THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1378, 8 April 1867, Page 3

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

[From the " Argus."]

The Intercolonial Postal Conference has, we understand, ended satisfactorily to the several delegates. Although it was agreed that the result ot their deliberations should not be made public until the 28th March, when it will be published simultaneously in the different colonies, yet we believe we are not far wrong in stating that it was decided to maintain mail communication with Europe by the three routes, namely, Suez, Panama, and Torres Straits. The preliminary steps to permanently carry out this arrangement will be to memorialise the Imperial authorities to terminate the existing contract with the P. and O. Company, and at the same time to ask the Home G-overnment to grant

a moiety of the whole of the subsidy requisite for tho new undertaking ; the other moiety to be contributed in agreed-to proportions by the different colonies. The delegates a - e sanguine that their unanimity and earnestness in the prayer of the memorial will secure for it more attention than would be giveu to the request of any one or two of the colonies acting independently of each other. The sanction aud assistance of the Imperial Government having been obtained, the arrival and departure of the mails will be so arranged as to j afford us all the benefits of at least fortnightly communication with England. It is expected that the Torres Straits route will be of great advantage to Queensland, in indirectly helping to open up the northern portions of that vast colony. By the new arrangement on this route it is intended that the mail steamer will sail direct from Singapore, without calling at Batavia, as doing so would involve a loss of two days. Queensland undertakes to light and buoy the Straits, and ultimately to extend the telegraphic wires to Cape York. When this is done—and it is expected that two years will see its accomplishment — Australia will be placed within twelve days' telegraphic communication with England. Of course the different intercolonial Parliaments will have to endorse the doings of the delegates in Melbourne before any decided action can be taken; but where the advantages are believed to be so obvious, it is not expected that difficulty or delay will ensue on this score.

We believe we are not far wide of the mark when we state that the sum of £400,000 was the amount agreed upon by the Intercolonial Conference as a sufficient subsidy to carry out the recommendations of the delegates ; and we believe we are also pretty near the truth in apportioning the moiety of the Bum as follows, the other half to be contributed by the Imperial Government: — Victoria, £50,000; New South Wales, £50,000; New Zealand, £50,000 ; Queensland, £24,000; South Australia, £14,000 ; Tasmania, £12,000. j