POST OFFICE AND RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 48, 27 February 1890, Page 8

POST OFFICE AND RAILWAY.

DELAY. OF DIRECT MAILS PREVENTED.

This morning the direct mails by the Ruapehu arrived in Onehunga by the s.p. Wanaka from Wellington. The WanaUa steamed up to the Onehunga Wharf ab 7 o'clock, but the train for Auckland ia supposed to leave the wharf ab 7, so that she may leave the Onehunga Railway Station according to time-table at five minutes pasb seven. .

Mr S. B. Biss, chief postmaster for Auckland district, was present to look after the mail business. Knowing that if the train started at the usual time these important mails, with tho large number of passengers on board the boat, would be delayed almost two hours before t-hey got oil for Auckland, Mr Biss asked the station-master to delay the deparcure of the train for a few minutes to allow the mails and people to be taken on to the city. This the stationmaster afc first refused to do, as his regulations demanded that he should abide by the time-table. Mr Biss reasoned with him and showed him the mistake that would be made by sending ott the train with hardly anybody in it, when by waiting a minute or two the train could be tilled with passengers, to the benefit of the Railway Department ; and could carry on the 168 bags of letters and papers,to the great convenience of the citizens of Auckland.

The stationmaster explained that he risked his position by delaying tho train without the authority of regulations or manager ; but after a little more talk Mr Biss got him to do as he wished, promising him that no evil results would follow.

The mails and passengers were at once got off the boatwhenshecame alongside, and at 13 minutes past 7 the train started only about 10 minutes late, much to the delight of the passengers.

It is somewhat curious that the boats coming by the West Coast have a knack of arriving just too late for the train. It would surely be possible for them to steam up to the wharf in time to catch the trains. Very often, however, they come up just too late, and thereby cause great inconvenience.