The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-30 00:00:00

POSTA t COMMUNICATIoN WITH AUS-
TR ALIA. THE Ili VAL BOUTL S.

A meeting of the members of the Au.tralian
Association and other gentlemen connected with the
Australian colonies was held yesterday, at the Lon-
don Tavern, to take into consideration the bait
means of providing an affective mail service,
whether by a double line—viz., the Suez on the
one hand, and Panama en the other—or by the
Suez line only.
Mr. YOUNG was voted to the chair, and explained
that, at the general meeting of the association,
held on the 30th or June last, a series of resolutions
which had been agreed to by the passengers on
board the April Australian steamer (the Victoria)
were submitted, and, in accordance with the views
then expressed, the present meeting had been
called specially to take these resolutions into con-
sideration. Re presumed that no dissas.sion
arise Iv on any of the resolutions except the 7th
and Bth, and wished to impress on all present the
importance of setting aside all pety jealousies and
considerations of local interest, and joining together
to obtain the sanction of the Government to a better
system of postal communication. So far as he un-
derstood, these resolutions expressed the feelings
of the colonists respecting the Australian mail ser-
vice, and they were intended to form the substra-
tum of a representation to what was desired. The
object was to furnish the Government with the
views of these who were most interested in the
question, with the view of influencing their deci-
sion in any contract they might contemplate en-
tering into.
Mr. Your, the secretary to the association, pro-
ceeded to read the resolutions. They were headed
—" We, the passengers by the Australian steam
ship Victoria, mostly old residents of the Austra-
lian colonies and others interested in an effective
mail service between Great Britain and those dis-
tant possessions, having paid considerable atteuton
to the subject, and having had opportunity of per-
sonal observation of the working of the system, and
of some of the causes which have led to the present
irregularity of the mail service, wish to give ex-
pression to our opinions in the following resolu-
tions."

The first three resolutions were put and adopted
as follows :

"That the continuous failnras by which the varioup
schemes for effecting mail communication between Great
Britain and Australia have been characterised have been
productive of very serious load and inconvenience to all
exposed to their influence, and have led to the deeper
mortification and dissatisfaction throughout the colonies.
" Tnat the present aspect of ffairs connected with the
service affords no reasonable hope of any improvement ;
but, on the contrary, the flagrant inadequacy of ail th,
arrangements is daily becoming more thoroughly
apparent.

"That even with a mail line of the most inefficient
and irregular character the mails are increasing in num-
ber and importance, and an amount of traffic is growing
up, of an extent, and with a rapidity, calculated to show
the very large and profitable results naturally contingent
upon a service conducted with spirit, speed, and regu-
laiity."
The fourth resolution was then put :

" That the great dissatisfaction with the present ser-
vice is shown by resolutions and discussions in the Aus-
tralian parliaments and Chambers of Commerce, and by
petititions presented to the House of Commons, urging
the termination of the exis.ing contract, a proceeding
which apprar3 imperatively called fur, and essential to
getting the service put upon a proper footing."
Mr. Your, moved the omission of the words
"and t.y petitiins presented to the House of Com-
mons urging the termination of the existing con-
tract," on the ground that there was now, in fact,
no existing contract.
After some couversation this amendment was
agreed to, and the resolution as amended was
adopted.
The fifth and sixth resolutions were also con-
firmed, viz. :

"That the unsatiefactlry working of the former expe-
riments by the route via SUEZ is so clearly traceable to
mismansgment and want of experience, that its (-active
operation is undoubted, if undertaken by competent par-
ties, possessed of the necessary means, and that nothing
should be allowed to supersede the service by that line.
"That the dissatisfaction universally prevailing in
Australia is attributable solely to the delays and irregu
lariiies of the service, the amount of subsidy having
always been considered of secondary importance to a
service upon which the colonists could implicitly de-
pend."

The CHAIRMAN suggested that the seventh and
eighth clauses should be taken together, as they
both related to the same subject—the fortnightly
communication and Panama route. They were

rec., tam importance to which the Australian colo-
nies have now attained seems to entitle them to a postal
communication of no longer date than fo-tnightly, and
that a line established between Sydney and Panama via
New Zealand, has for many reasons become extremely
desirable, if no,, a matter of actual necessity, would
meet the requirements of the colonists of New South
Wale., end by the action of a legitarantvi r volrg m
tend to lead to great efficiency in the entire eerrhie.
"That the very great importance of a mail service
zia Panama is clearly shown by reference to the serious
disadvantages which the important colonies of New
South %Vales land New Zealand labour from their local
position, no sufficient relief being attainable under the
present system. Very great advantage will moreover
be derived from this route in the event of any interrup-
tion to the m.il service via Suez by political disturb-
ances in Europe, while a direct commmunication will be
opened up with the -United States and South America,
the importance of which can scarcely be too highly ap-
preciated."
Mr. DE SAMS supported those resolutions. He I
expressed surprise that any objection should be
made to the Panama route by the Australian As-
sociation, the more so as they were nut asked to
support it as a main lino, but merely as subsidiary
to the Suez line. The nature of the objection as-
tonished him still more. Publicly he had heard
no objection stated, but privately be had been told
that the association were anxious that the colonies
should not be Americanised, which they feared it
would be if the Panama route were adopted, inas-
much as it would be certain to bring an influx of
Americans into them. If gentlemen supposed that
they could isolatethese colonies from America they
were mistaken. They might as well think of isolat-
ing London from Paris, or England from America.
Isolation in the 19th century was impossible.
(Hear.) The next ground of objection was that of
expense. But who was going to pay for it ? The
southern colorres were not to be asked to pay for
it. The Legislature of New South Wales was al.Kut
to contribute liberally towards it, and the Govern-
ment of this country were anxious not only to do
what was just, but to do it liberally. The Govern-
ment said, "If you think thetirne has arrived when
the two routes ought to bs established, we shall be
ready to contribute such sum as may be necessary
to carry out the communication." That was the
feeling of the Government, but if the meeting
passed a resolution declaring that the two routes
ought not to be carried out, he was not sure that
the Government would not turn round upon them
and say, " You are the gentlemen acting for the
colonies ; we will defer to your views, and defer for
an indefinite period the consideration of the line
which the Igislature of one colony has declared to
be of the turnost importance to the progress of the
colony."
Captain TOWNE—Two colonies. There is New
Zealand.
Mr. DE SALTS—His friend (Capt. Towne) had
reminded him of New Zealand, which was a most
valuable colony, the future of which could not be
ever estimated. All they were asked to do was to
cinfirm a resolution which was necessary to corn-
plete the circle of steam communication that would
be established round the world when the Suez route
was extended from Sydney to Panama, and then
to America and Southampton. He hoped if they
divided upon the resolution that the names
of the members would be given, so that it
might be known who wet e for and who were against
irs,wotina the commerce, the civilisation, and the
empire
y: of theu colonies.rem,rke a
(Hear,from
) March, 1855,
when the Australian Association was formed, until
Panamallove November er
routein thatwa s
tyheea re, h
o rtheyshortest
;
pamphletthe
published by the Post-office Committee at that time
satisfactorily
showed
of San Di
wgeod
Gthaarctiathe
wasS 1,17 routedeg.
of blyo
ntgbie-
tude nearer than that of Panama. Consequen,ly
the committee had decided that this route was the
best, and the contract was entered into. He would
not enter into the reasons why that contract bad
broken down ; they knew that the abips were
utterly unfit for the work. The government bad
intended to have the ships tried before they went
out, but there had not been time, and the conse
quence was that the failure which had been prog-
nosticated had occurred. There were upon the
committee representasives of New South Wales,
who concurred in the resolution in favour of the
Suez route. He had a table of distances, which
showed that Melbourne was eight days seventeen
hours nearer to London by Suez t'aan by Panama
at an average speed of ten knots ; and Sydney was
1,140 miles nearer. That was without taking into
a:count the necessary divergence for coaling at
Tahiti. He contended that not only for the benefit
of Melbourne, but of Sydney and all the other
colonies, an efficient postal service would be best
carried on by the Suez route. Nor could they
wi h any conscience go to the government, and ask
them to aid in the establishment of a second route,
while they had never yet been able to carry out
the one route efficiently. It would take all the
money the colonies could afford—all their patron-
age in passengers, merchandise, and gold—and all