TAUMARUNUI'S DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 22, 26 January 1935, Page 13

TAUMARUNUI'S DAY.

NEW POST OFFICE OPENED. HISTORY OF MAIL SERVICES. .(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TAUMARUNUI, Friday. The new post office building at Taumarunui was opened this afternoon by the Postmaster-General, the Hon. A. Hamilton, in the presence of a gathering of about 200 people. The Minister was accompanied by Mrs. Hamilton and his private secretary, Mr. F. M. Sherwood. On the platform also were Mr. F. Langstone, M.P., the Mayor of Taumarunui, Mr. C. A. Boles, representatives of local bodies and officials of the Public Works and Post and Telegraph Departments.

After thanking the Mayor, for the invitation to perform the ceremony, the Minister complimented the contractor, Mr. W. H. Whittaker, of Auckland, on his work. He said the first post oflice was established in Taumarunui in September, 1885. Mr. G. Galbraith was the first postmaster, and since his time there had been 14 other postmasters, including the present holder of the position, Mr. O. E. List, who had a staff of 29. In 1911 the telephone exchange and bureau was opened with 26 exchange subscribers, the hours of attendance being from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There were now 480 subscribers, and the exchange was open continuously.

The Minister said it was interesting to recall what postal business was first transacted in an office in a Maori village opposite Manuate Street, the postmaster being the late Alexander Bell. The mails from Te Awamutu were then, carried by Maoris on horseback, and they took from two. to. three days to accomplish the journey. The next office was located in a store occupied by Mr. A. J. Langmuir and Mr. C. Richard, at the corner of Hakiaha and Manuate Streets. The year 1903 was important in the history of the town, as the railway then reached Taumarunui. The Minister said it gave lum pieasiire to declare the new post office open for the transaction of business, and he invited those present to inspect the building. . . , Mr Hamilton was the recipient of a silver key. Before the ceremony commenced, Yvonne Webb, daughter of the town clerk, presented a beautiful bouquet to Mrs. Hamilton.