3

F.-6

SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. WELLINGTON - IIAROTONftA - TAHITI - SAN FRANCISCO. No. 1. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Resident Agency for New Zealand, g IR) _ ,'SI 1 California Street, San Francisco, 4th April, 1912. I have the honour to report that it has been necessary to delay the departure of the R.M.S. " Tahiti " from this port until 1 p.m. on Friday, the sth instant, which has been done in the manner disclosed by the enclosed communications addressed to the agents of the Union Steam Ship Company in this city. This action has been rendered necessary by the severe and unprecedented floods that have washed out a considerable portion of the overland railroads over which the mails from Europe were being conveyed to this port from the Atlantic. All railroad-communication from the eastern States has been obstructed for the past four days, and, although every possible exertion has been put forth by the Railroads and the United States Railway Mail-service officials to expedite the arrival of the delayed mails, over forty-eight hours' delay is assured. The above is about the most serious delay that has occurred to mails in course of transit from the Atlantic seaboard in recent years, and I sincerely trust will not be experienced again for many years. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Resident Agent for New Zealand. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Wn.-S.F. 12/83.1 Enclosure 1 in No. 1. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to Messrs. Hind. Rolph, and Co., Agents for the Union Steam Ship Company, San Francisco. Resident Agency for New Zealand, g IRSj 311 California Street, San Francisco, 3rd April, 1912. I have the honour to inform you that in consequence of serious delays occurring to the train conveying the European and American mails destined to the Dominion of New Zealand, intending to connect with the R.M.S. " Tahiti " at this port to-day, it will be necessary to delay the departure of that vessel from this port for twenty-four hours from the advertised hour of sailing ; and also please take notice that it is possible that a further delay may be necessary to effect the connection for the mails destined to the Dominion, of which the earliest notice will be given you upon receipt of more definite information. This notification is given in accordance with the provisions of the contract for the conveyance of mails now existing between the Dominion Government and the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand. T have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Resident Agent for the Dominion of New Zealand. Messrs. Hind, Rolph. and Co., Agents for the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), San Francisco. I Wn.-S.F. 12/81.]