A POST OFFICE FOR TE ARO.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 12, 14 July 1903, Page 2

A POST OFFICE FOR TE ARO.

ANOTHER DEPUTATION TO SIR JOSEPH WARD. Ye&terday afternoon a deputation of representative manufacturers from Cour-tenay-place waited upon Bir Joseph Ward, Postmaster-General, and asked that the site ot the old Fire Brigade Station in lower ilanners-street should be acquired by the Government and a post office erected upon it. Mr, <L Dnthie, M.H.R., introduced the deputation. Mr. J. P. Luke said the deputation was largely composed of a deputation that, in October last, was promised the erection of a post office for the Te Aro end of the city. He wished to impress upon the Postmaster-General that the present deputation was not hostile to that which had waited upon him a few days ago to urge the claims of the Cubastreet section of the residents of Te Aro — it emphasised the needs of all. Cour-tenay-place was the manufacturing centre of Wellington, and its correspondence and mails were a very important matter. The present arrangements were not satisfactory ; for instance, it was not proper nor convenient to despatch telegrams of a confidential nature from a retail shop, nor was there a feeling of certainty that delays were not occasioned to telegraphic work by the business of the shop. He did not say that such delays did occur, but the feeling was there. Ifc was imperative that a post office should be built, and he thought the site of the old Fire Brigade Station was an admirable one. Several other speakers endorsed- Mr. Luke's statements, and added some opinions of their own. If the suggested site were adopted, it would make the Te Aro Railway Station more popular; would greatly convenience residents pf Roseneath; would be even more necessary when the double line of tramway ran through Courtenay-place ; private letterboxes — an urgent necessity — would be procurable ; and more prompt despatdh of mails than by the pillar-box system would be assursd. Mr. Winder stated that he knew the City Council would give favourable terms to the Government for the purchase of the land for such a purpose. Replying, Sir Joseph Ward said that the question was receiving his immadiate attention, and that the site proposed by the deputation was even then under the discussion and examination of himself and his responsibla officers. He recognised* that better arrangements should be given residents of Te Aro, and probably it would be necessary to build two post offices — one at Courtenay-place and one at Cuba-street. In the course of a few days he would have a report on the subject "from "his officers, and would give every consideration to the deputation's arguments.