FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22930, 7 January 1938, Page 11

FIFTY YEARS AGO

SAN FRANC I SCO MAI i. DEL AYS The problems in connection with the transport of mails between .New Zealand and Britain via San Francisco 50 years ago and the lack of efficiency in handling the mails on tHe overland journey across the United' States were the subject of editorial comment in the New Zealand Herald of January 7, 1888. An extract from a leading article reads as follows:—— 1 "The steamer Alameda brings us some more interesting J&ews regarding the San Francisco malr service. v The reduction of time on the overland route between New York and San Francisco had been in effect for some weeks and was working well. Though the Alameda was advertised 'to leave San Francisco on Thursday, December 15, she did not get away until the following Saturday morning. The delay was caused partly by the non-arrival of the steamer Republic at: New York at her scheduled time arid partly by carelessness in the transportation of the mails from New York to San Francisco/ , ? . ''The former circumstance shows the necessity of sending our mails by the fastest steamers that are running and this change in the Atlantic steamers should be promptly effected. Regardinc the delays on the overland route much more may be said. These delays are not as frequent as they used toibe but", except in the case of snow blockades, there should be no delays whatever.