THE SAN FRANCISCO MAILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9556, 6 July 1894, Page 5

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAILS.

On account of the railway services in the United States having been almost entirely suspended by the strike of railway employees, the mails from this colony and Australia which were, despatched by the s.B. Monowai, due at San Francisco yesterday, will have to be sent on to Vancouver, and taken thence by the Canadian Pacific Railway. In accordance with a request from San Francisco to allow the mail steamer Monowai to proceed to Vancouver with the mails, the Union S.S. Company have forwarded instructions that if it is found necessary the Monowai should be despatched, but it is thought that arrangements could be made with the steamers of the Pacific Coasb S ; S. Company, which trade between San Francisco and Vancouver to take the mails on to the latter port, and thence to Montreal by rail, and to London by steamer. If this is done there will be a delay of about three days. There are two lines of railway connecting San Francisco with Vancouver, one a direct line and the other by the South Pacific Railway lino to a place called Missen Junction, where it joins with the Canadian Pacific Railway line to Vancouver. The time by the former is about 36 hours and by the latter about three days. It is probable, however, that these lines are affected by the strike, and cannot be utilised. If the American railway lines were open as far as Chicago the mails could be sent thence to Winnepeg, and then on to Vancouver by the Canadian Pacific line. The next mails, via San Francisco, leave London on the 14th inst., and are timed to reach San Francisco on the 26th inst., and Auckland on August 16. There is therefore plenty of time for all necessary arrangements to be made to prevent any delay in the mails reaching New Zealand at contract date, as, if it is found that the disturbance still continues on the American railway lines, the mails can be sent direct to Canada from London, and forwarded by the Central Pacific route to Vancouver, where they can be placed on board the Monowai should she bo sent on there, or taken to San Francisco by one of the coastal steamers.