THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13227, 12 July 1906, Page 5

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Thk mail steamer Sonoma arrived from Sydney shortly before two p.m. yesterday, after a rough passage. The Sonoma., while at Sydney, was docked, cleaned, and painted, and underwent a. general overhaul. Leaving the New South Wales port on Saturday evening last, the steamer made a fine run for the first day, when she fell in with heavy weather from the southwest, veering to west and north-west, with a high following sea. The weather then set in thick and dirty, and. speed bad to be reduced. Cape Maria Van Diemen was made at nine p.m. on Tuesday, and the North Cape rounded-a couple of hours later. The weather by this time was very ! bad, the wind blowing an extreme gale, accompanied by heavy rain and bail squalls, which necessitated speed being reduced until the gulf was made. The weather then moderated, and the harbour was made at the hour stated. The Sonoma had a full passenger list for Auckland and through ports • from Australia, and the list was considerably added to at Auckland, more especially in the se-cond-class and steerage. The latter being more than filled by young men who are being lured to San Francisco by the high wages offering for labour, occasioned by the rebuilding of the city after the recent earthquake and fire. The Sonoma had a v*ry large cargo from Sydney for San Francisco, consisting of about 1400 tons, included in which were about.soo tons of cement, and a quantity of building material. At -Auckland,.about 40 tons of produce, meats, etc. were shipped for Samoa, and lines of flax, cocksfoot, pitch, etc., for San Francisco. The Sonoma resumed her voyage at halfpast ten o'clock last night, and should reach San Francisco on July 30. The mail steamer Ventura, with the British mails of London date June 9, is due r'rom San Francisco. The steamer, however,' having been 30 hours late leaving Honolulu, is not- expected to reach Auckland until to-morrow.