Winton Post Office.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 16, 15 August 1905, Page 3

Winton Post Office.

SIR J. G. WARD LAYS THE FOUNDATION c_TONE. - Tuesday was a red-letter day for Winton, the occasion being the visit of Sir Joseph Ward, PostmasterGeneral, to lay the foundation-stone of the^new Post (JflSce. 'Ihejyeather left r^.d^g.it4,''fe-^iEsired f -iit being warm and sunny, and all the circumstances propitious for a successful function, Flags were . hpisted on the principal buildings m the horoughy "which closed their doors at eleven o'clock to „allpw of the employers and their assistants taking part* m the general rejoicings As noon approached people began flocking into the tovvn from all. directions and made their way , towards . the riilway* station. Here the Winton Rifles, commanded by, , Qiptain Whfte, fiad. taken Up ; their 4tand on .the platform," ready . to welcome the Minister, who had recently been elected honorary captain tb the corps. Tlie Winton Brass Band, under the leadership of Bandmaster . Hurst, formed up m front of the main entrance to the station,' and the scholars attending the public school lined the main street, being marshalled by Mr Wyllie and Miss McKenzie, master and mistress respectively. At twelve o'clock the special train conveying the Minister steamed into the station, and Sir Joseph Ward, on alighting, was welcomed ty the Mayor (Mr C. D. Moore), anoV Councillors Mc William, Keith, Gilmour, Kennedy, Wilson, and Williamson. Many prominent citizens of Invercargill and the County accompanied tlie Minister, among them being Mr W. B. Scandret. (Mayor of Invercargill), Mc J. A. Mitchell (Mayor of East Inv.ercargill), Messrs James Fleming (Southland County Council), J. Cowie (Southland Education Board), R.. A. Anderson {Bluff Harbour Board), W. Macalister (Chairman High Schools Board), ;* Jl ' Hay (Commissioner of Crown Lands), C. A. Piper (District Police Inspectoi''' M.'cheli, from invercargill, formed one of the party, and the order of the town was well looked after by Sergeant Bowden, and Constables Gough,

Matheson, P t erson, and Reid. lh Winton Rifles presented ams, and the Minister shook hi ids witn many on the platform. A procession was then ""f<»rm«-d, and to a stirring march played by the ••"Band the party wended their way to the post-office, which was a mass ol . hunting from end to end Here an improvised platform had been erected, on which the Minister and as "'■' many as could he accommodated took their stands. Mr. C. D. Moore (M y rof Wini ton) .introduced Sir Jo^c^a Ward, • who replied m an able speech, and gave some statistics illustrating the growth of Winton. 1 he laying of the foundation stone was next proceeded wi h. Sir Joseph being presented with a very handsome silver trowel by the contractors for the purpose. In thanking them, he stated that he almost looked on/ them as belonging to the department, for he had learned that morning that they had secured the contract for the erection of a new post-office at Otautau. The inscription on the stone read as follows:— „ ..... '.'":'■' * E. K. This Stone was laid by Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, KiC.M.G., . Ou Bth August, 19U5. Premier, Right Hon lt. J. Seddon, P.'\, L.L.D, is£___tmaster-Gerietal and Miiiis'er for Railways, **'*"' Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G. Minister for Publio Works, Hon. Hall- Jones, Mayor, C. D. Moore, Esq. , An adjournment was then made to Moore's Hall, Where an excellent luncheon had been laid by Mr Perry. Close on one hundred sat down, the Mayor presiding, having on his fight the guest of the day (Sir J. G. Ward) and on his left the Mayor of Invercargill (Mr W. B. Scandrett). The Rev. J. M. Simpson, 8.A., ponouhced grace, and "for a while nothing else was heard but the rattle of knives and forks. After justice had been done to the good things provided, the toast of "1 he Ki ng " I was: honoured, a verse of the National Anthem being sung. The toasts of "The PostmasterGeneral," "Local Bodies," "The Volnnleers," " 1 he Contractors," and .** The Mayor.'' were honoured and responded to, after which Sir Joseph Ward received a number of depusations on various matters. . At the finish of the deputations Sir Joseph Ward and p*rty were escorted to the railway station, wh. re a great concourse of people had assembled to see the visitors away. At three o'clock the train moved off amid ringing valleys of cheers and farewells, and a notable day m the history of Winton came to an eud\