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

the ri , •,y the Government would give, to establish
erne efficient line of communication, and if they
divided the resources, they would have neither the
one nor the other. He believed that if they
had the two routes, letters starting on the Ist
of the month by Panama would reach the colonies
at the same time as letters posted on the
161 a would arrive by the Suez route. In cot.
elusion he called upon all who preferred one efficient
line to two which would be comparatively useless,
to support the amendmentwwhiiicehre•ahsethwc,olumldpelarioalw
submit, to substitute for the th andSth re,soltte
g :ild_,, That
yet been able to perfect a
tGioonvsern them efonitlohwaisn
monthly service via Suez, this meeting does not
deem it advisable to apply for a second service via
Panama, until a monthly communication by the
former route be satisfactorily established."
Mr. ASHURST seconded the amendment.
Lord A. CHURCHILL, Mr. FORLONGE, and other
gentlemen, supported the amendment se4 Capt.
ToWNE, nf Sydney, spct:2 cousideiabla length ill
favour of the Panama route, contending that the
contributions of the colonies would amount to-
gt to 130,0001., and the subsidy of the Govern.
went of an equal sum would supply the means, if
moderate-sized vessels were used, for carrying out
both routes.
cflfuiraopnovmMmetospuorart.t
inahlEbieell.yi
established,
We
disposedg
lines.
soie said he should be glad to see both.
e
legitimate
and
aheevg
would
towards
oul
wirivalrylentertainededavrebdd esbtetahthwefeoeGrger
tenronsevit.
result
fortnightly
I expectationsolmcyfoemonptpeewneii competing
commu-
nication, and were awaiting with some interest the
result of the decision of the association. If the
two lines !should be conceded, the relative propor-
tions of the subsidy to be paid would be easily settled
by each colony, and it was most objectionable to
be splitting straws when the great object was to go
before the Government with an unanimous exprea•
sion of opinion. The colonies had been combining
together to obtain a good postal service, and he did
not see how New South Wales could expect an in-
dependent service cf an effective kind ; and failing
the concession of an independent service, in what
position would she be placed if she should hold
herself aloof and refuse to pay a subsidy? In de-
termining upon the best route the fact ought not to
be lost sieht of that it vessels of sufficient capacity
were employed they might proceed at once from
.King George's Sound to Aden, and thus establish
an efficient passenger communication. It was very
well to say that a postal service ought to be ol:i
tained without reference to passenger traffic. It
certainly was not right to subsidise a passenger
line, but at the same time such a line ought not to
be made a stumbling-block in the way of passenger
traffic. If the boats were t.:o small for general
passenger traffic, and the rates were rather high,
such a number of persons might be induced to go
by the mail packets that no other parties would
have a chance in the way of competition. (Hear,
hear.)

Mr. FITZGERALD quoted a letter from the cap-
tain of the Golden Age, shlwiug that the Panama
route was shorter in time than that by,Suez, and
th it the passage was by means a dangerous one.
He also reminded the meetiti,, that when the Ame-
rican telegraph was completed they would, if the
Panama line were adopted, bring the colonies
within 28 days of Londan by telegraphic commu-
nication.

Captain PARFITT was of opinion that the diffi-
culties of coaling in the Pacific would render it
necessary, if they adopted the Panama route, to
employ very large and expensive vessels. He be-
lieved that a fortnightly communication by Suez
might be carried out at the same cost as a monthly
communication by Panama.
Mr. W. ARCHER said it was well known that th•
Panama route was not so quick as that by Suez,
and therefore, if a fortnightly communication was
established, the Suez route ought to be adopted.
The spot on the ocean ought to be selected where
the best terminus could be found for Australia ge-
nerally, wi bout reference to any particular colony,
and in his opinion Melbourne was the most cen-
tral point for such purpore. But ,the communica-
tion with Melbourne might be considerably im-
proved, for a company was projected which would
perform the distance, by way of Suez, within 47
days, by means of larger steamers than were at pre-
sent employed. Besides, the electric telegraph
could be established from Suez toLondou with much
greater ease than from Sydney to Panama. Under
these circumstances he should not be disposed to
go before the Government with a recommendation
of the Panama route as the fortnightly route for
Australia.

Mr. Your, in explanation, said the Government
had distinctly informed him that they were only
prepared to pay a subsidy for one route, and that
they did not see the necessity for any other, and
the merchants whom he had consulted were very
indifferent about the matter.

Mr. WILSON said that if the sevelth and eighth
resolutions should be negatived altogether the sub-
ject of the fortnightly communication would be
ignored. As he did not think the association ought
to adopt that course he would move as an amend-
-1 mans *a... • .A.......k.1..•• ....1.- 13... -Tx 411.0t...;,....,± I-- ------4-1.
resolution down to the word " ortnightly," and
the omission of the remainder of that resolution,
and also the eighth resolution.
After some further discussion Mr. Wilson's
amendment was put and negatived by a majority
of one, the numbers in its favour being eight, and
against it nine.

The amendment of Mr. Youl was then put and
carried by a majority of 16 against six.
The remaining resolutions, as follows, were then
agreed to :

" That inasmuch as the steamers generally employed
have been found incapable of performing the voyage
within the specified time, the vessels to be employed in
such service should be of a size and power to secure a
speed of 10 knots with all reasonable certainty.
"That past experience having shown the impractica-
bility of performing so long a voyage as that between
Su, z and Sydney and back in the same vessel, a change
of steamers at Point de Galle appears to be essential to
an effective service.

" That the rapidity with which the bottoms of iron
ships become fJul in tropical seas necessitates the provi-
sion of slips or wet docks at Satz, or other suitable pelt,
for the removal of such growth at each trip, should iron
vessels be employed.
"That to secure the proper performance of any con-
tract it is Lecesbary that the contractors should keep
reserve-ships to meet unforeseen accidents.
"That the lamentable and irritating failures to which
the Australian service has been continuously subjected
appear to have been in no slight degree attributable to
the deference given to new assooiatiocs, not possessed
of the requisite experience or organisation for an impor-
tant service ; and that, in ad future arrangements, due
weight should be attached to the claims of existing tort,.
parries of acknowledged character, experience, and

u o
resources.
" That an entire suspension of steam communication,
such a
5 h
contracts, appears but too probable in the present
Case the
any
: batatshbnaetesu cuhs suspensionually consequent upon changee inrecated
is deeply to be deprecated
as provocative of the greatest dismay and indignation
throughout an important group of colonies, already
greatly irritated by perpetual failures.
4, That in these resolutions the conviction is ever kept
in view that postal communication is beyond all compa-
rison the chief consideration ; but the last few months
have shown that the passenger traffic almost neoessarily
inseparable from a mail service is certain to be very large,
rapidly increasing, and highly remunerativoto a properly
managed company ; and while acknowledging the pre.
eminent claims of snail communication, it is conceived
that such passenger traffic is well deserving of considera-
tion ; and that care should be taken to guard it from any
chance of subjection to a monopoly, perhaps tyrannical
and obstructive.

" That a committee, consisting of seven gentlemen
(to be elected by ballot), three to form a quorum, be ap-
pointed to further the views expressed in these resolu-
tions, to advertise in the Times, if it be thought Advis-
able, and to communicate with the leading men of the
several Australian colonies, to secure their oo operation
in the establishment of an effective service."

After a vote of thank; to tLe chairman, the pro-
Leetlingi terminated.

THE TREATMENT OF LUNATICS AT
ACUMB-HOUSE RE [TEAT.

The statement of the cruelties practised towards
Mrs. Turner, wife of one of the official assignees of
the Liverpool Bankruptcy Court, as described be-
fore the Commissioners of Lunacy at York, has
been laid before the Lunacy Commissioners, who
have promptly directed an inquiry into the conduct
of Mr. Metcalfe, the keeper of Acomb-house.
lunacy)t'
litoe tehvei
The following letter has been received by the
solicitor of Mrs. Turner, from which it will be seen
that the investigation will commence this morning.
" Office of Commissioners in Lunacy,
19, Whitehall-place, July 28.
day's date,
tb:adredschraibviengreceived
esyloilut your
olfe.tatenr
.ofyeste r..
the state
inveatiga-
tion, under a commission of lunacy,
orderedcie
i foremancea an ociiit
liini the::o.
communicated on
y
(in pursuance of an intention at' fmmdi directed cot
ef dMtros Mrs.
inform M ai
Y Jane
yo u t Turner,
.hoant theyandl into,
avien thisreP ld3ral
the special circumsta cell
query to be made in
ju Mondayry ontiliaes last,
disclosed in the course
commission 2 e . t htoi nooff
the existing condition and management of Acombo I
house, in reference to the patients therein.
am to add tbat Mr. Lutwige and Mr. Wilkes, the
commissionerstocon appointed,conduct
tthe
will proceed to York to'...
m
proposed inquiry ; .and have
the goodness
oto meet them at York attended bY
your client, Mrs. Turner, as early as possible on
the morning of Friday, the 30tb.—I am, sir, Your
obedient servant. "JOHN FOSTER, Secretary.
"Charles Pemberton, Esq., Solicitor,"
Mrs. Turner, accompanied by her solicitor, left
Liverpool yesterday afternoon for Yorke