POSTAL INCONVENIENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6065, 26 April 1881, Page 3

POSTAL INCONVENIENCES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Kindly allow me space in your valuable columns to draw attention to the inconvenience entailed on the Oruru settlers through the late change in postal arnmgemeuts—such change having been made in direct opposition to the wishes and interests of the public, and simply to beuelit the mail carrier. Until the end of last year, the Auckland mail which arrives at Mangonui every Wednesday forenoon, was brought here in, the afternoon of the same day ; and the return mail hence (from Oruru) was closed and despatched at 9 a.m. ou Thursday, reaching Mangonui two or three hours before the steamer's departure. Thus we wore enabled to answer letters that required answering by the return mail. Under the new arrangements this order of things has been reversed, the mail to Auckland leaving here on Thursday morning as before, but the mail from Auckland not arriving at Oruru till after the departure of the steamer to Auckland, with the (so called) return mail, on Thursday afternoon or evening. As many of us are in the habit of receiving letters (some of them official or business communications) which require immediate attention, wo are obliged either to go ourselves, or to employ some one else to go for us, every Wednesday, to Mangonui, 5 miles distant, for our let ters, thus doing, perforce, at our own expense that which another is paid by Government to do. There are atthepresent time in thisdistrict to my certain knowledge five families, comprising forty-six persons, who get their letters brought out weekly in this way by private hands. There are also a number of Bingle men, and others besides, who do so when they can ; but as the Mangonui postmaster, acting on instructions from Mr. Biss, demurs to deliver in Mangonui letters ad- ; dressed to Oruru, this is a matter oE some difficulty. The injustice and absurdity of such an arrangement is so evident that further comment is not needed. , The only person benefited is the mailman, who, in the pursuance of his ordinary avocations, is enabled to kill two birds with one stone. But however willing each, one of us. may be individually to help a neighbour at the expense of a little inconvenience, yet when such help is given by a person in authority, at the expense of the public and against the wishes of the community as a body, it is my opinion a circumstance that calls for inquiry. As several letters have been written to Mr. Biss on the subject, to which he has given no attention, I trust that, in the interests of the public, you will allow space for the insertion of this letter.—l am, &c., Oruru, April 20. A Resident.