F.—6

No. 47. General Post Office, 18th May, 1908. Comparative Table showing Dates of Departure of Mails from London via San Francisco and Brindisi. and Dates of Arrival in Wellington.

Mails are despatched from London on the day following the despatch of the Orient (Naples) mail. The comparison, therefore, is with the following P. and 0. (Brindisi) mail. These mails were received via Auckland, and would arrive there approximately two days before arrival in Wellington in each case. [P.O. 08/456.]

No. 48. The Agent, Australian Mail Line, Auckland, to the Chief Postmaster, Auckland. Customs Street, Auckland, 29th May, 1908. Sir, — Australian Mail Line. Will you kindly note that the s.s. " Inveric " will leave this port for San Francisco, via Apia (mail only), on Monday, the Ist June. As all of the vessels at present in the running, with the exception of the " Foreric," have an average sea-speed of 11.6 knots per hour, we are asked by our head office to advise you that the trip up to San Francisco should be done in some twenty-three days at the outside. This should, if the fast overland connection is made, land the mails at a British-point,in, say, thirty-six days. I am, &c., (For|J. C. Spedding, Agent), The Chief Postmaster, Auckland. L. Beedey. [P.O. 08/228(12).]

No. 49. The Chief Postmaster, Auckland, to the Agent, Australian Mail Line, Auckland. Sir, — Chief Post-office, Auckland, 2nd June, 1908. I have to acknowledge your letter of the 29th|ultimo advising that the trip from Auckland to San Francisco should be made in twenty-three days ; but I would like to point out that, as the " Inveric " was some six days and a half from Sydney to Auckland, it appears unlikely she will do the trip from Auckland to San Francisco in twenty-three days. Ini|any case, unless a connection was certain at San Francisco and New York, there would be a large risk of delay to United Kingdom correspondence sent via San Francisco under present arrangements. However, I will forward your letter to my Head Office for consideration. I am, &c, F. D. HOLDSWORTH, J. C. Spedding, Esq., Agent for Australian Mail Line, Auckland. Chief Postmaster. [P.O. 08/228 (12).]

3—F. 6.

17

Mails left London. Route. Mails arrived Wellington. Remarks. 1907. November 9 „ 15 San Francisco Brindisi ... San Francisco Brindisi ... 1907. ... December 25 23 1908. ... January 14 ... ' „ ' 21 :::1 Loss of 2 days via S.F. December 7 . 13 1908. January 4 ■ 10 February 1 7 „ 29 March 6 28 April 3 25 May 1 San Francisco Brindisi ... San Francisco Brindisi ... San Francisco Brindisi "... San Francisco Brindisi ... San Francisco Brindisi ... ... | Februarv 15 „ 18 ... March 10 „ 16 ... April 15 13 ... May 11 ... „ 11 ... June 15 ... „ 8 :::l :::} Gain of 7 days via S.F. Gain of 3 days via S.F. Gain of 6 days via S.F. Loss of 2 days via S.F. Arrived same day. Loss of 7 days via S.F.