¥.— 6

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No. 140. The Acting Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Adelaide. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 27th March, 1907. 1 have the honour to inform you that a mail-seryice via San Francisco is no longer subsidised by the New Zealand Government, and that the last mail covered by a subsidy was despatched by the R.M.S. " Sonoma," which left Auckland on the 7th ultimo. No advice of the departure of the steamers from Auckland for San Francisco will, therefore, be sent to you henceforward. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Adelaide. D. Robertson, Acting-Secretary. [S.F. Agr. 07/111.]

No. 141. The Main Agent, R.M.S. "Sonoma," to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir,— Marine Post Office, R.M.S. " Sonoma," 27th March, 1907. I have the honour to report as under on the outward and return voyages of the " Sonoma." On the outward voyage the "Sonoma" sailed from Auckland, 7th February, 5.14 a.m.; on Bth February encountered a strong gale which lasted for two days; arrived at Pago Pago 11th February, 7*33 p.m.; left next day 1.35 a.m.; arrived at Honolulu 20th February, 8.37 a.m.; continued voyage the same day 7.36 p.m., arriving at San Francisco 27th February, 6.32 p.m., after a slow voyage of twenty-one days nine hours seven minutes, due in a measure to the fortyeight hours' gale and unskilled firemen. The " Sonoma " docked the following morning, 28th February, and the mails were forwarded East at 11 a.m. same day. They arrived at New York, sth March, 4.30 a.m., and were despatched thence to destinations by North German Lloyd e.g. " Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse," sailing 10 a.m. same date for Southampton. The return mail ex Cunard s.s." Etruria," dated London, 16th February, arrived at New York 24th February, 10.30 a.m., and was forwarded West by 5.25 p.m. Hudson River train same day, reaching San Francisco 28th February, 2.30 p.m. As the "Sonoma" had only arrived in port the previous evening it was impossible for her to leave again until the 6th March, on which date she sailed at 6.42 p.m., six days late. Arrived at Honolulu 13th March, 6.5 a.m.; left same day 11.45 p.m. Arrived at Pago Pago 21st March, 5.50 a.m., resumed voyage the same day 5.55 p.m., arriving at Auckland 27th March, midnight, after a voyage of twenty days nine hours twenty-nine minutes. The steering gear was a frequent source of trouble on account of erratic action and occasional breakdown, and this, in addition to lengthy stops at Honolulu and Pago Pago, partly accounts for long voyage, as the engines worked fairly well throughout. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. D. E. Lindsay, Mail Agent. [P.O. 07/981.1

No. 142. Voyages of San Francisco Mail-steamers. Auckland to San Francisco.

Steamer. Left Auckland. Left Honolulu. I Arrived San Francisco. Due. Actual. Due. Actual. Due. Actual. i ; ■ I 1906. 1906. ' Ventura " J21 Dec, 3 p.m.J22 Dec, 4.50 p.m. 1907. 1907. 'Sierra" ... ;11 Jan., 3 p.m.|12 Jan., 4.48 a.m. 1 Sonoma " J 1 Feb., 3 p.m ! 7 Feb., 4.35 a.m. 1907. 1907. 1907. 1907. 1 Jan. 4 Jan. 7 Jan., 6 a.m. 12 Jan., 8.16 p.m. 22 Jan. 24 Jan. 28 Jan., 6 a.m. 30 Jan., 11.10 p.m. 12 Feb. 20 Feb. 18 Feb., 6 a.m. 27 Feb., 6.32 p.m. San Fra: cii \co to Auckland. Left Bar Steamer. Left San Francisco. Left Honolulu. Arrived Auckland. Due. _ Actual. Due. Actual. Due. Actual. I I 1907. "Ventura" 17 Jan., 2 p.m. 1907. 19 Jan., 8.19 a.m. 1907. 23 Jan. 1907. 27 Jan., 12.27 a.m. 14 Feb., 1 p.m. 13 Mar., 11.25 p.m. 1907. 1907. 4 Feb., 5 a.m. 12 Feb., 7.45 a.m. " Sierra" , 7 Feb., 2 p.m. 8 Feb., 1.2 a.m. 13 Feb. 25 Feb., 5 a.m. 2 Mar., 11.20 a.m. "Sonoma" 28 Feb., 2 p.m. 6 Mar., 6.42 p.m. 6 Mar. 18 Mar., 5 a.m. 27 Mar., midnight. IS.F. Ext. 07/78A.J