SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4316, 27 March 1901, Page 5

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

ARRIVAL OF THE SIERRA. A RECORD PASSAGE. PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, March 26. The Oceanic Steam Ship Company’s mail steamer Sierra arrived from San Francisco last night, and was berthed this morning.

In connection with the inward San Francisco mail, the Postal Department has been advised that the steamer Sierra left San Francisco on tho evening of the 7th inst.—after waiting some time for some New York mails—and reached Auckland at 9.15 on Monday night. When the last of the English mails reached San Francisco, it was noticed that a bag of letters from London was short, but as it did not turn up, it was' .concluded that, a mistake must have been made in the way-bill. After leaving, however, it was ascertained that a bag of letters had been left behind. as the weight of the letter mail was short, and twenty registered books and packages were missing. The handling cf mails on tlieir way overland has fallen into a very unsatisfactory state, the delays which were a cause of complaint .some years ago seeming to be worse than over. The weather during the Sierra’s trip was fairly good, and it is claimed that better time would have been made but for the poor quality of the coal supplied,, and the fact that one of the force ' draught fans broke down. There were. 400 bags of mails on board for New Zealand offices. The. southern portions of the mails are on board thb Rotoiti, which left the Manukau for New Plymouth at 9.50 yesterday morning,, and are due here this afternoon.