DELAY IN DELIVERING TELEGRAMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7221, 22 April 1884, Page 6

DELAY IN DELIVERING TELEGRAMS.

TO THE EDITOR. bin, I feel that it is a waste of time wilting as to the way our telegraph officials r W Seating us, but it is, perhaps, a little consoling to know that we are allowed to publish our grievances in your columns. Now, Sir, I am at a loss to know by what system our telegrams travel. Of course wo do not pretend that wo should T j VoUred with such speed as electricity, on dear, no j we do not even ask for steam, but surely. Sir, it f a not unreasonable to expect a telegram to travel at the rate of

horse travelling instead of taking about fifteen hours to deliver it forty-five miles distant. A mournful incident occurred on Monday last, when a young man died at Christchurch, whose parents were residing only two miles from Springfield station. A telegram of the death was wired at 4 p.m. I fail to see, Sir, why that telegram did not arrive at Springfield that same day, even if it had to arrive before tho closing time, instead of which it was delivered at mid-day the following day ; for_ tho same reason as a shopman will deliver goods to a man who happens to bo at a convenient distance from tho door. How glad we should ho to jiay ten times tho price of tho telegram if tho officer in charge could ho allowed to deliver such important ones, and what inconvenience would he bo put to by just stepping outside his office door, where ho would only have to show a boy a fow coppers ? How gratifying it would be to hear that the Head of tho Red Tape Crew was on his way Homo to practise hints, Ac., from private companies, where I have seen riders deliver telegrams four miles from the office for a shilling.—l am, Ac., SYMPATHISER. Springfield, April 18.