POST OFFICE.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 7, 21 August 1841, Page 2

POST OFFICE.

Some weeks since we called the attention of the Government and Public to the small space in which the business of the Post-office is conducted. Still the inconvenience not only remains, but becomes, as the population increases, every day more vexatious to the Public as well as detrimental to the interests of the Colonists. No blame whatever is attached to the Postmaster—it rests with the Government authorities alone, and it is a great reflection on the , now that labor and materials can be had at a moderate price, and a suitable building eould be erected in a short time. The present small Hut is a Police-office, as our readers well know, as well as Post-office ; but, during the daily business of the former, nothing can be done in the latter. On Tuesday last the Police part of the building was crowded to excess, and there was a Mail to be made up for Sydney and England early in the day. How was it possible for a Post-master to do his duty in that four-feet-square box amidst all the confusion from the adjoining room? We

have now, weekly, very many of our numbers to send to the neighbouring Colonies, as well as to England, but, under the present state of the Postoffice, it is a matter of very great doubt whether they are ever forwarded at all; and, if so, it is a great chance if they are deposited in the proper bag of their destination. It seems by the Port Nicholson papers, this department of the public service occasions similar complaints, which doubtless will not be lessened by the arrival of the Victoria without the Mail from here, as they were anxiously awaiting the English mail for Port Nicholson, brought here by the Sophia Pate. We shall close these remarks by the following extract from the Wellington Gazette of 31st July : —• “ The schooner Sir John Franklin arrived on Sunday last from Auckland. “ She brought a large mail of Australian and Van Diemen’s Land letters and papers, due some months ago. Letters were also received by the same opportunity, dated London, last April twelve months. The Post Office in all the Colonies in this part of the world appears to be equally scandalously managed. Its a grievance, for which it is the duty of the Press to get redress. If the department is kept before the public attention in a sufficient manner, we may hope before long to cause numerous petitions from the several Colonies to be forwarded to Lord John Russell. They would lead to a Commission of Inquiry, a report from which would not fail to expose the disgraceful neglect and indifference of persons in charge of a department unsurpassed in its importance.

“ The Sophia Pate, on board of which the Port Nicholson mail was put, though a vessel was leaving Sydney the same day for this place, was going into Auckland when the Sir John Franklin left.”