DUNEDIN P.O.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1935, Page 6

DUNEDIN P.O.

foundation stone

DUNEDIN, January 12.

Upo n the site where once grew virgin bush and where For many years not even a sheep track marked ,the route of the thoroughfare that the new buildintr wiil dominate, the Duke of Gloucester to-day laid the foundation stone of the new Dunedin Post Office. The ceremony, which was held in threatening weather, w>as attended by a vast crowd which cheered the Duke to the echo.

Jn thanking his Royal Highness for performing tire ceremony the Post-master-General (the. Hon. A. Hamilton) said that tjhe new building, the total estimated cost of which, excluding the land, was £322,500, would contain nine storeys at the back and eight in the front and would be not only one of the highest structures in the city, but also the largest sing'e unit in the Dominion. It would be a focal point for nearly all the Government services in Dunedin, as it would accommodate other departments in addition to the Post and Telegraph. The people of Dunedin at the start had had some misgivings regarding the project, believing that the general scheme was too elaborate for present needs.

“It may be supposed,” added the Minister, “ that the cautious instincts of an inherently thrifty people were inclined to he a trifle against the large amount it was proposed to spend. It was suggested that the building,* as contemplated, was somewhat ostentatious and that a more modest structure would be approorinte. The misgivings gradually subsided when it \Vns realised that no contributions were sought from those who would benefit by the new facility.”

APPRECIATION EXPRESSED His Royal Highness said that ,he welcomed the opportunity of expressing his appreciation of the admirable service which had geen given him hy the Dominion postal, authorities tlgarding both communication and road transport. “A post office,” he said, “provides the public with a great variety of services, and it follows that the, increase in population and the need to utilise the most up-to-date methods sooner or later will lead to the replacement of older and smaller buildings by a large and fully equipped institution such as the Dunedin off.ee will be. Inasmuch a s it is considered that it is the writing part of the citizens who have caused the urgent need of the new rffice the inscription ‘which Dunedin thinks to-day the Dominion will know tomorrow-,” might nerhaps doubtless be a suitable one to be engraved above the front entrance.

“I congratulate the citizens oh acquiring a building wliiqh will be a great advantage to them and an.ornament to the city. I regret that I am to see no more to-day than the foundation stone. I hope that when the oflee is completed one of the Mayor’s ffi'st acts will he to place a letter' addressed to me in the post box to give me an idea- of its appearance.”