NELSON POST OFFICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 June 1939, Page 4

NELSON POST OFFICE

ITS EARLY HISTORY OUTLINED IN ADDRESS TO ROTARY CLUB I BY CHIEF POSTMASTER Something of the early history of the Nelson Post Office was included in a talk which tlic Chief Postmaster, Mr C. L. Mayo, gave to the Rotary Club yesterday, the speaker remarking that in less than three years, the 100th anniversary of its establishment will be celebrated. The exact date on which the office was established is somewhat obscure, but it was very soon after the barque Brougham arrived on the 6th March, 1842. That office was opened in a small building at the port in charge of Mr F. A. Thompson, who was also Police Magistrate and was a victim in the Wairau Massacre in the following ; year. IN VARIOUS LOCALITIES Mr George Fleury was then Postmaster until 1845 when he was succeeded by Mr Stephen Carkeek, who retained the position until July, 1840. Mr W. L. Howard then held the posi- j tion until 1852. In the meantime, the office was removed to a building on the Church Hill. Captain Benjamin Walmsley was Postmaster from 1852 until 1867, and he i shares the distinction with one other j of having filled the position for a long- i er period than any of the 21 post- j masters appointed during the past 97 j years. About three years after Captain j Walmsley took over, the office was removed to a cottage in Hardy street. On • the sth November, 1864, the post office j was housed in more pretentious premises in Bridge street, and as many of you are no doubt aware, that building is still standing and is occupied by Messrs J. H. Cock and Company. Mr Sidney J. Dick replaced Captain j Walmsley in July, 1867, and the next I change was in November, 1877, when i Mr Robert Kirton was appointed. Ho i retained the position for 15 years, j which equalled Captain Walmsley’s ( tenure of office. About the beginning of 1881, how- i ever, the office was again removed to ' Trafalgar street, and that building is j also still standing, a few doors this I side of the Municipal Chambers. ERECTION OF PRESENT BUILDING Mr Hugh Calders followed Mr Kirton \ in December, 1892, an:’, he was Post-! master until July, 1902. Mr Sydney j Pope Stevens was appointed from : August, 1902, and retained the position ! until September, 1907. It was in his : time that the need for more room became imperative, and this brought about the erection of the present building which was opened on the 3rd December, 1906. The staff in 1881 was 19, in 1906, 54. and to-day, 108. I have vivid recollections myself of, the move to the new building. It had to be undertaken at the week-end and ! I know it was no small job. As Mr j Stevens was my first chief, I naturally remember him very well. I know he was very fond of walking, and it was an every day sight to see him and Mr E. J. Allen walking lo or back from the port, which seemed to be their favourite beat. They might easily have been taken for brothers as they were a good deal alike in appearance. CHANGES IN POSTMASTERS Since that time, the changes of Postmasters have been much more frequent. Mr E. V. Senn, from September, 1907 to November 1910. He was a little, dark bearded man of, I think, Swiss extraction. I do know he could be very peppery at times. Mr W. T. Ward, from November, 1910 to June 1915. He was very musical and a fine old gentleman. He was a brother of Sir Joseph Ward, but he always maintained that that was more of a hindrance to his progress in the service than otherwise. Mr William Gee was the next man from July, 1915, to June, 1918, and of those I have named, he is the only one alive to-day. He was Chief Postr master in Auckland when he retired and is still living there. Mr H. D. Grocott from July, 1918, to November, 1919. He was at one time I Private Secretary to Sir Joseph Ward. , He is now living in retirement in Wel- • lington. ; Mr E. G. Stapp from November, 1910 , to September, 1920. He spent a good r deal of his earlier service in the Nelson * office but he is now, I am sorry to say, ! deceased. i Mr J. T. Wylie, November, 1920, to I November, 1921, Mr S, Ayling from December, 1921, to April, 1925. Mr G. W. Hazleton, from May, 1925, . to November, 1929. . Mr H. G. Davis, from March, 1930, f to April, 1932. I Mr H. T. Dawson, from April, 1932, to , June, 1936. r Mr A. N. Wallace, from September, , 1936, to September. 1938.