CHRISTMAS MAILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20716, 8 November 1930, Page 12

CHRISTMAS MAILS.

SHIPMENT BY RANGITATA.

A TOTAL OF 990 BAGS. - LETTER DESPATCH LATER. Coldly viewed in terms of money, the Rangitata, outward bound for Southampton this morning, carries much more valuable cargo than the 990 bags of second-class mail matter, the last of which was placed on board last evening. But, from a sentimental point of view, tho contents of tho mailhags are sufficient to make the Rangitata a veritable treasure-ship, for the hundreds and thousands of Christmas annuals, which make up the bulk of this mail, represent as many kindly thoughts from New Zealandcrs, mindful of relatives and friends in the Homeland. The mail is due in London on December 12, and, although there will be a later opportunity for sending letters to reach Britain before Christmas, yesterday was the last day to post newspapers, packets and parcels at the normal postage rates.

For the sorters in the post office the despatch of the llangitata's unusually bulky mail has been preceded by many hours of arduous work, which reached a climax yesterday with the arrival of further mails from the South and the inevitable heavy local postings during the day. The Zealandic took 250 bags of secondclass matter a week ago, but many people with Christmas numbers of the various periodicals delayed pasting until this week, and long hours have been worked all this week by the sorters in an endeavour to keep abreast of the\ swelling tide of postings. Almost every inch of space in the Auckland mailroom has been crowded all this week.

The Niagara, sailing on November 18, will lake the last letter mail to reach the United Kingdom before Christmas. The postal staff will therefore be exceptionally busy for another 10 days. Their work can be lessened to a considerable extent if the public will heed the frequently given advice: "Post early."

While the bulk of New Zealand's outgoing Christmas mail is for the United Kingdom, a considerable portion is destined for other parts, and the whole is dealt with as it arrives. "We have the whole world before us here," remarked an officer yesterday, in pointing to bags as diversely labelled as Tokio, Niue Island and Capetown. For instance, Christmas numbers of the Auckland Weekly News, and the ordinary numbers, too, are regularly posted to the four corners of the earth, and the sight of these copies, with their familiar wrappers, being tossed into mailbags for world-wide distribution prompts amazement at the vastness of tho service performed by the post office in ensuring the fulfilment of such far-flung orders for a charge of a penny :i copy. Owing to more frequent steamers Christmas mails have been cleared much more expeditiously this year than last. The Remuera, sailing on November 8 last year, took 1169 bags, representing a fortnight's accumulation. During the similar period this year the Zealandic and the Rangitata have lifted an aggregate of 1240 bags. In addition the Rangitata has 180 bags of parcels, mainly Christmas gifts to folks in the Old Country.