This article provides a valuable insight into the postal and shipping arrangements for Pacific islands in the early part of the 20th century. Postal historians should find it especially useful. Originally published in “Australian Stamp Journal” (October 1915).

Some of our friends in Europe and America have very vague ideas as to communication between Australia and New Zealand and the various islands in the Pacific. Quite recently we sent a letter to our friend Mr. Powell in Auckand, and received a reply in 8 days. This is, we believe, a record, for until recently 12 or 13 days was considered quick.

Just now the service with the Islands is somewhat intermittent. There is practically only one mail a month goes to Samoa, for although there are two services both mails leave within a few days. An American steamer calls at Pago-Pago (American Samoa) on the way to Sydney, but at present it does not call there on the way to San Francisco. The steamer from Sydney to Samoa via Fiji takes about 9 days, and the quickest time in which a reply to a letter can be received is about 21 days, generally a few days longer. There is a mail service between Auckland (New Zealand) and Samoa, and letters tor the latter place can be sent via Auckland, but it is quicker to send letters by the direct steamer from Sydney.

The mail to Fiji takes 5 days, and a reply cannot be reckoned on within a fortnight.

The New Hebrides have a mail service once a month, and.the mail takes 9 days in transit to Vila.

Since the war, the sailings of all the steamers to the Islands have been very much disorganised. At the best of times they were somewhat irregular, although the dates of departure were given to the “Post and Telegraph Guide.” Mails to Papua go every three weeks, by rail to Brisbane, thence by steamer, the letters reaching Port Moresby (Papua) from Sydney in about 8 days.

The same time is occupied in the transit of mails from Sydney to Rabaul (New Britain), while the Marshalls, Caroline and Marianne Islands are away out in the “Never Never” land. Up till lately the mails to the German Possessions were carried by German steamers only, but since the British occupation this duty has devolved on Australian steamers.

Gilbert and Ellice Islands have only six regular mails in the year, the time of transit being about three weeks. The Solomons have a mail service about every 6 weeks, the mails taking about 8 days in transit.

The train service to Brisbane, at which the majority of these North-West Pacific Island steamers call, saves sometimes a couple of days.

There is a frequent service between Sydney and Noumea, probably twice a month, the time of transit being about four days.

Until lately several of the Island steamers did what was known as the “round trip,” but lately this practice has been abandoned.

In many cases the despatch of the mails depends entirely on the arrival of a steamer. When a ship is seen in the distance everything on the island is in a state of activity, and continues so until the steamer departs, when a large number of the inhabitants “go asleep” until the next ship comes along.