FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1871 Session I, E-04d

B.—No. 4s.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

In continuation of Papers presented 27th October, 1871.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OF HIS EXCELLENCY.

WELLINGTON.

1871.

E.—No. 4,0

SCHEDULE TO SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE PAPERS.

ASFJHSDFJKLH

E.—No. 4d,

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

No. 136. The Hon. Mr. Robertson to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Sydney, 26th September, 1871. 1. I have the honor to inform you that on my colleague the Postmaster-General applying to Mr. H. H. Hall, of this city, for information why no English mail was received by the steamer "Wonga Wonga," which arrived here on the 24th ultimo, he stated that Captain Stewart and his agents at San Francisco applied to the Postmaster there, who informed them that Mr. Vogel had undertaken to forward the Australian mails free of cost. 2. I am aware by the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, that your Government have been pleased to offer, free of cost, the carriage of mails to this Colony to the end of tlie present year; but I have to express the regret of this Government that, in anticipation of such offer and its consideration, a member of your Government should have thought it desirable, if such really be the case, to stay, somewhat prematurely, as it seems, the transmission of mails to this Colony by a service for which Parliament had voted a subsidy, to the inconvenience and dissatisfaction of the public here. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. John Robertson.

No. 137. The Hon. Mr. Gisborne to Chief Secretary, New South Wales. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington, 19th October, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th September, in which you state, that ou your colleague the Postmaster-General applying to Mr. H. H. Hall for information why no English mail was received by tho steamer " Wonga Wonga," which arrived at Sydney on the 24th August, Mr. Hall stated that Captain Stewart and his agents at San Francisco applied to the Postmaster there, who informed them that Mr. Vogel had undertaken to forward the Australian mails free of cost; and in which you express regret that a member of the Government of New Zealand should have thought it desirable, if such really were the case, to stay, somewhat prematurely, the transmission of mails to New South Wales by a service subsidized by the Colony, thus causing inconvenience and dissatisfaction to the public. In reply, I have the honor to assure you that you have been misinformed. On Mr. A rogel's arrival in San Francisco, in July last, Mr. AVebb stated to him that lie had telegraphed to Washington as to whether mails for New South Wales, then to arrive from England, were to be forwarded to the Colony by Mr. Hall's line, or by the line under contract with the New Zealand Government • and that the reply had been that tlie matter was left in the hands of the Postmaster at San Francisco. Mr. Vogel strongly advised Mr. Webb to use his influence with the Postmaster to send the New South Wales mails by the " Wonga AVonga," upon the ground that it was not certain that there would be connection at Auckland, so that the mails could be forwarded at once to Sydney. Had there been such communication, the mails would have reached Sydney sooner than they would if shipped on board the " AVonga AVonga." Mr. Vogel is not able to speak positively as to the course taken by Mr. AVebb ; but he is under the impression that that gentleman, without further representation, left the matter to the decision of the Postmaster at San Francisco. I have, &c, The Hon. the Chief Secretary, W. Gisborne, New South Wales. Colonial Secretary.

No. 138. The Hon. Mr. Duffy to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Chief Secretary's Office, Melbourne, 14th September, 1871. Referring to your letter of the 2nd instant, No. 134, I have the honor to inform you that this Government will be happy to receive a representative from the Government of New

B.—No. to,

4

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO

Zealand with respect to the Mail Service via San Francisco, and that it is desirable he should be sent as speedily as possibly, as a Conference in which all the Colonies on this Continent are represented will begin its sittings here on Monday next on the Postal question. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. C. Gavan Duffy.

No. 139. The Hon. Mr. Gisborne to the Chief Secretary, Victoria. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir, — Wellington, New Zealand, 17th October, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge tlie receipt of your letter of the 14th ultimo, stating that your Government would be happy to receive a representative from the Government of this Colony in regard to the Mail Service via San Francisco, and that, as a Postal Conference was about to commence its sittings in Melbourne, at which all the Colonies on the Australian Continent would be represented, it is desirable that a representative of this Colony should be sent as speedily as possible. In reply, I regret to inform you that the invitation conveyed in your letter was received too late to enable this Government to send a representative to Melbourne in time to be present during the sittings of the Conference referred to. The earliest opportunity, however, will be taken, of accrediting a representative to your Government. I have, &c, AY. Gisborne, Colonial Secretary.

No. 140. The Hon. Mr. Duffy to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — A'ictoria, Chief Secretary's Office, Melbourne, 9th October, 1871. In further reference to your letter of the 2nd ultimo, I have now the honor to enclose, for the information of the Government of New Zealand, a copy of the memorandum of the proceedings of the late Intercolonial Conference. I take the opportunity of mentioning that the Conference was summoned by the Government of New South AA rales. Had the initiative been taken by this Colony, the Government of New Zealand would have been moved to send delegates to represent her interests at it. I have, &c, C. Gavan Duffy.

Enclosure in No. 140. Report of Intercolonial Conference. A Conference of Delegates from the Colonies of Victoria, New South AA rales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland, commenced its sittings in the Executive Council Chamber, Government Offices, Melbourne, on Monday, September 18th, 1871. Present: The Hon. Sir James Martin, The Hon. AA rm. Morgan, The Hon. G. W. Lord, The Hon. J. M. Thompson, The Hon. Joseph Docker, The Hon. T. L. Murray-Prior, The Hon. Graham Berry, The Hon. J. M. AVilson, and The Hon. John Hart, C.M.G., The Hon. Jas. Dunn, The Hon. AVm. Milne, The Hon. Gavan Duffy in the chair. After adjourned debate, the following contract for two Postal Services with Europe was adopted and signed : — The Honorable Charles Gavan Duffy, Chief Secretary and Premier, and the Honorable Graham Berry, Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs, of the Colony of Victoria; the Honorable Sir James Martin, Attorney-General and Premier, the Honorable George AVilliam Lord, Colonial Treasurer, and the Honorable Joseph Docker, Postmaster-General, of tlie Colony of New South AVales; the Honorable John Hart, C.M.G., Treasurer and Premier, the Honorable AVilliam Milne, Chief Secretary, and the Honorable AVilliam Morgan, a Member of the Legislative Council, of the Colony of South Australia; the Honorable John Malbon Thompson, Secretary for Public Lands, and the Honorable Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, Postmaster-General of the Colony of Queensland ; and the Honorable James Milne Wilson, Colonial Secretary and Premier, and the Honorable James Dunn, Member of the Executive Council, of tlie Colony of Tasmania; have this twenty-sixth day of September, a.d. 1871, at Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria,

E.—No. to.

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SEEVICE.

5

acting on behalf of the Colonies they respectively represent, agreed to the following terms for the establishment of a Postal Service between these Colonies and England : — 1. The above-mentioned Colonies shall contribute towards the maintenance of two Postal lines —the one between London and Sydney, by the way of Suez, and the other between London and Melbourne, by the way of San Francisco—a sum not exceeding £123,000 per annum, in the proportions following, based on the relative population of such Colonies, namely :— Estimated Population Proportionate (exclusive of Aborigines). Payment. Victoria .. .. .. 728,734 .. -654,958 13 3 New South Wales .. .. 501,580 .. 37,827 9 5 South Australia .. .. 185,626 .. 13,999 6 0 Queensland .. .. .. 115,000 .. 8,672 18 2 Tasmania .. .. .. 100,000 .. 7,541 13 2 1,630,940 £123,000 0 0 This sum is fixed on the assumption that one-half the total cost of both services shall be borne by the Imperial Government. 2. Such contributions shall be paid subject to the conditions following : — (1.) The mails shall be delivered both ways and on both routes within forty-eight days ; that is to say, from London to Sydney, and from Sydney to London, by way of Suez, within forty-eight days, and from London to Melbourne and from Melbourne to London, by the way of San Francisco, within forty-eight days. (2.) The steamers running by way of Suez shall call both ways, and receive and deliver mails at Glenelg (Holdfast Bay), in South Australia, and at Melbourne in Victoria. (3.) The steamers running by way of San Francisco shall call both ways and deliver and receive mails at Moreton Island, in Queensland, and at Sydney, in New South AVales. (4.) The time tables of the two lines shall be so arranged as to provide for the arrival and despatch of a mail every fortnight. 3. The Colony of New Zealand shall be permitted to join in and enjoy the benefit of this agreement on undertaking to pay the proportion of the entire cost (£123,000) on the basis of population, and to provide any branch service necessary to enable her to avail herself of the arrangement. The contribution of the Colonies would then stand thus : — Estimated Population Proportionate Colony. (exclusive of Aborigines). Payment. Victoria .. .. 728,734 .. £47,492 11 2 New South Wales .. .. 501,580 .. 32,688 12 9 South Australia .. .. 185,626 .. 12,097 9 9 Queensland .. .. 115,000 .. 7,494 14 0 Tasmania .. .. 100,000 .. 6,517 3 0 New Zealand .. .. 256,393 .. 16,709 9 4 1,887,333 .. £123,000 0 0 4. In the event of a contribution being made by AVestern Australia, New Caledonia, the Sandwich Islands, or any other colony or country, towards the above services, or either of them, such contribution shall be applied to diminishing the payments of the Colonies entering into this agreement in the proportions in which they have hereby agreed to pay. 5. Any agreement made with the Colony of New Zealand or any other country or colony to enable such colony or country to share in the advantages of this contract shall be so framed as not to extend the time above agreed upon within which mails are to be delivered in London and in Sydney and Melbourne. 6. Any contract made for the services above mentioned by way of Suez and San Francisco may be for a period of five years certain, with a proviso that it shall continue in force after such period, unless two years before the expiration of such five years any one of the Colonies gives notice of withdrawal from the contract; and two years' notice given by any one Colony being a party to this agreement, at any time after the expiration of three years from the commencement of the contract, shall terminate such contract. 7. Any contract made for either of the above lines may contain stipulations for enforcing performance similar to those inserted iv the existing contract for the service by way of Suez. 8. The Government of the United States shall be invited to contribute towards the maintenance of the San Francisco line ; and in the event of the total amount contributed by the Colonies parties to this contract being by reason of such contributions or by any other reason, less than the sum of £123,000, the amounts paid by the Colonies parties hereto shall be in the like proportion as that above fixed for the payment of the £123,000. 9. No Colony party to this agreement shall give the two years' notice above mentioned without at the same time giving notice to the other parties to this agreement. 2

E,—No.- to.

6

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO

• , 10. Tenders shall be invited in the Australian Colonies and in England and America for the two services,' which, in both cases, may be invited through or with the concurrence of the Imperial Government, if found practicable and convenient; and such tenders shall provide for commencing the San Francisco Service not later than the 31st of March, 1873, and for commencing the Suez Service immediately on the termination' of the present contract for that service by effluxion of time or otherwise, and the 31st of March next shall be the latest period for. sending in tenders. 11. The Colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland shall pay annually to the Colony of Tasmania, in consideration of that Colony joining in this agreement, towards the expenses of the two branch lines which it must establish to enable it to have the benefit of the postal lines above mentioned, the sum of £1,200, in the following proportions, namely: — Estimated Population Proportionate (exclusive of Aborigines). Payment. Victoria .. .. .. 728,734 .. £571 4 1 New South Wales .. _.'.-' 501,580 .. 393 3 1 South Australia .. .. 185,626 .. 145 10 0 • • Queensland .-. ..; .. 115,000 .. 90 210 1,530,940 £1,200 0 0 12. This agreement is made subject to the condition that it shall be approved of by the Legislatures of the Colonies interested therein ; and the parties hereto pledge themselves to use their best efforts to obtain such approval. 13. For the purpose of more conveniently carrying out this agreement, the Governments of Alctoria and New South AA'ales are authorized to take the necessary measures in that behalf. (Signed) C. Gavan Duffy, 1 Graham Berry, Jams. Martin, George W. Lord, Joseph Docker, John Hart, William Milne, ' W. Morgan, J. Malbon Thompson, Thomas L. Murray-Prior, J. M. AVilson, James Dunn. Memorandum of Business Transacted. After the terms of agreement in reference to the permanent mail services by way of Suez and San Francisco had been settled, the consideration of the proposed services by way of the Cape of Good Hope and Batavia was entered upon. With reference to the service by way of the Cape of Good Hope, the Delegates from New South AT ales, Queensland, and Tasmania stated that they felt themselves unable, on behalf of their Colonies, to join Victoria in subsidizing that route; and the Delegates from South Australia stated that, having already agreed to subsidize the lines by way of Suez and San Francisco, they were unable to join in supporting the Cape route, as otherwise they would have been desirous of doing. With reference to the service by the way of Batavia, after discussion, it was found that rio agreement could be arrived at for Victoria, New South AA'ales, South Australia, and Tasmania uniting with Queensland in supporting such a service. The consideration of a temporary service by way of San Francisco was then proceeded with, and it was proposed by the Delegates from A'ictoria that negotiations should be entered upon with the companies at present carrying mails from New Zealand to San Francisco, and from Sydney to San Francisco, with a view to obtain the best temporary service practicable upon terms which would make the united cost of the present Suez route and any temporary route by San Francisco fall upon the contributing Colonies in the ratio of population. The Delegates from New South AVales refused to negotiate for any service on the basis of the New Zealand contract; and as complete agreement was the necessary preliminary of joint action, the proposal was necessarily abandoned. It was then proposed by the Delegates from New South Wales that an arrangement should # be made with Mr. Hall for a service by which the mails should be carried between Sari Francisco and Melbourne, calling at Moreton Island and Sydney both ways, the mails being delivered both ways, in London and Melbourne, within 48 days; and that New South Wales should contribute towards such service at the rate of £15,000 a year, until some permanent arrangement for a San Francisco sendee should be made. It was ascertained that the Postmaster-General in London had announced his intention of charging twopence on each newspaper, and threepence on each letter, of half an ounce, by this line, in addition to the postage charged in

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

7

E.—No. to.

Australia, on the ground that such letters had been forwarded by a " private merchant vessel;" and that the New South Wales Government had protested against this course, but with what result is still unknown. After discussion, it was found that no agreement could be come to for this temporary service. The subject of telegraphic communication with Europe was considered. It was suggested that as soon as the overland line was completed, and its actual cost ascertained, the Governments represented at the Conference, might negotiate for the purchase of the line, with a view to their taking measures in common to reduce the proposed charge on telegrams to and from Europe at least 50 per cent. The Delegates considered they had no authority to determine this question, and it was therefore postponed. Lord Kimberley's Circular Despatch of the 13th of July having been brought under consideration, the Delegates from New South AVales proposed a memorandum on the subject, which was accepted by the Delegates from South Australia and Tasmania, and objected to by the Delegates of A'ictoria, and which the Queensland Delegates did not consider themselves authorized to adopt. The Delegates of A rictoria then proposed certain resolutions insisting on the right of the Colonies to make Intercolonial tariffs without limitation, which were unanimously adopted, subject to the consent of the Queensland Government being obtained. The Queensland Delegates, however, having been instructed to confine their labours to the Postal question, the resolutions proposed by the Victorian Delegates were adopted by the other Colonies. The Delegates from South Australia having brought under consideration the necessity for legislation in the different Colonies for the purpose of facilitating the enforcement of claims against absconding debtors, it was agreed that the Government of each Colony should take the subject into consideration at an early period. It was agreed that the contract and the memorandum of business transacted should be published in all the Colonies represented at the Conference simultaneously, on Saturday, the 7th ' . of October. (Signed) C.G.D. G.B. J.H. W.M. W.M. J.M. G.W.L. J.D. J.M.T. T.L.M.P. J.M.W. Friday, 22th September, 1871. J.D. Fiscal Legislation between the Colonies. The Delegates from the Governments of New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, and Victoria, in Conference assembled, having had under their consideration Lord Kimberley's Circular Despatch of the 13th July, 187.1, have unanimously adopted the following resolutions :— Ist. That the Australian Colonies claim to enter into arrangements with each other, through their respective Legislatures, so as to provide for the reciprocal admission of their respective products and manufactures, either duty free or on such terms as may be mutually agreed upon. 2nd. That no treaty entered into by the Imperial Government with any foreign power should in any way limit or impede the exercise of such right. 3rd. That Imperial Interference with Intercolonial fiscal legislation should finally and absolutely cease. 4th. That so much of any Act or Acts of the Imperial Parliament as may be considered to prohibit the full exercise of such right should be repealed. sth. That these resolutions, together with a memorandum from each Government, or a joint memorandum from such Governments as prefer to adopt that method, shall be transmitted to the Secretary of State through the Governors of, our Colonies respectively. Signed at Melbourne, this 27th day of September, a.d. 1871. James Martin, Attorney-General and Premier, 1 XT „ ~ Geo. AY. Lord, Colonial Treasurer, I a j^ Joseph Docker, Postmaster-General, J. M. Wilson, Colonial Secretary aud Premier, 1 .- t -n T./r xi n , 1 asmania. James Dunn, M.E.C., j John Hart, Treasurer and Premier, „ , William Milne, Chief Secretary, > . , v ~ W. Morgan, M.L.C, j Australl** C. Gavan Duffy, Chief Secretary and Premier, 1 ,-. . Graham Berry, Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs. J