THE AUCKLAND, SYDNEY, AND MELBOURNE POSTAL SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6998, 22 April 1884, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND, SYDNEY, AND MELBOURNE POSTAL SERVICE.

When the Union Company nndertook a weekly service from Auckland toSydney (and this practically includes Melbonrne, for the mails are delivered in Melbourne twenty-four hours after arrival in Sydney), it was generally expected that the large boats, such' as the Rotomahana, Wairarapa, Te £nau, &c, would continue their voyages from, the Southern ports, calling at Auckland, and thence to Sydney; but when it was found that the Ringarooma—vulgarly called the Hingaroller—was' to race up and down between Sydney and Auckland every fourteen days, not giving Auckland more than a single day to discharge and load for Sydney, every one could only come to the conclusion that the service was never intended to pay and succeed. However, that is ended, and we find ourselves with onl> a fortnightly service. Now, the gentleman who frames tbe time-table for the Union Company, knowing that we have only s> fortnightly service, appears to have practically taken care to reduce.it to a monthly service. The steamers arrive from Sydney on April 22, and 6th of May. The ste&mers sail tor Sydney on the "very same dates— namely, 22nd of April, and 6th of May, and should the steamer leave Sydney a day late, as is the case of the Te Anau this trip, she cannot arrive until a day after the steamer has left Auckland. How is it possible under euch an arrangement a trade can be done between' Sydney and Auckland, when it must take twenty-eight days for a roply to ' reach the Sydney merchant from his Auckland correspondent. ~ We will now turn to the Dunedin; and-Melbourne service. The arrivals at Dunedin from Melbourne are lofcif; 22nd, and 29th April; departures, 17th, 24th, and Ist May; thus giving two clear days to our friends at Dunedin to order their goods from Melbourne every week, to say nothing of their being able to catch the steamer at the Bluff by a telegram. The Union Company pride themselves'with attending to all parts of New Zealand alike, showing no favour, and nothing ia more unpalatable to the directors and their very able manager, Mr. James Mills, than to be twitted to the contrary. Those who have the direction of a large company, ■ such as the Union, doubtleae find it hard to please. all,_ but wo cannot - help thinking that it always pays the company to send their large steamers on to Sydney, particularly as they get 600 or 700 tons of coal at at. a very cheap rate. This must be no small item in their disbursements—we mean savinge." Where there is a will there.is.a. way.. One thing we are certain of,—our merchants will not be content to allow things to remain as they are, and we juet hint tnat there was.a time when a steamer called the Hero ran between Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland (coaling cheaply at Newcastle), and the thought might take possession of pur merchants that if it paid one Hero some years ago" it "might pay two or tnreenow;- We;trust, however,.before the May tailing directions of the Union Company are issued, an alteration 'remedying the vU will be made.