NEW CROMWELL POST OFFICE

Evening Star, Issue 20252, 13 August 1929, Page 3

NEW CROMWELL POST OFFICE

SOME EARLY HISTORY [Tbou Oue Correspondent.] Some interesting ancient Post Office history and records were given at Croinwell on Thursday at the opening oi the new Post Oilico. The new building occupies a ground space of Co ft by 5511, is quite up to date, and should serve the district admirably for a lew years. “ A few years ” is written advisedly for Mr Bodkin, M.P., is confident of a Government irrigation scheme at an early date that will send the, town ahead. The official opening was carried out with due ceremony, the speakers being the mayor (Mr Roberts), Mr Bodkin (representing the Postmaster-General, and who declared the Post Office open), Mr James Ritchie fcounty chairman), and Mr Harrison fchief postmaster). The first three paid a worthy tribute to the postal service, and classed it second to none in the world. Complimentary references wore also extended to the contractor (Mr Lind). Records of the office arc not complete, ns some up to 1862 were lost in the wreck of the White Swan during the transfer of the seat of Government from Auckland to Wellington. Those from 1862 to 1887 were destroyed bv a fire in Wellington. It is believed the first postmaster at Cromwell was a non-permanent officer, Mr John Hetberington, who conducted the Post Office in a stoic. Ho was succeeded by Mr Isaac Wright. Cromwell s first postmaster was Mr Alexander Dewar, the second Mr John Reekie, ami the third Mr J. G. Rallard. who commenced duty at Cromwell on Slay 4, 18<0. Officers who have since occupied the position of postmaster at Cromwell are Messrs J. G. Ballard, M. J. Staunton. C. 15. Nicholas. W. T. Ward (brother of Sir Joseph), C. C. HaUiday, \\. N. Meuzies, A. C. W. Murdoch. D. L. Hatton, W. R. MJveiizie, and C. B. M'Natty. Ihe name of the postmaster from Juno 1. 1384, to January 15, ISSS, is not on record. Tho first permanent office was in a canvas hut near the Athonrenn Hall. In May, ISC9, sections were reserved as a site, and three years apfurther land was acquired. The former building was erected in_ stone in 1869. Alterations were made in 1872. and in T9Ol, and again in 1920. The telephone was opened in June, 1910, with nine subscribers. On June 21. 1929. they numbered 121. In 1918 the number of letters etc., posted was 122.670, and in 1923 248 460. In 1918 tho number of similar articles delivered wee--111.000. and last year 227,400. _ The postage revenue in 1913 was £505, and in 1928 £9Bl. In 1918 827 money orders were issued of a value of £4.098. ami in 1928 986 of the value of £5.210. Pur thor comparisons, with the 1918 figures in parentheses, are:—Money order--paid, 511. value £5.000 Gil 7. £1,849)Savings Bank -Unosils. 659. amounting to £11,218 (725. £10,174): Savings Bank withdrawals, 541, amounting to £11,145 (194. £7.541)- telegrams :nrwarded, 8.489. value £599 (6.l.’re £245; telegrams received 6,454 15,517) • 101 l messages forwar-.Ld. 1-5,229, value CSS2 ('5.560. £1151; toU messages received, 18.145 (5,966) The first mails received in Cromwell were from Dunedin, and came to hand by coach via Palmerston and the Pigroot to Clyde. The journey to Civdc took a day. and the mails were forwarded to Cromwell by packhorse the next day. This >• te was maintained until the railway reached Lawrence in 1885, when mails were forwarded bv rail to Lawrence, and thence by coach to Cromwell tlHco weekly. On the completion of the Central lino to Ida Vnl ley in 1901 the Lawrence route ceased to ho used, and mails were conveyed daily to Ida Valley by train, and thence bv coach to Cromwell. In 1921 the Central Otago lino to Cromwell was completed, and the present daily service was commenced Prior to August. 1362, there were only three or four squatters who bad migrated to the district with their flocks and herds, and who rarelv visited Dunedin. On August 15, 1862. however, Messrs Hartley and Riley brought 871 b weight of gold to Dunedin. This was obtained in tho Molyneuv below Cromwell, and led to a great rush. During the period everything ni tho shape of food, except mutton, which was Is Gd per lb. commanded extraordinary prices. A 4lh loaf cost 7s 6d, and a 2001 b bag of flour £2l. From the configuration of the land Cromwell was known to pioneer settlers as “ The Point.” but when a town sprang up in the early days of the gold rush it was named “The Junction.'’ However, on being proclaimed a municipality in 1866 the town was renamed Cromwell. From the time when gold was fir h c covered the population of the town ship fluctuated considerably but on the -omreenopment °f dredging in 1895 the township and district gradurdly hecamsettlod. and with the opening up of land for settlement the district grew considerably in size and importance The population has increased from mere handful to 660, in addition to which there has been a largo increase in the number of people in the surrounding district, 're-oiiy 1862 the half of the Post Office has trom one to its present strength of eight.