Year: 1867

The number Of your Najesys loyal subjects IN Austra
asia il fast approaching an aggregate OF Two ad
which here recorded though necessarily brief aud I'M
perfect, Will not fail TO insure for them your Majesty
strong in uniting the colonies 20 the parent country hut
stronger still Is The glory OF an advancing cvhalion
which belongs 10 the emOes British dependency rs part
OF great nation under your Maiesys beneteent reign
Nor will your Majesty be nsenslbe 10 ose slas oi tne
be served with separate households The parent
hgTavey feel the need Of closer and more con


The fonr continental colonies Of South Australia Veto
ria New south Wales and Queensland, occupy seaboard
brougbont its extent and the islands of New Zea-
land are 900 miles distant from the Australian coast
The letters brought by the way Of Cane Leuwin by
Australia could not be forwarded from that point by any
practicable means OF communication 10 your Majesty :


Subjects at the northern pOrs OF Queensland under n OF
"a days or 10 the ports of NewZeasud under nine A
steamer arriving by the Torres Straits rOute would AFFORD
, less satisfaction as the most p0puous colonies would
be the last 10 receive their letters The means OF commu-
nicatOn with many important settlements ~ the interior
Of Australia is only by journey OF several ana can
not on account cost De frequent than once or
twice week II will thus be seen that any single monthly


line would leave large numbers OF your Mnjes
tvs subjects unable reply 10 their correspondence by
the return malls and that any two or more nes by the
same route would fail in aOrdng general Satisfaction


The representatives OF the several colonies assembled
in conference after careful AMI anxious cODsdefatlon OF
le whole subject on behalf of their respective Govern
mcnt approach your Majesty aud humbly and dutlfuy
represent that order TO meet the demands OF the large
and growing comerco of these colonies and 10 serve in
a satisfactory the complicated interests that CON
meet them with the United Kingdom, IT has now become
necessary to maintain three postal services one
by way OF King Georges Sound, one by way OF Torres
Straits and one by way Of NewZcaland and Panama.
The last OF these routes have been opcued success
fully by the enefw of Your Maiesys subjects IN Aus


Iaa and NewIcaaEd; and their advantages 10 the col
Ones most nearly affected by them are TOO apparent To
be Ieinqushed


The associated colonies, by their representatives In
Conference have agreed To contribute annually moiety
not exceeding S20OO0 OF the entire cost OF maintaining


these three lines Of postal communication, and they
prepared to act in combination contracting
Tor the necessary services TO open and maintain
these routes in connection with your Maestys contract
services TO India and China and 10 the West Indies They
humby pray that your Majesty may be advised to take
such steps may be expedient. by terminating read


sng present contracts calling for fresh tenders for
the performance OF the main services 10 establish the
proposed United Australasan Postal system without
drawing upon the limited resources OF the colonies
beyond the large sum which they cheerfully under
take TO pay.


Your memoIiasts humbly urge the claims Of the great
colonies they represent 10 the favorable consideration OF
your Most Gracious Majesty and they trust that project
SO closely in harmony with the spirit Of British enterprise
so essential for the development OF British trade so cal
cuated in its effects to promote the welfare OF your
Maicsfys loyal subjects in Australasia, and one IN which
the whole Of the colonies acting in union may receive
your Msjesty's royal favor and support.