A ZIG-ZAGGED MAIL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1908, Page 8

A ZIG-ZAGGED MAIL.

MOANA V. WARRIMOO. There is nothing like a hitch in j a? mail service for spoiling -the- tempers of commercial people. A business man; may nob bo perturbed by a breakfast late, but a mail late does set him asking "Why" very vigorously. The mail is an important cog in the wheels of commerce, and when that vital part of the ; machinery is temporarily out of order,., there is consternation — and language. The 'Moana's mail from Sydney was ex- . pected to reach Wellington last night by rail from tho North. But the Moaaiamissed the New Plymouth steamer, be-i cause she went out of her course to ' Bearcb for the drifting Hawea. "TheWellington authorities," states a business man, "knew tliat the 'Moana, was to take a zig-zag ' iconrse for part of the voyage. Why, then, were not the^ bags put on the 'Warrimoo, .which was to sail direct for-this port?" "It is easy to prophesy after the event," is the reply of the postal officials 'here. "Who was to- know whether tho 'Warrimoo would not- be detailed to do some out of the way work in the rescue- of the Hawea?" The department states that the Wellington office cannot -dictate to the Sydney office as to the way in which-a mail is .to bo despatched, any more than Sydney c»n dictate to Wellington. Tho presumption is that the Sydney office made full enquiry before putting the bags on the Moana, and believed that this course ; the best, under the circumstances. So far as the public are concerned,; concluded tho explanation, they would' got their letters (to-morrow morning) just as soon as if the Warrimoo had brought them. People with private boxes would have got their mail only a few hours sooner by the Warrimoo, but. in this matter the Postal Department* does not hold itself blamable.