CARRIAGE OF MAILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17457, 29 April 1920, Page 6

CARRIAGE OF MAILS.

RESTRICTED SERVICES.

CONNECTIONS BY IiOTOKS. ONLY LETTERS ACCEPTED. The officers of the Postal Department had a particularly busy time yesterday in trying to arrange details of a reduced mail service to points hitherto served by railway. A mail for Wellington and the south was despatched by the steamer Otaki, which left Auckland yesterday, and any steamer leaving for the south via the East Coast will carry a mail.

The New Plymouth service has been disorganised by the delay to the Earawa at the latter port through her inability to discharge her cargo, which has to be unloaded into railway trucks, and aha is not expected back at Onehunga until tomorrow. "Mails for the south will accordingly be held until then. If the strike continues a .thrice-weekly Onehunga-New Plymouth service , will probably ,be arranged, with mcior connection . between the latter port and Wellington. On ho account, however, will this service be utilised for the conveyance oJ passengers, being strictly reserved for mails. A weekly motor mad service will be run to Hamilton and other offices an far as Te Aroha, and as far southward as Te Kuiti, closing at half-past three in the afternoon. The commencement of this service will be announced later. A mail motor left yesterday morning at half-past six for stations this side of Hamilton. The nearer stations in the suburban railway area will be served by any train running. Mails will leave by motor three times a week for Helensville, Otamatea and Dargaville. The Rotorua district will bo served by steamer and motor via Tauranga. , Every effort is being made by'the authorities to effect the despatch of all mails, but so far no arrangement has been mode for serving stations southward of Te Kuiti. No immediate use of aeroplanes for the carriage of mails is contemplated by the Department. The Chief Postmaster emphasises the fast that first-class mail matter, letters, and post-cards only, will be accepted for the special services. No arrangement has been made for the carriage of newspapers, bocks, or other matter to any of the pointy thus served. Even if posted, they will not be carried.

Mails for all places served by coach or steamer, and unaffected by the railway strike, will be delivered as usual.