Australian Mail—Take Notice.
By Editor
Brother Haskell’s article in the last Review in regard to the Australian mail was written without a knowledge of the present arrangement by the P. O. Department of the United States. He therein gives the times when the mail leaves San Francisco for Australia. But the mail does not leave San Francisco for Australia at all. Letters mailed in the East for Australia do not come to San Francisco; and letters put in the San Francisco post-office for Australia are sent to New York, and so on eastward. The present Postmaster-General refused to make arrangement with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company on terms which they would accept, and no mail is now delivered to the Australian steamers at San Francisco. In consequence of this arrangement, it takes about twice as long for a letter to reach Australia as it did formerly. But we can relieve those who have mail which they wish to have dispatched to Australia. The Australian steamers will take mail which is delivered to the purser on board the vessel; but remember that no postmaster is permitted to deliver any mail in that manner. Hence, letters put into the post-office cannot go thus. Please follow these DIRECTIONS. 1. Use only Government-stamped envelopes. Ordinary envelopes with stamps attached will not answer. 2. Put on full Australian postage. If the stamp on the envelope is not high enough, other stamps to the full amount may be attached. 3. Send this in another envelope to the Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal. This is necessary, as we cannot forward mail if the stamps have been canceled in the post-office. 4. Mail thus sent to us, full postage paid, in Government envelopes, we will deliver on board the Australian steamers which leave San Francisco every four weeks at the time specified in Elder Haskell’s letter. If these directions are not faithfully followed, we give no assurance that your mail will go. If you are in doubt about the amount of postage necessary, consult your postmaster, and remember that the half-ounce rule still governs foreign mail. Be very particular. Direct plainly.