Postal communication with the United Kingdom was principally by way of San Francisco, using the U.S.S. Co. steamers, and the direct route using the New Zealand Shipping Co., and Shaw Savill and Albion Royal Mail steamers. Each of these services was four weekly, giving alternative fortnightly sailings. The average number of days for mail from London via San Francisco was 38 days to Auckland, 40 days to Wellington and 42 to Dunedin. The average passage homeward to the United Kingdom by direct mail steamers was 39 days. 6 hours, and, on the outward bound journey, 42 days, 18 hours.

A considerable amount of mail also went via Melbourne and Point de Galle; this route, however, took longer than the San Francisco service. The following report of the outward voyage from the United Kingdom of R.M.S. Coptic is reprinted from the Otugo Daily Times of 8th May, 1889. Coptic was a steamship of 4,367 tons, built for the White Star Line in 1881-3, and was managed by Shaw Savill and Albion. Coptic made its first voyage from London under the command of Captain W. H. Kidley, on 26th May, 1884, arriving at Port Chalmers on 13th July, 1884.

ARRIVAL OF THE COPTIC
May 8th, 1889

The R.M.S. “Coptic”, Captain Burton, R.N.R. from Plymouth via Teneriffe, Cape Town, and Hobart, arrived off Taiaroa Heads at 10.20p.m. on Monday and anchored until 7 a.m. yesterday, when she crossed the bar under the charge of Pilot Paton; and while steaming up the harbour she was met by the Customs boat, and the answers to the usual questions relative to the health of all on board being satisfactory, she was at once admitted to pratique by Dr. Drysdale (health officer), and boarded and cleared in by Mr. Montgomery (acting Customs surveyor), continuing her course and berthing at the George Street pier at 8 a.m. when she at once commenced to discharge her cargo for this port. Captain Burton, R.N.R. is still in command. Amongst the other officers there has been a slight change since her last visit to this port. Mr. Kempson (formerly chief officer); has been transferred to the R.M.S. “Celtic”, one of the Atlantic White Star liners, and Mr. Unsworth (formerly of the “Celtic”) has taken his place. Dr. McAscar has taken the place of Dr. Humphrey; and Mr. Hayes has taken the place of Mr. Thornton as fourth officer, Mr. W. J. Rae still occupies his old position as purser, and to that gentleman we are indebted, with his usual courtesy, for the particulars of the voyage and the latest Plymouth and Cape Town papers.

The “Coptic”, which comes into port in her usual good order, brings some 1734 tons of cargo. of which 688 tons are for Dunedin, 251 for Lyttelton, 88½ tons for Wellington, 204 tons for Gisborne, 137 tons for Auckland, 10 tons for Nelson, 330 tons for Napier, 6 tons for Blenheim, 4 tons for Greymouth. 2 tons for New Plymouth, 1 ton for Invercargill, 6½ tons for Timaru and 6 tons for Oamaru. She also landed 184 tons of cargo at Hobart, – in addition to which she brought 7 bags of mail and 20 cases of parcel posts and 61 passengers, of whom 6 were saloon, 18 second cabin, and 37 steerage. Of these, 7 are for Dunedin, 4 for Canterbury, 24 for Wellington and 26 for Auckland. The whole of the passengers enjoyed excellent health and no births or deaths occurred. The usual entertainments have been freely indulged in – magic lantern exhibitions. dances, concerts, theatricals, etc., – and the passengers appeared to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and speak in high terms of the comfort and attention they have received during the voyage.

The “Coptic” left the Royal Albert Docks at 2.40p.m. on March 21: passed Gravesend at 4.25p.m. and Dover at 7.6 a.m. on the 22nd. St. Catherine at 4.30p.m. and arrived at Plymouth at 2.30a.m. on the 23rd; embarked mails, passengers, and the latest despatches, and left again at 0.37 p.m. same day, passing the Eddystone at 1.37 p.m.; experienced moderate winds and fine weather to arrival at Teneriffe at 0.30p.m. on March 28th; 6 passengers landed here and 4 embarked, and, after having coaled, the voyage was resumed at 6.50p.m. same day; experienced light variable winds and fine weather to the Equator, which was crossed on April 4. in long. 10 W.; thence she met light to fresh head winds to arrival at Table Bay at 2 a.m. on April 14; landed 9 passengers and embarked 3, coaled and left again at 10.47 a.m. on the same day, with a strong westerly breeze which held for three days, and was succeeded by a N.E. gale. with a very high sea, until the 21st, followed by strong N.W. winds and occasional snow squalls until April 30th, when she had more moderate weather, and arrival at Hobart at 8.50p.m. on May 2nd; the easting was made in lat. 49 S. After landing cargo and passengers her voyage was resumed at 11.51 a.m. on May 3; experienced strong westerly winds and high seas across, and passed the south-west cape of Stewart’s Island at 7.30 a.m. on the 6th inst.; signalled off the Nuggets at 4.45p.m., and anchored off the heads at 10.20p.m. until yesterday morning, when she steamed into port. The “Coptic”, after discharging, will take in some 8,000 carcases frozen mutton and about 1,000 bales wool, and leave again on Saturday for Lyttelton; after discharging and taking in cargo at that port, she proceeds to Napier, and thence back to Wellington, that being her final port of departure.

Republished by kind permission of the Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand