NEW MAIL SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 1

NEW MAIL SERVICE

IMPORTANT EVENT. ALABAMA LEAVES AUCKLAND FOE VANCOUVER. rasas association. AUCKLAND, August 4. The inauguration of the Auckland-Van-couver service to-day was marked by a reception on tho Marama, when some fifty representative citizens were the guests of tho Union Steam Ship Company. The Mayor (Mr Pan-) in a brief speech said that it was an occasion marking'an. important undertaking, in that it brought them into lino with the great All-lted Route which meant so much to tho Empire and to Now Zealand. It was, therefore, a red-letter day in the history of this port. The Union Company was to bo congratulated upon its enterprise and its pluck. In responding to tho toast of the Union Steam . Ship Company, Captain -Hornsby said That, without boasting, he thought New Zealand would find this service one of the best in the Pacific, and ho was pleased to find the port -of Auckland included in tho run. He had always hoped to.see Auckland included in the Vancouver route, and although in the past thoro had seelned small hopes of it they could now congratulate themselves upon the successful- inauguration of tho service. The .Marama left at 2.30 p.m., in continuation of her voyage to Vancouver, with a full complement of passengers, among whom were the Marquis and Marchioness of Linlithgow.