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Mr. Warran; Oh, no ; the ship is already engaged, and we shall have plenty of cable. Of what we pick up the greater portion will be used again, and we have plenty of new that we can put in. After Mr. Warren retired, Sir John Bray said the question was, Should they insist on the reduction to fourteen days? The Hon. J. Gavan Duffy pointed out that the term of agreement would only be for a year. The matter then dropped, and the Committee agreed to the proposals of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, as set forth in the draft agreement, with the exception of the clause giving power to the company to alter the rates without the consent of the colonies contributing to the guarantee against loss. The Vienna Postal Conference. The Hon. J. Gavan Duffy moved, " That this Conference recommends that the Governments of the various Australasian Colonies take steps to have their respective colonies adequately represented at the Postal Conference to beheld in Vienna in May next." This motion was carried. Belay to Mails. The Hon. J. Gavan Duffy drew attention to the delay occasioned to English mails on the various Australian railway-lines between the north-eastern cities and Adelaide. The Hon. D. O'Connor promised that he would use his best efforts with the railway authorities of the various lines to make better arrangements for the forwarding of outgoing mails to Adelaide. The Pacific Bailtvay Company's Proposals. The Hon. J. G. Ward moved, "That this Conference approves of the negotiations that are now understood to be under the consideration of the Pacific Eailway Company for establishing a Canadian-Australasian mail-service." In support of'the resolution, he said he thought it desirable to get the Conference to show its sympathy with this service, and there was nothing binding upon any of the colonies if his resolution were carried. Unless the service was arranged so that the steamers touched at New Zealand his colony would not, of course, support it. The Hon. T. Unmack seconded the motion. He was glad to say that his Government had consented to contribute any reasonable sum cowards subsidising the proposed mail-service. With the object of obtaining this service it was proposed that the Australian Colonies should contribute £30,000. If it were once established it would be a most speedy service. They ought to look at the matter in a commercial light, for the trade between Australia was well worth considering. He felt sure that New South Wales and Victoria would be willing to contribute a reasonable amount towards obtaining the proposed mail-service. It had been suggested that Queensland should contribute £10,000, and that the balance of £20,000 should be found by the other colonies. Queensland was willing to contribute £10,000, and he trusted that Queensland would have the co-operation of the other colonies. The Hon. B. S. Bird said that there was no doubt that the establishment of a mail line of steamers between Canada and Australia w Tould have a beneficial effect in every way, but he was rather inclined to doubt whether they were in a position, as the delegates of the various colonies, to speak approvingly of the proposal, as it would involve the colonies in considerable expense. He was of opinion that the matter had not been sufficiently considered by the various Cabinets, and he would be disposed to hesitate before agreeing to anything that would commit the colonies. The Hon. J. Gavan Duffy said he was sorry he could not see his way to support the motion, as he had no instructions from the Victorian Cabinet on the subject. It would no doubt ultimately be found to the advantage of the whole of Australasia to establish the mail-service from Canada, but at present in Victoria they had four distinct mail-services to Melbourne, and a fifth via San Francisco, which came by way of Sydney, and was within easy reach; so, from a postal point of view— and he supposed that was all they were there to consider —there was no necessity, or only slight necessity, for the service proposed just now. Therefore he was not prepared at present to consider the question from a practical aspect, and would ask his honourable friend Mr. Ward to withdraw his resolution, because, although he said it was a broad one, and committed them to nothing, he would feel, if he joined in it, morally bound to assist materially when it came to a practical issue ; he therefore asked the representative of New Zealand to be content with the expression of opinion he had succeeded in obtaining. He believed the other colonies were not opposed to giving the proposal generous consideration, notwithstanding the more immediate benefit would be slight to some of them. If Mr. Ward would withdraw it now no doubt another occasion would arise when the time would be ripe for settling the question, and then it could be fully and fairly grappled. The Hon. D. O'Connor said, although there was not much probability of the resolution being carried, the time had been well spent in discussing it, and he agreed with Mr. Bird as to the necessity for giving every facility of communication. But he scarcely thought a day or two ago that Nemesis would be so close on the heels of Queensland and New Zealand, for here was another illustration of the need for a federal spirit among the colonies, showing how from time to time it was imperative they should know how to give and take to help each other. Here was a mailservice that would undoubtedly be of great use to Queensland. [Mr. Unmack : " And to New South Wales."] It could not in any way benefit Queensland without benefiting the whole of the colonies. That was the very idea he at once recognised, and the absence of which he deplored in the decision arrived at by Mr. Uumack on another matter. How could it benefit Queensland without also benefiting the southern Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania? Anything that helped to develop the resources of any part, or conduce to the happiness and glory of the few, must shed its radiating influence and splendour over the whole; but, at the same time, Mr. Ward must see that there was probably not one represen-