NEW ZEALAND HERALD AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1841. THE POST OFFICE.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 18, 20 October 1841, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND HERALD AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1841. THE POST OFFICE.

During the past week, several subscribers have "written to us, and called at our office, to make inquiries or complaints with respect to copies of our paper not received-by them. Among those we may name, Mr. Thomson, of the Bay of Islands, the Rev. Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Dueher, Mr. Cleghorne, &c, &c, &c. To country subscribers we most punctually forward this Journal, through the Post Office, and we are therefure justified in. preferring against it a charge of blundering, incapacity in the discharge of its important functions. We confess we write under some excitement, for the injury thus inflicted upon us, and 'the various annoyances to which we are subjected, are such that we cannot refrain from the language of an agrieved party. The non-transmission of a newspaper sho*uld be regarded as an offence of a grave nature, —here, it is a breach or omission of duty, highly detrimental to the progress of the Colony and to the interests of the. Colonists; and with this observation we dismiss the question upon its public considerations. When, through the-errorsor other misdoings of the Post Office, our Journal fails to reach our subscribers, our sufferto an extent the most serious; and it is no figure of speech to say, that if we were silently, tamely to submit to the wrong, wc should be as indifferent to pecuniary welfare and reputation, as a man who would knowingly continue to employ a worthless and dishonest servant. It is not only that- subscribers who do not get papers claim from us copies in lieu of such as they did not obtain from the Post, and that in this way an undue number is extorted from us—that, not receiving them consecutively, the object they had in subscribing is unattained—that, therefore, they cease to value our Journal and to support us; that the uncertainty of transmission is a direct cause of the loss of subscribers, and a certain bar to our obtaining additional ones, —but, besides those losses and most injurious consequences, we are, as we have said, thereby subjected to various annoyances, which disturb the proper and regular performance of the routine of our establishment. This use of our pen is disagreeable and distasteful to us. We would wish that it were impossible to|impute, with any shadow of truth, to this Journal, that was k ever u *a vehicle of vulgar, rabid, unprovoked attacks, upon any institution, party or person. In this instance, we are unwillingly impelled to the subject. We do not seek to bring upon any officer of the Post Office the displeasure of Government, or the contempt of the pubiic; «nd if we could, and that such displeasure or contempt were deserved, we would rather not do so. To whomsoever blame attaches, we must acknowledge that he or they have a good ground of defence, and that many reasons may be allegedj-in extenuation ; and a love of fair play here urges us to say, that, if the Post Office, management of the Postmaster-General, do not work well, the public should, if- it would be just, be slow to find fault with him, so long as he is without a proper office and all needful appliances. These are as necessary to quick and orderly despatch of the business of the Po3t Office, as agricultural implements are requisite to •the operations of tillage ; and however indefatigable the Postmaster or farmer may be in his respective calling, the exertions of either, must be attended with success, in proportion as the furniture and apparatus of the office and the implements of the field are perfect in plan and construction. The business of our Post Office will now rapidly increase: that it should be transacted efficiently, is, in this country more especially, a matter of the highest importance; and this repetition of an obvious truth we cannot avoid. Government should, immediately, order the erection of a proper office; and if the Postmaster, or some other person in this town, be not perfectly acquainted with the most approved fittings and arrangements, the Government should, promptly, send elsewhere f«r the necessary plans and instructions. The whole of the space under the roof of the present building is not nearly large enough, and to fit it

up interiorly v?ill be a wasteful misapplication of "public money. We trust we shall not have occasion soon to return to this subject, and we now conclude by re-publishing the following letter : "CAUTION TO POSTMASTERS, Sub-Postmasters, or others employed in the Post Office, February, 1841. The complaints on the subject of missing newspapers, stated to have been committed to the Post, continue to be so numerous, that his lordship thinks it expedient that every one engaged in the Post Office service, should be made acquainted with the 32nd section of the Act Ist Vic, cap. 36, by which it is provided, "That every person employed in the Post Office who shall steal, or shall secret, or destroy, or shall wilfully detain or delay in course of conveyance or delivery thereof by the post, any printed Newspaper, without covers, or in covers open at the sides, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor., and, being convicted thereof, shall suffer such punishment, bv fine or imprisonment, or by both, as to the court may seem meet." ~._, And hislordship further desires it may be distinctly un<!ii;stood, that any individual acting in any capafc&y. Ifi the service of the Post Office, who shall be guilty of such an offence, will be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law. By Command, W. L. Maberly, Secretary."

In our last Number we stated, with some confidence, that through the exertions of an Association of Gentlemen there would soon be a Packet running between Auckland and Port Nicholson. We have now much satisfaction in acquainting our readers that" the arrangements are all but finally made. The vessel proposed for the service is in every way suitable, and the high respectability of the parties is a guarantee that every detail—every thing connected with the Vsssel —will be creditable to the port and satisfactory to the'puWic. In noticing the subject in our last, we fear we were rather sanguine in saying that the Packet would be a source of private gain as well as general bf nefit; though we wish we were right, for the disinterested spirit evinced merits success, and we hope the Government will be quick to see and acknowledge this, and will not hesitate to be liberal. Considering the circumstances under which those Gentlemen have incurred the risk of the speculation, we think Government, in determining the amount to be paid for the transport of the Mails, should be guided by the fact, that a regular and frequent communication with Port Nicholson is now indispensable to the administration of public affairs, and by a consideration 1 of what it would cost the Government itself to keep a vessel running between the ports. We think we do not overrate the mutual advantages to Wellington and Auckland of more frequent intercourse. Commercially, the results must be highly beneficial. We shall give to the traders of our own Colony—to the Merchants of Port Nicholson, some portion of the profits of trade, which have hitherto passed to Sydney, or elsewhere. They will be able to supply many of the wants of this market, and a wholesome and profitable transfer and exchange of imported commodities will be in progress. We think also that the usual influence of commerce will not here fail, but will be effective to bring about a better,-more liberal, feeling between the inhabitants of the two towns.