We learn by telegram from Melbourne that the decision of
the Treasury on the proposals of the Intercolonial Conference, held at Sydney in January, on Postal matters, has given great dis- satisfaction in the colony of Victoria. At the Conference it was decided to accept the proposals contained in Mr. Lowe's Minute of last August, of which we stated the substance on the 19th of April; but to give Victoria the power of contracting for the new service, and to fix its terminus at Melbourne. Against this latter provision New South Wales protested, and although the claim of Victoria was sustained by all the other Australasian Colonies, except perhaps Queensland, the Agent-General of the Sydney Government, Sir Charles Cowper, seems to have satisfied Mr. Lowe and Mr. Monsen that it would be inexpedient to change so abruptly the existing arrangements. The waste of time (the Minute was written last August, and the telegraph has been open since October,) and want of skill shown in negotiating this very simple matter, prove that our Australian nephews do not share the diplomatic talent of our American cousins.
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