A NEW POST=OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1537, 5 September 1912, Page 8

A NEW POST=OFFICE.

AT KAIWARRA. FIGURES WHICH SPELL PROGRESS. Kaiwarra, wliich until recently looked uiion a small wooden building in Ngaio Road as its ]io~t olliee, now has a new brick structure in which to carry, on its postal-business. The now building was formally opened yesterday afternoon by the Hon. 1!. H. Rhodes (Po>i master-General). . Mr. W. H. D. Bell, M.l\, introtluccil .Mr. Rhodes lo the residents who assembled to witness tho ceremony. In the eourso of, some remarks, Mr. Bell said that tho Government must not think that because Kaiwarra had been given a post oflice, Kaiwarra was ilono with. Kaiwarra had ono or two other little wants | —a tramway for instance. (Hear, hear.) Mr. V. Iloldsworlh, Mayor of Onslow, said that they did not mind Kaiwarra having' a post office, but they wanted post offices at Ngaio and Khandallah, too. Kaiwarra was tho smallest ward in tho borough, so they thought they wore justified in claiming for Ngaio and Khan-, dallah a similar convenience to that wliich Kaiwarra enjoyed. To this remark Mr. "Rhodes aftonward replied, amidst laughter, that the claims of Ngaio and Khandallah would "receive every consideration." Mr. Rhodes said that this was the first post office which he had opened in his official capacity, and so Jio would long remember the event. He said that a post office'had been opened at Kaiworawarn on .April 1, 1871, in charge of Mr. P. Robins. Mr. Robins had been succeeded on November 1, 1573, by Mr. E. M. Taylor; Mr. Tavlor bv Mr. R. Mackie on August 10, 1888; Mr. Mackie by Mr. Wm. J. Bowdcn on May 9, 1890; and Mr. Wm. J. Bowden by Mr. Wm. H. Boivden on July 1, 1907. Tho office had been placed in charge of Miss M. J. Gallagher, the present postmistress, a permanent officer of tho Department, on May 10,1911. When Miss Gallagher took over the office a telegraph message-boy, had been appointed by the Department. A tclephouo offico and bureau, and a money-order oflice, and a savings bank had been opened in 1888. The number of articles posted in 1901 had been 7400; and in 1911, 21,700. In 1901, 180 money-orders had been issued of the value of £2SS; and in 1911, 200 of JHSJB. In 1901, 3S money-orders had been paid of ,£GS; and in 1911, G2 of .£219. In 1901, thoro had been 226 savings bank deposits oil .£536; and in 1911, 268 of ,£1272. Id 1901 there had been 32 savings bank withdrawals of itl64; and in 1911, 52 of .£3ll. In 1901, 1021 telegrams had been forwarded of the value of .£32, and in 1911, 1297 of .£ll. In 1901, 917 telegrams had been received, and in 1911, 1558. Miss Gallagher, who had been in charge of tho Kaiwarra Post and Telephone Offico for about twelve months, had been unpointed postmistress at the Government Buildings Office, but would continue to act at Kaiwarra until Mrs. Indcr, of the Wereroa Office, relieved her in tho course of a few days. ' The new building, which is of brick, and has two storys, is a combined offico and _ postmistress's residence. Tho offico portion, which is confined to the ground 1 floor, comprises a lobby, a public offico 17 feet by 10 feet", a telephone bureau room, a mail room 35 feet by 12 feet, a telephone room, a strong room and a store room. Access to private boxes is by a separate entrance in Hutt Road, and the private entrance to the residence is in Ngaio Road. The contractor was Mr. Alfred Seamer, of Wellington. The amount of tho contract was .£1953.