MAILS AND MESSAGES

Evening Star, Issue 19441, 27 December 1926, Page 6

MAILS AND MESSAGES

THE CHRISTMAS RUSH . P. AND T. STAFF'S HEAVY TASK The staffs of tho Chief Post Office and tho Telegraph Office of Dunedin have got expeditiously and ably through the heaviest period of the year’s work, and a quietness unusual even at ordinary times has taken the place of the bustle and hurry of the few days before Christmas. This year’s mails have not been as heavy ns those of last Christmaswhen, of course, tho Exhibition was in full swing. There has been a decrease of fifty-two bags despatched and of 170 bags received, whilq there is a big increase (£6BO 13s 9d) in the stamp sales. The following tables make tho position clear:—

The telegraph staff was hampered in its work by bad weather (affecting the country deliveries) and by a motor car bringing down a pole south of Palmerston which carried four important circuit wires. That was on Friday evening. Yet the work was carried out with despatch and ability. Forty-four messengers were employed during the Christmas period, and the deliveries on Christmas Eve totalled 4,705. The suburban office deliveries totalled 2,059 that same might. On Friday fifty-five operators were on duty. Altogether the staffs of the P.ost Office and the Telegraph Office deserve praise for their capable work throughout a tryingly busy period. WELLINGTON BUSINESS LESS [Pan United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 27. Although the Wellington Telegraph Office appeared to be more crowded with Christmas work than ever, the official returns show that there was a falling off in the number of messages, the figures being 101,840, against 110,025 last year. Postal business also showed a reduction from 20,341 packages to 13,940, but stamp sales exhibit an increase from £5,045 to £5,862. — Press Association.

—Mails ' Inward.— 1926. 1925. Dec. 21 ... 1,069 Dec. 21 . .. 740 Dec. ‘22 978 Dec. 22 . .. 1,030 Dec. 23 ... 1,029 Dec. 23 . .. 1,284 Dec. 24 861 Dec. 24 . .. 1,053 T otal ... 3,937 Total . .. 4,107 —Mails Outward.— 1926. 1925. Dec. 21 ... 1,056 Dec. 21 . .. , 936 Dec. 22 ... ] ,044 Dec. 22 . .. , 936 Dec. 23 915 Dec. 23 . .. 1,199 Dec. 24 915 Dec. 24 . .. , 911 Total ... 3,930 Total . .. 3,982 —Stamp Sales.— 1926. 1925. Dec. 21 £1,099 18 10 Dec. 21 £220 0 Dec. 22 401 13 8 Dec. 22 633 0 Dec. 23 519 6 7 Dec. 23 460 0 Dec. 24 279 1 8 Dec. 24 306 7 Total £2,300 0 9 TI. £1,619 7 -Telegraph Massages.Forwarded. Received. Transmits. Dec. 21 ... 2,058 3.123 2,506 Dec. ... 2 314 3,370 3,084 Dec. 23 ... 3,368 4,626 4,967 Dec. 24 ... 4,185 6,207 10,794 Totals ... 11.925 17,326 21,351