The Express.
London, England, 1860-05-16 00:00:00

THE ACSERALIAN MAIL SERVICE.

A great change is about to take place in the
Australian wail service. The directors of the Penin-
sular awl Oriental Steam Company, finding, after
thirteen months experience of their contract,
that it entails a considerable low, have definitively
decided upon throwing it up, and have already inti-
mated thus decision to government. The present
sulshly n 180,0001. (of which one-half is payable
by the tolouiea, and the other half by the Imperial
go% eniiiiimt), and the company's experience leads
to a Is lief that the amount ought to be rained to
27.0.0c0i in order to afford them any margin
of profit Before the matter arrived at ita
present stage, it may be useful to remind
n•aders, the company submitted a pro-
p...al to government that, in consideration
oi an ieblition of 26,0001. being made to the
pr. tent subsidy (whereby the total would be raised
t.. ._.o.1.0001.), and of the service being limited to
between Australia and Point de Gallo, instead of
between Australia and Suez, they would establish
a fortnightly service each way, instead of &monthly
one, an hitherto. The colonies have not responded
conlially to this offer, New South Wales especially
iiit.,riceing obstructions, through her desire to see
the hitiatila route established. The Imperial
c'venonent, in the absence of en meat from
the colonies, have accordingly declined the reripoa-
sibility of recommending to parliament any
to the existing estimate for the
warier. lint bring impressed with a sense of
the inconvenience which would be inflicted
upon mercantile and other interests of great
importance by a suspension of the mail communi-
cation with the Australian colonies, government
have applied to the company to know if they have
auy alti.rnative plan to propose. The directors, in
reply, hate submitted an alternative plan, which
will at once relieve them from the certainty of
further lows, provide for the efficient maintenance
of the postal service, and at the same time allow of
a considerable saving in its coat. They offer to
maintain a monthly service between Melbourne
(only) and Point de Gallo (Ceylon), in connexion
with open' the hi monthly lines of portal steamers
which now convey the loth* and China mails. At
Point de Gallo the Australian mails will
he transferred to the Indian steamers. Tbe
eel" port between Melbourne and Point de
Italia at which the Australian pickets will
t..itt fa will be King George's Sound, for coaling
pur,swee. This service the company offer to Per.
form for 120,000/. a year, being 60,0001. lens than
the sum at present provided for. The 120,0001.
will lice parable in equal moieties by the Imperial
government and the colonies ; and the government
.4 Victoria have already consented to guarantee
the 00,000 f. ma that side, taking their chance of
is dolt recouped in doe proportion by the other
c"1".111vo of the Australian group. It is pointed out
that the regularity of the transit between Australia
—view.' I as a whole--anil the mother ceuutry will
N' promoted by the new arrangement. The inter-
tolouial lswtal service between Sydney and Mel-
t...lime. moil between Adelaide ma the other colt,-
n'l.l M.lliourne, must be provided for by the
colonic. themselves, and if the people of
New south Wales demur to this arrange-
ment, it is "ltions that they have the remedy in
their own bandit by actively carrying out their
fivouritc project of ewtablishing a new and lade-
isuilimt postal nolte re.. PalUdiffa. 'There will, of
be loud complaint,' on the part of the other
r"loloc., which will be placed relatively it) a less
1/4.4llthgegotlii position than Victoria, hut Victoria
1• nlling to pay for her privileges, and no other
ioionv appears to be inclined to do 80. It is marl-
-1..t that tin' compauy cannot be compelled to carry
oi the contract at a heavy lima. It is intended that
the new arrangement shall come into operation with
the' mail karmic Australia ..nthe 22nd of July, and
•ith the uuuail leaving England on the 90th-26th
i'f June. To make thin cleaner. it may be ex-
1.1-iiied that the Jose mail rid Southampton will
England on the 20th, iasteivi of the 12th,
so." 1 time outward mail rid Marseilles will go on the
.hth awned id the 90th. Instructions to this
11feet will he Rent out to the company's agents tu
Anstridia by the mail of the 18th lust.

PALACS, MAY 12.—Thia day had
..„ „f h r IL.je.ty:—whnr t twine tletierrea mini ter
)•••••..t...ry fr.en the Relnidtr .4 Headlines, to deliver
•te.l..etsa4: and the l'..ant de Ludnif, envoy *lies-
-• " fs 4nd mini...et plenireentiery from the X lag of the
A. .44., of the too to deliver his ciedeatiale—
,,