Singapore steamer at Sydney, one branch steamer to leave that port for New Zealand, and another for Melbourne. On the arrival of the latter vessel at Melbourne, either the same or another steamer to proceed to Adelaide, and a branch steamer also to proceed to Launceston. Branch steamers to return to Melbourne and Sydney respectively in time to catch a return Mail to Singapore. lll.—For the Service via Panama. On the arrival of the Panama steamer at Wellington, a branch steamer to leave for Melbourne. On its arrival there, either the same or another vessel to proceed to Adelaide, and another branch steamer to proceed to Launceston. On the arrival of the Panama steamer at Sydney, a branch steamer to proceed immediately to Brisbane. These branch steamers to return to Sydney and "Wellington respectively in time for a return Mail to Panama.

All the branch services to be performed at a speed of not less than nine knots per hour. The several branch steamers to take their departure on the outward journey, within twelve hours after the arrival of the trunk-line steamer; and if necessary, to wait her arrival for a period not exceeding three days beyond her due date. Summary. I.—King Geoege's Sound Line. II. —Singapore Line. lll.—Panama Line. 1. Melbourne to Launeeston and bact. 1. Sydney to New Zealand and back. 1. Wellington to Melbourne and back. 2. Melbourne to New Zealand and back. 2. Sydney to Melbourne and back. ' 2. Melbourne to Adelaide and hack. 3. Sydney to Urisbane and back. 3. Melbourne to Adelaide and back. 3. Melbourne to Launceston and back. 4. Melbourne to Launceston and back. 4. Sydney to Brisbane and back.