SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2309, 14 December 1864, Page 6

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Hostile Intentions of RossiA.^-In the Legislative Assembly, on Friday, tlio 11th ultimo. Mr. Strangways asked the Attorney-General " whether the Government have received any communication from the Home Government respecting the rumoured intentions of Unssh towards these colonie* in the event of a war breaking out between England and Russia," He had heard it rumoured that the first intimation received by the Englnh Government was obtained from this, colony or Victoih. It was a matter of very dee,} interest to the whole of tho colony, and he hoped the Government would supply all.the information in their possession.. The, Attor-ney-General said «omo months ago tho Governor received a confidential communication on this subject, which was forwarded to the proper quarter. It was not considered by the Government desirable to make that communication public. Mr. Strangways inquired if the Government hail reason to believe that the communication w»s authentic. The Attorney-General baid he was not at libeity to state more than he had said. Mr. Kingston inquired how long the Government had had this information in their possession, and why they had not taken steps for the better defence of the colony. The AttorneyGeneral : The Government took what steps they thought necessary in the matter. He could give no further information on the subject. In reply to Mr. Bngot ha «aid he thoaght tho Governor, even if lie received au address trom the House, would not feel himself at liberty to supply the information at present. Mr. Reynolds hoped an address would not be moved to the Governor for the communication. It was usual when any impoi taut question arose between the other colonies and the English Government affecting international law or the like to keep the correspondence qaiet. Ah*. Bagot saw no reason why iuforniation publicly discussed in England should be withheld in this colony. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Mildred moved, and Mr. N. "Blylh seconded, that the standing orders be suspended for the purpose of making a motion on the subject. Mr. Strangwftj s must oppose the motion, as information on so imporbant a subject ought to be obtained in a formal way. The motion was negatived, Mr. Glyde said" as he was a member of the late Government lie should like to hear from the Attorney-General when the communication was received. The AttorneyGeneral had before sta'ed that he could give no more information upon the rubject. The Treasurer said it was recently, as it w.is not during the peiiod that the hon. member was in office. Fortnightly Mah. — The <s'. A. Mcgktc of the 12 l h says: — The despatch which the Government have received on the subject of the Ocein Postal Service settles the question of a foituightly mail as far as this colony i 3 concerned. It states that the P. and 0. Company cannot possibly allow their steamers to call r«t Kangaroo Island. Therefoie, even if South Australia should contribute towards the additional subsidy which is now demanded, she would gaiii nothing in exchange. The branch steamer would still have to go to and from King George's Sound witli the monthly mail, whilst as to the fortnightly mail, that would be taken on to Melbourne, aud the Adelaide letters would have to find their way to this colony by chance. It is not likely, then, that the Parliament will be in favonr of addiiig another £1,000 or core to the vote of £20 000, which the colony already pays on account of postal communication with the mother country. With legard to the reasons whicu are assigned by the P. and O. Company for not allowing their fcteaniei's to call at Kaugnroo Islaud, we must point out that ib is a S3i ions misstatement on their pait to say that by adopting this course a. loss of one or two days in the delivery of the mails would be inflicted on the other colonies. This is quite opposed to truth, for it was plainly shown during the time when the steameis did call at Kangaroo I>>iaud that the detention did not involve a greater delay than f out teen and a half hours. The additional distance which the steamers had to sail was IIS miles, aud the time which it took to transmit the mails w.is one hour and a half. It is therefore as absurd a* it is erroueou-s to speak of a loss of one or two days. The other objection referred to in the letter of the P. and €. Company is equally groundless. There is no more danger in ths approach to X ingaroo Island thau there is in the approach to King C4eorgo's Sound No .accident of any sort occurred So the oceau steamers dm ing the time they occurred there, and no difficulty was experienced in the transhipment of the mails to the branch steamer. If the arrangement which was then in force had been continued, a li^ht would have been elected on Point Marsden, and a telegraphic cable would hava been laid down to connect the island with the mainland and with the telegraph whes of the adjmsnb colonies. The materials necessary for these wjrks were purchased ; but before they could be seat from England, the P. and 0. Company broke tLeir contract, pud ceased to call at at Kangaroo Island.