The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-12-01
THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICE.

The Alameda, carrying the Australian
and New Zealand mail, arrived early
yesterday, having sailed from San Fran
cisco at 4 80 p. m. on Monday, the 23d
November. There was delay of TWEEN
ty-four hours on the Union Pacific be-
yond Ogden, which had not been ex-
planned when the Alameda left, although
the Postmaster of San Francisco had
telegraphed to ascertain the cause. The
European portion of the mail arrived at
New York on the 18th, too late for dis
patch by that days west-bound express,
but was sent through OH time on the
10th. The local and Hawaiian mail
which left New York by the same train
came through on time, while the closed
British mail was delayed as already
stated. But for this mishap the Ala
media would have been here early ON
Sunday. The mail was heavy one, as
the following dispatch from General
Pearson, Postmaster of New York, will
show
NEW YORK, Nov. is, 1885.
WILLIAMS, DIMoND & Co: One hundred
and seventy-seven sacks of current British
Australian mails per s. s. Republic, sup
posed to be the final installment, forwarded
by the 6:15 p. m. train, Penn. r. R., this
10th day of November, making a total of
247 sacks for dispatch by s. s. Zealandia.
(Signed) H. G. PEARSON.
Owing to the hitch In the arrange
ment for transporting the Australian
mail, of which readers of the ADvER-
User have been already advised, the
New Zealand Government instructed
their agent at San Francisco by cable
TO notify the Post Office authorities to
put all mails intended for the Colonies
on board the Alameda, which was
chartered to carry them, instead of on
the Zealandia, which had been originally
advertised for that service. These in
struetions were carried out, and the
Post Office Department at Washington
was notified of the contemplated change.
The Pacific Mail Company, however,
which few months ago had refused to
carry any American mail, and had also
ostentatiously declined to tender for the
Australian mail service, attempted to
coerce the Postmaster of San Francisco
into putting the mails on the Zealandia,
which 1t asserted was still running under
the Pacific Mail Company's old contract
z.ssith the Colonies. Accordingly it sent
tho foifiSSging letter with enclosures to
a., ,.,.;,Io,,+ mt of New Zealand:
T c. r., s,TSSsco, November 10, 1885.
,rhsr,ss - Cre;obtoq, Esq, Agent New
Zealand P. o. department oah Z ran
cisco, Cal.
DEAR SIR: We beg 10 nand you mere
with copy of our lettSr Oh tniS GATE ao-
dressed to the Postmasat Ter and to notify
you that we are prepared . carry all nalls
destined for New Zealand anu anew : south
Wales by the S. S. Zealandia, and that
said steamship viii await arrival of the
mails due here Sunday, November 22d and
will thank you to notify the New Zealand
mail agent to this effect, so that he may
take the usual charge of such mails on the
S. s. ZeaIandia. Yours truly,
(Signed): WILLIAMS, DIMoND & Co,
General Agents Pacific Mail S. S. Co.
SAN FRANCISCO. November 10, 1885.
S. w. Backus, Esq, Postmaster, San
Francisco.
DEAR SIR: We beg to hand you herewith a
copy of message from H. 6. Pearson, Esq,
Postmaster. New York, notifying us that
he has forwarded 247 sacks of mail for the
colonies of New Zealand and New South
Wales for dispatch by S. S. Zealandia.
Having been informed that you propose
to deliver this mail to another steamer, we
hereby notify you that our contract with
the Governments of New Zealand and New
South Wales does not expire until the
twenty ninth (29th) day of November next;
that we are prepared to carry said mail on
the S. S. Zealandia in accordance with said
contract, and shall hold you responsible
for all losses and damage that may accrue
to US by reason of your failing to deliver
this mail to the S. S. Zealandia Yours,
truly,
(SignedD WILLIAMS, DIMoND & Co.,
General Agents Pacific Mail S. S. Co.
This of course was palpable attempt
at coercion. The contract with New
Zealand had expired on the 18Th of No
yember, and the New South Wales Gov
eminent withdrew from it a year beforeat
that date. The allegation of the General
Agents of the Pacific Mail Company,
acting no doubt upon instructions from
New York, was not in accordance with
fact. and it failed of the prime object,
which was to deprive the Alameda of the
mails, and thereby at the start break
down the new service entered into jointly
between the Oceanic Company and the
Union Company of New Zealand. To
hold the Postmaster at San Francisco
harmless, a written notice was served
upon him calling for the delivery OF all
mails for the Colonies on board the Ala
media, and the following reply was sent
to Messrs. Williams, Dimond & Co..
SAN Francisco, Nov. 10, 1885.
Messrs. Williams, DimOnd 81 Co., Agents
Pm. s. S. Co.
GENTLEMEN: Your favor of this date con-
tanning notification that you are prepared
to carry all New Zealand and New South
Wales mails OH the S. S. Zealandia is duly
to hand.
In reply theretoI beg leave to again in
form you that, acting under instructions
from nv Government, L have notified the
Post ONCE authorities here, and the Mail
Agent, to ship all such mails ON the s 5.
vrolr