THE NEW POST OFFICE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXI, Issue LXII, 1 May 1911, Page 6

THE NEW POST OFFICE.

_ At 3 o'clock in the afternoon Mr Mackenzie, in the presence or a large crort'd. or peopie 4 laid the foundation stone of the new post office at Manaia. Magfc and. bunting were displayed everywhere, and marked the importance of the occasion. '", , :.-■-. .Mr Christie presided, and in welcoming the Hon. 'r. Mackenzie said it wais tne first time for the last fifteen years that tne Minister of the Orown naa performed a similar ceremony in the aistrict. He had found tnat when' they really wanted anything from the Government they usually got it, though they sometimes had to wait a longtime. -After agitating for about five years the Government, which had first placed an inadequate sum on the Estimates for the post office, had increased the vote to £3000, and he'thought tne people ; would appreciate the "building about, to be erected. It wag a little in advance of present reqxiirements, but in a few. years additions would no doubt be necessary. _Mr Dive, M.P., who introduced the Minister, said he wished first to apoloSise tor the unavoidable absence of Mr £. V. Pearce, member for the district. Me congratulated the people of Manaia on the imposing building about to be erected (Hear, hear.) He was glad to see that the Government had recognised the necessity for such a building mi a progressive district like Manaia. Mr Dive then called for three hearty cheers for the Minister, which were lustily given. Mr Mackenzie, referring first to what •Mr Xhve had said about the necessity. for the buildingj said that if they were to respond to every • request made for expenditure of that kind £20,000,000 a year would not.be sufficient to meet them. Ihey had to meet the demands gradually, taking the most urgent cases first. Sneaking of the absence of the Parliamentary representative of the dis- ' tnct, he said he had communicated with Mr Pearce informing him of the intended visit, and he was glad to learn that his absence was unavoidable. Mr Mackenzie was proceeding to speak of the present productiveness of laranaiii l

and the need for further subdivision and closer settlement, so that every man could be his own employer, when he was interrupted by someone who called out: "We want a railway. Mr Mackenzie, replying, said he thougnt that such works as the Opunake railway ought to be considered, but it was a question of money. yLt had been said that they had to wait nye years ior a post office, but he might tell them that some had waited five and twenty years, and were still waiting. Speaking of some of the purposes for which money had been borrowed, he said that not a single objection was raised to the Dreadnought. Two millions had been raised for the purchase of estates and advances to settlers, and the balance (1$ millions) was needed for rolling stock for the railways, public works, etc., even their post office being included. He emphasised that a progressive policy could not be pursued without the public sympathy and approval. The speaker then gave some figures about the Manaia post office. In 1900 the letters and post-cards numbered 35,520, and in 1910 90,900; other par- I eels posted (giving the figures for 1900 first) 21,550 and 2810; letters and postcards delivered 49,280 and 106,400; other articles delivered 46,920 , and 61,910; postal revenue £45"0 and £530; money orders issued 840 of a value or £2365 and 1050 of a value of £4030; money orders paid 185 valued at £660, and 250 valued at £1330; Savings Bank deposits 550 valued at £6725, and--1030 valued at £14^420; Savings Bant withdrawals 140 valued at £3510 and,, 410 valued at £11,750; telegrams fdr* warded 8610 valued at £300 and 11,570* valued at £315; telegrams received 6300 and 8500; telegrams received at Manaia for outward transmission 80 and 19,470. For the Wanganui potal district the following figures were given for the years 1900 and 1910: Letters and post cards posted 2,258,140 and 6,837,570; other articles posted 1,232,930 and 3,281,750; letters ana post-cards delivered 2,498,740 " ah<4 7,603,080; other articles delivered" 2,151,500 and 4,274;360; postal revenue £24,630 and £41,250; money orders Issued 22,160 valued at £73,285, and 37,940 valued at £165,050; money orders paid 10,180 valued at £36,200 and 19,350 valued at £88,680; Savings Bank deposits 16,660 valued at £213,810 and 39,770 valued at £534,060; Savings Bank withdrawals.97so valued at £193,----710 and 25;430 valued at £492,330; telegrams forwarded 211,160 valued at £88<f5, and 550,140 valued at £17,450; telegrams received 210,050 and 546,900; telegrams received at offices in the district ior outward transmission 550,620 and 1a151,35t).l a 151,35t). Reviewing the history of the post office at Manaia, Mr Mackenzie said that a post and telegraph office; was opened at Manaia at the beginning of 1881 in charge of a member of the Armed Constabulary Field Force. The force was under the command of Colonel Roberts, and' a small sentry box was used as an office. This box was still in existence, and was being used as a ticket box at the'rer; creation grounds. ,TJntii..the -redojibt was built the office was a shifting one/ being, moved forward as far as Otakehoi The redoubt was in command or Majof Gudgeon. When the Armed Constabulary Force wa§> removed from the district in Iss £ ipermaietnt pos& office ? building wasi-erectetlf material froinithe redoubt being used in its construction . 'Mr A;'; R. Langley was appointed Pjostamster at Manaia on May 1, 1881,-^nd' r"'By v>ME'i'H"< Kiernan on October 1,41882. On April 1,,1883,. Mr.- .;T;-;; Dawson "tookcharge, and; wasl followed byMr-King on Novvember 14 T 1888.' ' Then came Mr J. Stanton on May 8, 1901; Mr T' E Clough on April; i; -1904 ;and lastly Mr D. ;H. Fox,, the' present .postmaster, on; July 12, 1900. The -present'staff numbered six. The-building now being ; used, as a post office' had been altered three times owing to the increase of business; and at length it hacl been found necessary to erect a new one. Mr Mackenzie then formally laid the foundation- stone, using a handsome silver, trowel, with which he was afterwards presented: Chee*s were then given for Mr Christie and Mr Dive. Amongst those present at the ceremony was the chief postmaster from Wanganui. ; ; :'.'■'"- ■■■>;■' ...;.,-. ■■?=. ,■.. ;', .•.•••