POSTAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3094, 5 January 1871, Page 4

POSTAL.

[From the Hobarb Town Mebcuet, Deo. 10.] Anothee now proposal, which like the Cape route has been lying in abeyance, has been resuscitated. Messrs Eldred and Spence, of {Sydney, have written to the Government of Queensland, reminding that Government that, in December last, the writers had, on the part of the British-India Steam Navigation Company, some negotiations with that Government) respecting the establishment of a postal service with Batavia and Singapore, and thence with Europe, via' Torres Straits ; and Messrs Eldred and Spence, the matter having then come to a termination because of various political changes and difficulties, now suggest a scheme which, they think, should meet favorablo consideration, because of the facilities of communication it would afford with all the other colonies, giving Queensland the full advantages of a Torres Straits line, for a very moderate contribution to the general subsidy. The proposal proceeds, says the "Brisbane Courier," from a Steam Navigation Company that has been in existence for the last fourteen years, and is working eleven different lines in the Indian and Chinese Seas, and the Persian Gulf, with a fleet of twenty- three vessels, more than half of which exceed a thousand tpns in burden. The proposal is to start a steamer of- about 1000 tons, to begin with, from Singapore every month, making the round of Australia thus : — One month the vessel would leave Singapore for Batavia, proceeding thence to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Bow*en, Somerset, Port Darwin, Timor-Eeopang, and Batavia, back to Singapore. The next month a steamer would leave Singapore for Batavia, Timor-Keopang, Port Darwin, Somerset, Bowen, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and Batavia, returning thence to Singapore ; and bo on, taking different routes every alternate month. By this means, the proposal says, the colonies would be connected with India, Java, China, and each other monthly, and at Singapore with the weekly lines to and from Europe. The subsidy asked from Queensland is £6000. What contribution would be expected from each of the other colonies is not stated ; but it is added the proposal would have to be carried out by the united action of the whole. Suoh a scheme would, be of Bpecial advantage to Queensland, whioh would be the first and lust port of call. Submarine telegraphy will likely soon follow thiß route, in which, case steam communication may be looked on as a necessity and as a fitting concomitant. Besides this, Australia appears destined to be yet the emporium of the islands of the Indian Archipelago and of Southern Asia, which, though possessing productive land, and capable of supplying an unlimited trade, are inhabited by people destitute of the necessary enterprise and knowledge by whioh to avail themselves of their natural advantages. It is to be presumed the proposal will be submitted to the other colonies, though it would not appear to have reached the Government of Victoria when the subject of postal com- . munication was under discussion in the Assembly on Wednesday night; nor have ' we heard of any communication having beeD, : as yet, made with Tasmania,