HOME AND FOREIGN.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIII, Issue 102, 6 May 1887, Page 2

HOME AND FOREIGN.

By Telegraph — Copyright. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. ~» (bpecul to united prkss association.) London, May 2. Eeferring to defence of Thursday Island and Albany, Sir- H. Holland asks if the "War Office next year applied for a vote for modern armament of those stations, would the colonies construe!; the necessary forts and barracks ? The Admiralty do not admit that Thursday Island and Albany are of equal importance to many of the British coaling stations, but are willing to apply the same principle of assistance as given to others. The probable cost of arming Albany with guns and mines would be £14,00,0, the construction of forts £13,000 and the maintenance is fixed at £6000 per annum. The . details of the cost of da- ending Thursday, Island are hot named, but it is expected that the guns and forts would oust as, much as those for Albany. Sir J. W. Downer declined to commit South Australia, and thought it would, be better to ascertain the relative Imperial and colonial interests before dividing the cost, Mr Deakin, of Victoria, and Mr Ayde Douglas, of Tasmania . conourred m this view. Sir S. Griffiths (Queensland), Sir Patrick Jennings and Sir E Wisdom (New South Wales), an i Bir P, D. Bell (New Zealand) thought that Australia should undertake to construct the land defences. Mr Forrest, on behalf of Western Australia, offered to bear one-fourth of the cost of maintenance of these defences, and hoped that m ten years at least they would be able to bear the whole cost. The liberality of Western Australia has occasioned surprise among the delegates. Nothing has been decided, but it is probable that the War Office will make a fresh offer, which will be settled after the Conference is over. The Colonial Judgments Bill is nearly ready for consideration. Sir B. Wisdom opposes the clause providing that no notice be given to a debtor against whom a judgment has been obtained of intention to enforce such judgment.