FIRST MAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1938, Page 5

FIRST MAIL

BY EMPIRE AIR SERVICE. EXPECTED ON FRIDAY. (Per Press Association—Copyright). AUCKLAND, August 8. The first Empire; air mail to be sent from England to' New Zealand under the “all-up” scheme, a consignment of 10891 bof mail which left Southampton for Sydney on July 28 by Empire flying-boat, is crossing the Tasman to Auckland by cargo .‘learner. It is expected to arrive here on Friday. The first flying-boat reached Sydney on Saturday, a day after the departure for Wellington of the Awatea. The next passenger ship to sail will be the Wangjanella, leaving for Auckland next" Saturday. The New’Zealand mail was transferred to‘tile .Union' Company’s steamer Kairnnga'. 'The sl’iip lhft' tor Auckland 'on Saturday night, and a normal passage across the Tasijian Sea will bring her to port on ‘ Friday. ‘"This"'* delay iii the ’ dispatch of the initial Empire mail may be repeated occasionally until the inauguration of a Tasman air service. ' A swift flight from Southampton to Sydney was completed in eight days, hut another six is being taken to carry the mail over the last comparatively short gap. But for tin* presence of cargo shipping, the New Zealand letters would have had to wait a week at Sydney for the. Wanganella. and would have arrived here after being 20 days iii transit. The Wnngnnella will bring air mails due at Sydney to-day and on "Saturday' the transit times of these being 17 and 13 days respectively.