THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1151, 23 March 1894, Page 40

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

The delegates to the Postal Conference arrived in the Government steamer Hinemoa from Westport, having spent some time in the Sounds en route. The first intercolonial Postal Conference held in New Zealand began its sittings in the Legislative Council Chambers at 10 aan. on Monday, March 5. The various colonies were represented by the following gentlemen : New South Wales, Hon J. Kidd, Postmaster-General; Victoria, Hon A. Wynne, PostmasterGeneral; Queensland, Hon H. Wilson, Postmaster - General and Minister of Education ; South Australia, Hon Dr Cockburn, Minister of Education ; Western Australia. Hon Mr Parker, Colonial Secretary ; New Zealand, Hon J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General, who also represents the Colony of Tasmania by request. The following permanent heads of departments are also in attendance :—New South Wales, Mr Lambton, Head of the Post and Telegraph Sorvice, and Mr Walker, Superintendent of Telegraphs ; Victoria, Mr W. Smibert, Head of the Post and Telegraph Service, and Mr Geo. Smibert. Telegraph Engineer ; South Australia, Sir Chas. Todd, K.C.M.G., Postmaster-General ; Queensland, Mr McDonnell, Head of the Pust and Telegraph Service; Western Australia, Mr Shall, Head of the Post and Telegraph Service; New Zealand, Mr W. Gray, Superintendent and Secretary Post and Telegraph Service, and Mr J. K. Logan, Chief Inspector of Telegraphs. Mr Warren, General Manager in Australia of the Eastern Extension Cable Company is also in Wellington, and will attend the Conference by invitation. On the motion of the Hon J. Kidd (N.S.W.), seconded by the Hon Agar Wynne (Victoria), the Hon J. G. Ward was elected president. Mr L. Stowe was appointed secretary. OPENING THE CONFERENCE.

The President, in welcoming the delegates, expressed the pleasure he felt at having them in New Zealand. It had been his pleasure to attend two similar conferences in the other colonies, the result of which had been productive of much good, not only to the departments more immediately concerned, but to the colonies generally. Conferences of the kind brought about a much closer union, and made people think more about their necessities and requirements. He trusted the delegates would thoroughly enjoy themselves during their visit, but felt confident that nothing he could do in their behalf would equal the hospitable treatment he had received during his visits to their colonies. He congratulated one gentleman sitting at the table—Sir Charles Todd, of South Australia—upon the mark of distinction which had been conferred upon him by the Queen. The ordinary public, Mr Ward went on to say, had no conception of the great amount of good done by these conferences. He recollected when many difficulties existed owing to there being'no common platform to work upon. In this respect the whole machinery had been greatly improved, and facilities afforded which few people seem to b»awaro 'of, while the cheapness of rates had been almost unnoticed. The postal and telegraphic services had brought the colonies and other countries closer together than any other medium could possibly have done.

REPORTS FKOM THE HEADS OK DKPAKTarEXTs. It was decided to refer all the subjects of the order paper to the various permanent heads of department, for reports to the Conference, with the exception of the Federal mail service via Suez, the Vancouver, and San Francisco services, the question of an Australasian delegate at the next Postal Union Congress, the Pacific cable, and the representation of Fiji at the Postal Union Congresses and Intercolonial Conferences. LETTERS FROM THE IMPERIAL AUTHORITIES. Several papers were laid upon the table and ordered to be printed ; amongst them letters from the English postal authorities, asking whether the Colonies would agree to a three years' renewal of the existing federal postal contracts, also stating that if an increase in the present Imperial expenditure was pressed for it might be necessary to revert to the position by which mail conveyance to Ceylon wus pro-

vided, the colonies undertaking the remainder of the service. THE AMERICAN MAIL SERVICES.

The Hon YV. H. Wilson (Queensland) brought up a report on the motions passed at the last conference and the action taken thereon. Infer alio it stated, in reply to communications from the Conference to the United States authorities regarding an increased subsidy to the San Francisco mail service and lessened cost of transmission of mails from S;in Francisco to Now York, that the United States Government already paid the maximum subsidy (about 55,000 dollars) allowed by statute, and that the rate charged for carriage for closed mails was less than cost. In reply to the request that a parcels post should bo inaugurated between Australasia and the United States, it was stated that it was deemed inadvisable to establish it at present. On the motion of the Hon J. G. Ward, the Conference adjourned until 10 a.m. next claw

The Intercolonial Postal Conference met at 10 a.m. on the 6th, the Hon J. G. Ward presiding. COLD STORAGE. The Hon J. G. Ward read a telegram from the Tasmanian Government, urging that it should be a condition in mail contracts that the steamers should provide storage for butter, fruit, and other products at stipulated rates. CABLE REVENUE. A return of receipts and expenditure in connection with the cable guarantee showed the receipts by the cable company for 1893 to be .£112,114, or £14,144 below the sum guaranteed, viz., £26,258. The apportionment of loss was one-fourth to the company and three-fourths to New Zealand, which being further divided among the contributing colonies on the basis of population, reduced the cost to Ncav Zealand to £I2SG Is. THE TELEGRAPH SERVICE. A return of the New Zealand telegraph service for 1893 showed that the number of messages transmitted for cash was 1,825,646, and the revenue, £87,425. The messages on Her Majesty's service numbered 44,045, of a value of £28,317. The value of the intercolonial messages was £20,935. FEDERAL MAIL SERVICE, VIA SUEZ. The Hon Mr Kidd moved, '-That the present mail services be continued for two years." He considered this would give ample time to the tenderers to make the necessary arrangements for providing vessels to meet the demands for cool storage and frozen meat. One year would be rather too short and would probably result in the contracts going to the present companies without competition, while the three years' proposal by the Imperial authorities was too long. The Hon Agar Wynne could not agree with the proposal. He suggested that the term of renewal should be one year, and that strong representations should be made respecting"the necessity for freezing and cold storage space. . I The Hon Or Cockburn supported the previous speaker, and the last suggestion of the Imperial Government that the renewal should be for one year. He would urge also that they p'-ess for through rates to provincial towns in Great Britain, so that the colonies would not have to depend solely on London. The shipping companies were in a position to obtain special carriage rates from the railway companies. They should formulate their recommendations at this conference. The Hon W. H. Wilson supported the remarks of Dr Cockburn. The Hon J. G. Ward, on behalf of Tasmania, supported the suggestions as to the carriage of frozen meat and cold storage. The experience of New Zealand, however, was that it was not desirable to subsidise the mail steamers. There were four lines of steamers employed in the frozen meat business, all of them unsubsidised. If they had subsidised one line in the first instance they probably would not have had the others.

The Hon J. Kidcl said in deference to the wishes of the Conference ne would withdraw his motion. He thought the two years' extension would have given other companies a chance to come in. If the one year limit was decided on, it would be necessary that some action should be taken as to the conditions for the new contracts before the Conference terminated. The motion was amended as follows and agreed to, " That this Conference agrees to the extension of the present Federal mail contracts with the P. and O. and Orient Companies for a period of one year from 31st January, 189;"")." The Hon A. Wynne moved—" That a joint representation be made from this Conference on behalf of the Australasian Governments asking that the Imperial Government and the Agents-General press upon the contracting eompamea to make ample provision at lower rates an al present for cool storage freight to meet the requirements of the various colonies."

THE VANCOUVER SERVICE. A letter was read from Mr James Huddart to the New Zealand Government asking what amount of subsidy New Zealand was prepared to olfer in the event of a port of call being established in the Colony. This was ordered to be printed. The Hon J. G. Ward moved —"That this Conference is favourable to a four-weekly ■service, alternating with the San Francisco service between Australia. New Zealand and Vancouver, the mail steamers calling at one main port in New Zealand and such ports in Australia as may be determined upon." lie pointed out that at the present time the whole of the colonies were subsidising the San Francisco service. That service would be continued, and would, as in the past, continue to extract a certain amount of money from the various colonies. The Vancouver line opened up a different held, and Nov,- Zealand was prepared to sub.si'lise it to the ex-

tent of £IO,OOO a year in the event of the Colony being included in the ports of call, but not if the service was going to be one which required a line of steamers to connect with Sydney for the purpose of transhipment. Such a service would be of no commercial value, as it would not enable the Dominion and New Zealand to exchange commodities. Looking at the extraordinary treatment extended by the United States to these colonies he thought it desirable to have the two services. By supporting the Vancouver service they might make the United States Government realise the necessity fen* contributing to the San Francisco service more liberally. The Vancouver service would be a. very good and legitimate one for the colonies to reasonably support, and he hoped the Imperial authorities would also see their way to subsidise it. The motion would do no harm as it committed the Conference to nothing. The Hon J. Kidd said that although the United States Government did not properly treat the colonies in connection with the San Francisco service, New South Wales was not disposed to abandon it. The difficulty with regard to the Vancouver service was that if the steamers called both at New Zealand ports and Queensland ports the time taken would be rather long. The Hon W. H. Wilson said he was not able to commit his Government to such a service.

The Hon A. Wynne said Victoria was anxious to support the service if Melbourne could bo made a port of call : but the company were unable to guarantee this on account of tha small number of steamers employed. His Government would support the route, when the number of vessels was increased, from a trade point of view entirely. The Hon J. G. Ward said that independent of Australia his Government would subsidise the service to the extent of £IO,OOO per annum for a number of years, conditionally on Wellington or Auckland being made a port of call. The motion was seconded by the Hon J. Kidd, and carried. THE SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. The Hon J. G. Ward moved, " That in the opinion of this Conference it is desirable that the four-weekly service between New Zealand, Australia and San Francisco be continued, but that strong representations be again made to the United States Government, pointing out the inadequate support given to the service by them, and that further representations be made to obtain a reduction in the present heavy overland charges." The Hon J. Kidd asked if gNew Zealand was prepared to renew the contract at present existing. The Hon J. G. Ward said his Government was disposed to renew it for a further period of three years. The Hon J. Kidd said that when the question of renewal came up it would be a favourable, opportunity to get the United States Government to agree to their proposals. The motion was then put ami carried. UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION. On the motion of the Hon J. Kidd it was decided to allow the question of appointing an Australasian delegate to the next Postal Union Congress to stand over. REPRESENTATION OF FIJI. A letter was read from the Premier of New Zealand to the authorities at Fiji, inviting a representative from Fiji to the Conference.

The Hon J. G. Ward moved, " That a vesolution bs transmitted to the .Fiji authorities, intimating that this Conference will be pleased to see Fiji represented at future conferences.*' This was carried.

The Conference then adjourned until 10 next morning to enable of departments to draw up their reports.

The Intercolonial Postal Conference resumed its sittings at 10 a.m. on the 3th. The Hon J. G. Ward presided. THE HOUR ZONE SYSTEM. A letter was received from the Queensland Government advocating the adoption of the Hour Zone System, as one most suited to these colonies. The letter was ordered to be printed. PACIFIC CABLE. The Hon J. G. Ward moved that considering the important interests involved, both of a national and commercial character in the establishment of a Pacific cable, the representatives of the respective colonies assembled at this Conference recommend their Governments to consider the desirability of entering into a guarantee with the other countries interested,!'or a period not exceeding 14 years, and to guarantee interest at 4 per cent, on a capital of not more than .i-'I,S; >:),;>!)0 to any company undertaking the laying of a Pacific cable ; the tariff not to exceed 3s per word for ordinary telegrams; 2s a word for Government telegrams ; and Is 6d for press telegrams to "and from Great Britain and the colonies ; and that the United Kingdom be asked to join in the guarantee, the routes be either of the following : —Brisbane oAhipira Bay, New Zealand ; Ahipira Bay to Suva; Suva to Apia; Apia to Fanning Island; Fanning Island to Sandwich Islands; Sandwich Islands to Vancouver. Or from New Zealand to Suva; Suva to Apia ; Apia to Fanning Island ; Fanning Island to Sandwich Islands; Sandwich Islands to Vancouver." The lion .1. Kidd seconded the motion. It was then agreed that the debate be adjourned until next day. IN T E R CO L O NIA L TA RIFFS. The Hon J. G. Ward moved that the delegates to this Conference, recognising the value of the decisions arrived at in reference to the joint postal and telegraph services, and periodic meeting of representatives from the various colonies, would suggest to their respective Governments that similar advantages in reference to trade relations between the respective colonies in the direction of reciprocity would ensuu if similar conferences could be ar-

ranged to deal with questions in connection with intercolonial tariffs. The Hon A. Wynne seconded the motion, which Was carried without debate. FEDERAL >f.\l L-SEKVICB CONTRACT. The Hon Agar Wynne moved, "That the conditions he .settled by this Conference upon which fresh tenders for the Federal mail service are to be called." The Hon Dr Cockburu seconded the motion, which was carried. NEWSPAPERS. The Hon Dr Cockburu moved, " That the question of the number of newspapers required io be contained in bulk parcels be Considered and reported upon by the Committee of Permanent Heads." The motion was carried, and the Conference adjourned until 10 a.m. next day, to enable the permanent heads to proceed with their report. The Intercolonial Postal Conference resumed its sittings at 10 a.m. on the Bth, the Hon J. G. Ward presiding-. ! TASMANIAN TEIiEGRAPH SERVICE. The Hon J. G. Ward laid on the table a return of the Tashianian telegraph service for 1803, from nich it appeared, that the "toss revenue was .£2:?,SJ.S Ss Id, and the net revenue .£12,224 Us id.

PKOPOSEn NEW PACIFIC CABLE. The debate was resumed on the following motion, proposed yesterday by the Hon J. G. Ward:—"That considering the important, interests involved, of a national and commercial character in thti establishment of a Pacific cable, the representatives of the respective colonies assembled at this Conference recommend their Governments to consider the desirability of entering into a guarantee with the other countries interested, for a period not exceeding 14 years, and to guarantee interest at 4 per cent, on a capital of not more than .£1,800,000 to any company undertaking the laying of a, Pacific cable ; the tariff not to exceed 3s per word for ordinary telegrams; 2s a word for Government telegrams ; and Is (id for press telegrams to and from Great Britain and the colonies ; and that the United Kingdom be asked to join in the guarantee, the routes to be either of the following:—Brisbane to Ahipara Bay, New Zealand ; Ahipara Bay to Suva; Suva to Apia ; Apia to Fanning Island : Fanning Island to Sandwich Islands ; Sandwich Islands to Vancouver. Or from New Zealand to Suva ; Suva to Apia ; Apia to Fanning Island ; Fanning Island to Sandwich Islands ; Sandwich Islands to Vancouver." The Hon J. Kidd said the proposals made by Mr Ward were just such as he had been prepared to bring forward. He had with Mr Walker, the head of the New South Wales Telegraph Department, gone very fully into the scheme proposed by Mr Sandford Fleming, but it seemed to them that the scheme submitted the previous day was the most practical one. That/proposal did away with the necessity of a stronger cable. They had thought advantage might be taken of the cable already laid from Bundaberg to Golden Bay, but there seemed to be such a strong feeling against having anything to do with the French Company that he very heartily agreed with the proposal made by the Hon J. G. Ward. He desired to lay on the table letters and a plan from Sandford Fleming and Sir Audley Coote on proposed routes. The Hon Agar Wynne said his colony was very well served by the present service, but if the whole of the colonies agreed to the present proposals, and the Imperial authorities agreed to pay their proportion of the guarantee, he was prepared to say his colony (Victoria) would support the scheme. The Hon. Mr Wilson (Queensland) said he was thoroughly in accord with the resolution. The Hon Dr Cockburn (South Australia) said that both his colony and West Australia were unable to vote on this question. South Australia had every reason to be satisfied with the generous treatment she had received from the other colonies with regard to cable communication with Europe, and in future arrangements he trusted it would receive the same generous recognition. The motion was then agreed to, the route selected for the cable being from Brisbane touching at Ahipara Bay (New Zealand), Fiji via Samoa, Fanning Island, Honolulu to Vancouver; the 4 per cmt. guarantee beinq- given on a cable not to exceed a total cost of .£1,800,000.

FEDERAL, MAIL. SERVICE. The report and recommendations by the permanent heads of departments as to the terms and conditions of future contracts were submitted for consideration. The lion J. Kidd opposed the condition that the mail steamers should be compelled to provide space for frozen meats and cold storage. The subsidy would probably have to be materially increased, and from what he had seen in New Zealand he considered that steamers might be obtained to carry produce without subsidy and independent of the carriage of the mails. lie would prefer to see alternative tenders called for, one for the carriage cf mails and the other for the carriage of both mails and produce. The condition might considerably hamper the tenderers. The lion Wynne could not agree with the last speaker. As the frozen meat trade extended they would no doubt find large steamers like the Gothic put on, but the carriage of butter and fruit was entirely different. They should insist on the mail steamers carrying this produce at intervals. Mail steamers could not possibly provide space large enough for cargoes of mutton, but could easily provide space for produce such as butter. He thought nothing extra would be involved in insisting upon this clause. Mr Kidd considered it better to leave the companies to themselves in this matter, but that would be a mistake, it would not do to let it remain optional. All the companies had refrigerating- space, and if it was made part of the contract to carry produce they

would probably increase their space or fAtiy on other boats adapted to the work. As itwas absolutely necessary that this produce should be carried Home, it was necessary to insert the clause. He did not think there would be any opposition to it. on thu part of the companies. The same thing had been proposed at the Brisbane Conference. It would not pay large steamers like the Gothic to go from port to port to pick tip a few hundreds of tons of butter. He was agreeable to alternative tenders being called for. The Hon Dr Cockburn said the carriage* of produce was as important as the carriage of the mails. In view of what the' butter trade alone was doing for Victoria;and other colonies it was most desirable tc retain tin; clause. The matter was endorsed at the Conference at Brisbane, and there was no reason to suppose that it had lost any of its importance. On the contrary, it had been growing in importance from dav to day. The Hon Mr Parker (W.A.) said the ■ question was not likely to be of much importance to his colony just yet, but he recognised its importance to the aister colonies. Even supposing it slightly hvcreased the amount of subsidy required, he thought it advisable to support the clause.

The Hon Mr Wilson (Queensland) was of the same opinion, but hoped the subsidy would not be increased much, as his colony was not able to take advantage of the line. Queensland sent her produce through the British India Company, and would probably insert a similar clause in her next contract with that company. The Hon .T. Kidd said this was an innovation in mail contracts. The subsidy was based on population, and if Queens • land was going to pay twice the amount of the present subsidy to benefit other colonies* she was exceedingly generous. HithertoTasmania had had the lion's share of the advantage, but if the clauso were going-to» be inserted it would be necessary to altcx the basis of the subsidy so that each colony should pay in proportion to the produce sent. He could understand why Victoria supported the clause, because her export of butter was twice as much as that of New South Wales, although he would not say that that would last much longer. The subject was brought forward at Brisbane by' the President, Hon J. G. Ward, but he had no interest in the matter. One could afford to be broad-minded when he had not to pay for it. He would enter his protest against the clause, and considered it would be necessary to alter the basis of the subsidy altogether. The of produce was becoming such a large thing that they should not hamper the mail contracts with any such conditions. The clause was retained on division, the Hon Mr Kidd dissenting. A proposal for alternative tenders was lost by four to three, New South Wales, New Zealand and Queensland alone voting for it. The Hon Mr Parker strongly objected to the mail steamers leaving Adelaide outward on Thursday, as it necessitated turning the Sabbath at Albany into a working day. The Customs, post office, telegraph office, hotels, &c, would have to be kept open, while trains would also have to run. The Hon Mr Wilson also advocated another day of departure as more suited to Brisbane. It was decided to recommend Friday if possible. The Hon Dr Cockburn moved—" That the tenderers be required to state what class of labour they intend to employ on their vessels, and that a recommendation be made to the Imperial authorities that mail steamers be manned by white crews." It was simply a recommendation, but was a ouestion in which the British Empire was very largely interested. He thought it was just as well to express their views and let the Imperial authorities know what their opinion was. The Hon Mr Ward concurred. In subsidising these steamers as they did it was right they should express thoir views on this matter. In view of the steamers being built for the purpose of employment as armed cruisers it was important that they should be manned by white crews. The Hon Mr Wilson said that five years ago, when the contract was signed with the British India Company, Queensland inserted a condition «f this kind, and the steamers were now manned by white

crews. The Hon Mr Wynne said a deputation waited on him before he left Melbourne urging this very point. He thought a recommendation could be made to the Home authorities. The Hon Mr Parker said it might bo taken as an intimation that if the steamers would employ white labour the colonies would be prepared to pay an increased subsidy. If they found that it could not be done without a large increase he did not suppose they would be prepared to pre3S it.

The motion was agreed to. The report as amended was then put and adopted, the Hon Mr Kidd alone dissenting. The adopted report is as follows : " The present contracts held by the P. and O. and Orient Companies will expire on the 31st January, 1895. The total subsidy paid is ,£170,000 per annum, of which the sum of .£05,000 per annum is paid by the Imperial Government, and £75,000 by the colonies of Nov.- South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, West Australia and Fiji, the colonies contributing on the basis of population. The following were the amounts paid by the colonies for the year 1892: New South Wales, £26,72-1-; Victoria, £26,363 ; Queensland, £9519 ; South Australia, .£7608 ; Tasmania, £3460 ; West Australia, £1326. " We recommend :

"I. That the London Post Office be invited to call for tenders in Great Britain and Australasia for a weekly service, on conditions approved by the colonies, from bo?i<J, fide British companies, to be performed by one or more companies, running

on alternate weeks as at present. Before accepting any such tender, that all tenders be submitted to the colonies. " 2. The following to be the principal conditions: —(a) That alternate tenders be called for five or seven years, (b) That greater regularity in the time of arrival of mails bo insisted upon, as under the present arrangement of slow and fast vessels the equal weekly interval is destroyed, (c) That the time to be occupied between Brindisi or Naples and Adelaide bo reduced to 30 days, or such lesser time as tenderers may oiler, (d) That Brindisi and Naples, or either, be the European termini, and Adelaide the Australian terminus : but outward vessels to go on to Melbourne and Sydney, carrying- mails to either of those ports if required ; Homeward steamers to start from Sydney, calling at Melbourne and Adelaide, receiving, if required, the whole or portion of the mails at Melbourne; to call at Fremantle or Albany both ways, the outward steamers to stay at that port not less than six hours, (e) That the Postmaster-Gene-ral, South Australia, be empowered to delay the departure of a steamer for a period not exceeding 24 hours, if such delay is deemed necessary in the interests of the Australasian colonies or any of them, (f) That in any future contract the term ' mails ' shall be held to include parcels, but the parcels to be conveyed wholly by sea as at present, (g) That the steamers call at Colombo both ways, (h) That it should be a condition of the new ocean mail contract that the steamers should be required to afford conveniences for the carriage of frozen meats, butter, fruits, and other products of Australasia, at stipulated maximum rates of freight for the same, and that tenderers shall state what cold storage space they will be prepared to supply, having due regard to the requirements of each colony, (i) That tenderers shall state what class of labour they intend to employ in their vessels, and that a recommendation be made to the Imperial authorities that mail steamers should be manned by white crews, (j) That the other general conditions of the present contracts be adopted.

" 3. With regard to the division of cost, we recommend that the sea-transit rates collected from other countries or colonies making use of the service be placed to the credit of the subsidy, together with any fines that may be inflicted, the balance of the subsidy to be apportioned between the United Kingdom on the one part and the contracting colonies collectively on the other part, on the basis of the amount of mail-matter they respectively despatch, the colonies, parties to the contract, to apportion their contribution on the basis of population as at present. "4. That clause 7 of the P. and O. contract be amended in regard to the conveyance of the India-China mails connecting at Colombo. Should it be deemed necessary for the Australian steamers to carry mails in connection with the new contract between Colombo and Brindisi, we consider the Postal Union rates should be paid by the countries despatching those mails, such rates to be dealt with in manner provided for in the preceding paragraph. "5. That the day of departure from Adelaide be Friday if possible (if not, Thursday), not earlier than 2 p.m., reaching Albany in 72 hours.

"6. In view of the fact that -whilst the mails from Australasia are carried by the accelerated train through Italy and France, those by Orient steamers are carried by ordinary mail train, the time occupied boing about tho same in each case, Ave recotnmond that the accelerated train service be abolished, as decided at tho Adelaide Conference of 1890, especially as out of tho postage of 2.M por Aoz letter 15-10ths of a penny has to be paid for Continental transit by such trains, against 3-Sths of Id by ordinary trains " It was decided to cable the result to the Imperial authorities, in accordance with an expressed desire. On the motion of tho Hon Mr Ward the Conference adjourned until Saturday week, to enable the permanent heads of departments to agree on their report respecting departmental matters. The Conference is then to meet at Auckland.

The delegates to the Postal Conference, immediately after yesterday's (March 8) sitting, proceeded on board tho Gothic to bid good-bye to Sir George ..Grey. They were shown over the vessel by Captain Jennings and Mr Graves, one of the owners. Subsequently the delegates were photographed at Messrs Wrigglesworth and Binns' studio, and then drove out to the residence of Sir Patrick Buckley at the Lower Hutt, returning in the evening. Another party of the friends of the delegates had a very enjoyable drive to Island Bay, where they were entertained by Messrs Kose and Grubb, The members of the Conference left Wellington by train at 9 o'clock on tho 9th on their way to Auckland. The journey is to bo broken at Wanganui and other places. By Telegraph. — Press Association. — Copyright. Sydney, March 8. Sir George Dibbs has telegraphed to the Premier, Mr Paterson, objecting to the position taken up by the Victorian delegate at the Postal Conference in reference to butter freights and the mail contracts. Sir George considers that the question of freights should not bo allowed to interfere with the mail contracts, and he requests that Mr Wynne be instructed to retire from the position he lias taken up. Mr Paterson has replied, stating that he considers the question of freights more important than that of mail contracts, and that he declines to interfere with tho delegate.