MAYFIELD'S PROGRESS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17429, 13 April 1922, Page 3

MAYFIELD'S PROGRESS.

HEW POST OFFICE OPENED. The official opening of the new Post and Telegraph Office and Telephone Exchange at Mayfield took place yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a very large 'gathering, of residents *of Mayfield and surrounding districts. Mr Donald Duff, chairman of the management committee, called on Mr R. Reid, County chairman, to formally open the new building. Mr Reid referred to the great progress the Mayfield district made during the past few years and warmly congratulated the residents on their new postal facilities. He paid a high compliment to Mr Brown, a Mayfield farmer, who had bought the sit© and building two years ago and held it free of interest till it was finally taken over by the Post and Telegraph Department. Mrs D. O Sewell then hoisted a flag which had been presented by Mrs W. G. Gallagher, and Mrs J. Dellow, who was the first postmistress at Mayfield, Opened the door and was presented with a silver key suitably inscribed. The largo gathering then adjourned to the Public Hall, where they were most hospitably entertained by the ladies of Mayfield. Apologies and congratulations were forwarded by the Hon. J. G. Coaxes, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, M.P., Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.P., Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., Mr J. R. Templin, Consulting Electrical Engineer, Mr James Carr (chairman of the Mt. Hutt Road Board) and others. ' ' ' The District Chief Postmaster (Mr J. E Broadfoot) said he was pleased to be present and clad indeed to meet the Mayfield people. He liked to go Out into the outlying districts and to see and hear what busines they were doing in connexion with his department, and to ascertain their wants. He then read some most interesting data concerning the development of the Mayfield postal work since 1899, when the first postal service for the district was inaugurated. He warmly congratulated the people on the progress of the district, and on having obtained a post and telegraph office, money order office and telephone exchange with a resident postmaster and telephone exchange attendant. He had secured for- them good and efficient officers in Mr A. E. Lester, from Koikoura, and Mr R, H. M..Owers. The district was much indebted to Mr John Brown for what he had done in connexion with getting the new post office and the telephone exchange. The Mayor of Ashburton (Mr R. Galbraith), congratulated Mayfield on the progress it had made, and the foremost position the Mayfield school had. held for many years in> school garden competition, also on now having obtained :»dequnte postal and telephone exchange services. Mr F. W. Watt, chairman of the Power Board, also offered his congratulations. The policy of the Power Board was going to be a cautious, careful and economical one. and he hoped that early next year the Mayfield district would be supplied with , electric light and power. Speeches were also made by Messrs J. MeDermott (District Telephone Engineer), H. D. Barton, J. A. Fleming, "William and Jas. Deliow, P. R. Climie, George Murdoch, John Hood, W. Oakley and others. The initial ring on the-telephone was given by Mrs T. Corbett, the oldest resident of the district, and strange to say it was her first ring on a telephoned While the function was. taking. place in the hall; the school children of Mayfield, Lismore and Roapuna, wese en-.! tertained in a right royal manner in the school grounds by Mr John Brbwny with many other willing helpers, .and.the, little ones had a'thoroughly enjoyable I time. '•■■" ',. ■■ ■~. :-,.y ; -.- '■-