THE SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8433, 3 May 1907, Page 6

THE SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.

(From Our London Correspondent.) LONDON, March 18. Up to the time of writing we are still in doubt as to what is to happen to this service. As far back as the 2nd inst., a wire was received here stating that owing to irregularities your Government had directed that no rrnils be sent or received by that route for the present. Between that day and until yesterday I had made continual enquiries from the Postmaster General, and was informed that the difficulty had been overcome, and that the San Francisco mail leaving here on March 30th would go as usual. On the 7th inst. Mr Fell, who is a New Zealander, asked in the House of Commons what was the cause of the suspension of the service, and whether - it was only temporary, and if so, when it would be resumed. Mr Buxton replied that the route had not been suspended so far as the British Post Office was concerned, which practically confirms the information I had received from the Post Office myself. Mr Kennaway, the secretary of the High Commissioner's office, tells me that even in its worst days, the San Francisco mail was far quicker than the Suez, but he thinks something may be done to quicken the latter route. To-day I have received an official note from the PostmasterGeneral, in which he states that "acting on the information at present available it is proposed to send mails by tins route on the 30th inst., < as announced in ths official publications of his department. Should any alteration be made, due notice will be given." Just before closing this letter I have received another official communication from the PostmasterGeneral. 'He says that "in consequence of the suspension of the steamship service between San Francisco and New Zealand, the despatch of mails from the United Kingdom to New Zealand by that route will I be discontinued until further notice." I