THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 30, 4 February 1905, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.

LONDON, February 3. ■(■ There is much annoyance in rammer- • cial circles owing to the inconvenience. occasioned by the absence of a regular mail service from Australia. Advices from Berlin indicate that tlie German line of steamers do not intend j to tender for the carriage of the Austra-; lian mails. MELBOURNE, February 3. The Federal Cabinet has considered the question of the mail contracts, and finally has decided not to accept the Orient Company's offer to carry the Australian mails for £14*0,000 per annum, and to make arrangements for the adoption of the poundage system. Details of these arrangements are not available. The Prime Minister (Mr. Reid) has expressed surprise that none of the Australian shipping companies have tendered for the service. (Received 9.49 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. Under the new poundage system the vessels of the Peninsula, Orient. German, French, Vancouver and 'Frisco lines .will be utilised in the carriage of mails. A time table, based on the actual resultstrf 1 ! last year, will be prepared, covering the service to the end of 1905. The P. &0. Company gives a regular fortnightly service. Correspondence will be sent by a particular line if so endorsed, otherwise by the quickest route available. It is en- 1 ' timated that the times required to trans-. ■ rait mails from Sydney to London by the P. &O. Company "will"be 32 days; Orient Company, 33 or 34 days; or. if steamers call at Adelaide—French Company, 35 days; German Company. 37 days; 'Frisco Company, 34 days; Vancouver line, 33 j days. All lines excepting the Orient and the "Frisco are under contract with the Postal Union administration, and will perform the service in accordance with the provisions of the Postal Union. The Postmaster-General expects a very largt saving will be made compared with the old contract system.