Pony Express To Carry Otago Centennial Mail

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30028, 12 January 1963, Page 10

Pony Express To Carry Otago Centennial Mail

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, January 11 A pony express will arrive at Oamaru from Dunedin on February 9 carrying North Otago souvenir centennial mail. Bearded Ashley Henderson, of Oamaru, will ride a horse ano lead a packhorse in a reenactment of the first- mail service from Dunedin to Oamaru in 1857.

He will leave Dunedin on February 6, and arrive at Oamaru in time for the centennial floral procession after overnight stops at Seacliff. Palmerston and Maheno.

Now on sale in Oamaru sl.ops are 8000 souvenir covers and envelopes addressed to the Chief Postmaster, Dune-

din. The covers are to be placed in the envelopes, stamped, and addressed, and they will be cancelled at Dunedin by a special stamp. "North Otago Centennial Mail.”

The pony express will then bring the mail to Oamaru. Mr Henderson also took part in the recent re-enact-ment of the first consignment of liquor between Oamaru and Dunedin. He will take part in the centennial floral procession.

The first mail contractor between Oamaru and Dunedin was David Hutchison, who made his deliveries once a fortnight He carried toe mail to the Waitaki Post Office at Papakaio.