BIRKENHEAD POSTMISTRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 170, 19 July 1924, Page 9

BIRKENHEAD POSTMISTRESS.

SERVICES PUBLICLY HECOGNISED. A representative gathering filled tlia Foresters' Hall, Birkenhead, last ni<»htto bid farewell to IMiss M. B. Hunter who since the opening of the Post Office' sixteen years ago, had been postmistress' of Birkenhead. The business of the office had gTown considerably durinthat period, and recently the expansion was such as to place the office in a higher grade, which by the Department's regulations must be in charge of a postmaster. This resulted in the transfer of Miss Hunter to Howick, her successor being Mr. H. Menzies. The hali was tastefully decorated, and -•» songs were contributed by Madame Chambers, Madame Annette Hayward, Messrs. A. Cecil Mickle, arid R. Simmers. Mrs. .T. P. Millington and Miss " J. MeCiilloiigh played the accompaniments. Mr. Jas. P. McPhail, who presided, said that while they were all pleased at the progress of the district reflected by the larger postal business, they sincerely regretted that this had resulted in the loss to the district of Miss Hunter. Her tactful and untiring work during the war, ancl the 191S influenza epidemic especially, had earned the lasting gratitude of the people of Birkenhead. Miss Hunter was greeted with cheers, the audience singing "'For She's a Joilv Good Fellow." Eulogistic references were made by Mr. Ernest Roberts on behalf of the business people; by Mr. G. R. Hutchinson, for the returned soldiers; and by Mr. Albert Hadfield, for the Borough. Council; a telegram from Wellington from the Mayor, Mr. E. C. Walton, conveying appreciation of Miss Hunters services, being also read. Mr. H. M. Shepherd, on behalf of the Birkenhead people as a whole, then handed Miss Hunter an illuminated address, an inscribed gold wristlet watch, and a wallet containing money, as a mark of their regard and gratitude. A further presentation of a silver teapot, from the postal staff of Birkenhead, was made by Mr. Fred. Osmond. Replying for his sister, Mr. Alex. Hunter remarked that theirs was a "postal family." His father had been a postmaster for 30 years, and his mother took a hand in the business, so it was not surprising that the children, brought up in the postal atmosphere, should so readily embrace this calling. He traced the close association in business transactions between a postmaster and the settler, often from the cradle to the grave—and after. The opportunity was taken to welcome the new postmaster. I ,