NEW POST OFFICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22018, 26 January 1935, Page 12

NEW POST OFFICE

BUILDING AT TAUMARUNUI OPENED' BY MINISTER £]|Y TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT J TAUMARUNUI, Friday A gathering; of about 200 witnessed the official opening this afternoon of the new Taumarunui post office erected at a cost of £14.500. The ceremony was performed by the Postmaster-General, the Hon. A. Hamilton, who was accompanied by Mrs. Hamilton and his private secretary, Mr. F. M. Sherwood. On a platform constructed in front of the buildin;K, in addition to the Ministerial party, were Mr. F. Langstone, M.P.. the Mayor oi: Tauuiarunui, Mr. C. A. Boles, representatives of local bodies and officials <i)f the Public Works and Post and Telegraph Departments. ; The Mayor, in extending a welcome to Mr. Hamilton, said Tautpaiunui was .vary proud of the fine new building, which completely dwarfed the old one alongside it. The town was growing into such an important centre and the volume of. postal business was so large that the making of the Taumarunui post office uii:o the district office of the King Coiintry waf warranted. The Minister said the erection of the post office had been delayed by the economic , depression, and perhaps it would not be out of place to say that with the advent of the new building a better audi more prosperous period seemed to bt< coming to the Dominion, it was a coincidence that the first post office establiiihed in Taumarunui was opened in 18S5, half-a-century ago. It was plejising to be able to record, continued Mr. Hamilton, that for the eight monthii ended on November 30 last the revenue of the Post Office throughout the Dominion increased by no less thari £lll,OOO, which to him was a plain indication that the country was recovering rapidly. Also, the Post Office Savings Bank deposits had shown a* substantial surplus over withdrawals. I; Mr. Hamil ton then declared the new building opem and despatched the first telegram to the Prime Minister, Air. Forbes He jilso bought the first penny •tamp.