THE VOYAGE HOME VIA SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW YORK.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4061, 27 August 1870, Page 3

THE VOYAGE HOME VIA SAN FRANCISCO AN D NEW YORK.

The following letter, which appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, may be read with interest here :— " Sir, —I notice in this day's issue a letter signed ' A. Archer,' a passenger by the ' Wonga Wonga 1 on the pioneer trip of the new mail route. I must acknowledge that Mr. Archer had cause of complaint between Sydney and Honolulu, ii? being well known that the first two steamers wer overcrowded. This, however, has not occurred since, and will not occur again. I objected to ib then, but could not avoid it without putting a great many to more inconvenience than Mr. Archer appears to have sustained. He also states that I misinformed him, or in other words led him astray, as to the cost of transit from San Francisco to New York. In tho circular which I hanaed him, £22 10s. is stated as the cost of transit, and on the same circular a scale of charges is given for single and double berths, also for staterooms in the Silver Palace Sleeping Coaches. I may also state that I accompanied Mr. Archer to San FranClSCO, and made arrangements there for the transit of my through passengers at a cost of £21, instead of 22 10s., Mr. Archer having the benefit of this, but for which no credit is given me by him. lam surprised to find that an 'old traveller,' as Mr. Archer professes to be, and also familiar, as he says, with American customs, should for one moment suppose that the charge of £22 10s. would include provisions and sleeping accommodation in Pullman's Sil er Sleeping Cars. I stated to him, when at San Franoisco, that an additional £5 or £6 would cover all first-class accommodation in the trains, or Bs. to 10g. per day in hotels. This I find to be in excess of the actual charge. Mr. Archer advises invalids not to travel by this route. In reply to this, I have to Btate that, from a voluntary statement made to me by.the Eev. Mr. Dayman, of Honolulu, that his wife and an elderly lady had just returned from New T?ork by the Pacific Line, the latter lady was an invalid, and on leaving New York required to be lifted from her coaoh to one of the cars. On arriving at Oakland, the end of her journey, she had' recruited so much as to be able to walk without assistance ; and both ladies, as well as many others, described the journey as a pleasure trip and not at all fatiguing after the first day. In conclusion, I must state that I think a different mode of expression should have been adopted by Mr Archer, he knowing well the many difficulties I have had to contend with in opening this line. However, I am perfectly willing to leave it Jo ihe good judgment of the many who are now availing themselves of this route. — Trusting I have not trespassed too much, I remain, yours respectfully, H. H. "HXll, U.S. Consul.— Sydney, August 10." ,