VICTORIA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7718, 15 April 1887, Page 2

VICTORIA.

(Received April 14, 12.50 p.m.)

Meldourne, Thursday. Mr Gillies lias intimated his concurrence with Sir Julius Vogel's contention that colonial contributions to the English income-tax should be considered in connection with the question of Australasian contributions to defences, and has telegraphed to Sir Graham Berry to cooperate with Sir Dillon Bell in bringing the matter before the Imperial Conference.

(Received April 15, 1.15 a.m.)

Dr. Goe was formally installed as Bishop of Melbourne at St. James' Cathedral to-day. The Anglican Bishops of Riverina, Ballarat, and Gouldbourn, and a large number of the clergy of the city, were present at the ceremony. Mr Gillies,' Premier, has received a telegram from London announcing that the Prince of Wales has agreed to accept the position of president of the Imperial Commission connected with the forthcoming Melbourne Exhibition. It has transpired that after the termination of the recent controversy with regard to cable rates between Australia and New Zealand, Mr Derham, Postmaster-General, replying to a communication from Sir Julius Yogel, snggested that a conference of Postmasters-General of tho colonies interested should be held in Melbourne or Sydney, whichever was most convenient

to the New Zealand Government, in order

that the whole matter should bo reopened and thoroughly discussed. Sir Julius Vogcl replied on the 25th of March concurring with Mr Dcrham's

proposal, but suggesting that as the New Zealand Parliament was about to assemble it wonld lie belter to hold the conference at the end of the present year. Mr Durham therefore decided, if the Cabinet sanctioned Ids proposal, to er

rleavor to change the date of the conference. The place of meeting lias not yet been decided. The contention of the Victorian Postmaster-General is that the New Zealand rates are inequitable, and that the burden of the. charges falls on Australia in general and Victoria in particular.

Sir Graham Uerry has telegraphed to Mr Dorunm that the Peninsular and Oriental and Orient companies have declined the amended terms offered for tho carriage of the Australian mails. The Victorian AgentGeneral suggests that a middle course bo taken in tho matter. Mr Derham is at

present conferring with the Governments of tho other Australian colonies relative to Hie mail contracts.