ALEXANDRA POST OFFICE

Otago Witness, Issue 3549, 28 March 1922, Page 24

ALEXANDRA POST OFFICE

NEW BUILDING OPENED. (Fbom Oub Special Repobter.) ALEXANDRA, March 21. The m'in street in Alexandra presented a scene of animation to-day, when the lion. J. G. Coates (Postmaster-general) performed the ceremony of officially opening the new building, and which constitutes a distinct ornament to the town. There was a very large crowd present, and the street in the vicinity was gay with bunting, while the local band, under Bandmaster Bringans, was in attendance. Tne proceedings throughout were characterised by the greatest enthusiasm. The old post office building which gave place to the new structure was erected in 1875. It was improved from time to time ip meet the growing business of the department. The new building is a combined office and postmaster’s residence. The office portion, covering the ground floor, consists of mail room, 29ft 6in by 14ft 6in; telephone exchange room, 17ft by 10ft ; public space, 18ft by lift; postmaster’s room, lift bin by 10ft 6in; the strong room, private box lobby, etc., and the postmaster’s quarters occupy the upstairs portion, and consist of dining-room. 15ft 6in bv lift 6in; a sitting room. 17ft by 10ft bin: three bedrooms, 12ft bin by lift bin, 12ft by 10ft 6in, and 12ft by Bft respectively; a kitchen, 14ft by 12ft; a bathroom, 7ft 6m by Oft; a scullery, pantry, etc. There has been applied to the building the \ an Guilder system of hollow concrete block construction. The contractors were Messrs M'Leod and White. 1 he contract price was £3928. THE MINISTER WELCOMED. The Mayor (Mr W. Black) extended a very cordial welcome to the Minister, his sentiments being endorsed by the hearty applause of all present. Proceeding, he stated that a vote for the new post, office was originally put on the Estimates in 1913. but war interfered, arid the people of the district were content that the allocation should be used for other purposes. At the close of the war requests were made that the new building should be gone on with, and finally a vote was granted and the work completed. He congratulated the Public Works Department on the fine building, ; :d the contractors on che splendid job they had made. Some people were inclined to say that it was too large, but he was quite satisfied that with the increased settlement which would follow the Manuherikia and other irrigation schemes, the building would soon be taxed to its full working capacity.—(Applause.) Mr J. Horn.' M.P.. congratulated the town on the fine building, which was a credit to the place, and would no doubt set a standard for future structures in Alexandra. —(Applause.) THE MINISTER’S SPEECH. Mr Coates, who was received with applause and cheers, said it gave him very great pleasure to perform the duty that day of opening the new post office. He hoped it would be found to meet the needs of town and district, and that. within a very short time it would be too small for its requirements. Continuing, Mr Coates dwelt at some length on the recent retrenchment proposals, which had been put into operation in the Post and Telegraph as well as in other departments. During the war 2280 young men from the Postal Department had gone overseas, and their places had been filled, but their positions had been promised to them on their return. While the war was in progress the business of the post office had increased enormously, and additional men had to t>e engaged. Since the war ended postal business had fallen off very much, but the Government had kept its word to the returned men. all of whom had been reinstated. -(Applause.) The department was, therefore, making a loss, and under the scheme of retrenchment that became necessary 1000 people had left the service, and shortly the number would be increased to 1390 No one liked retrenchment, continued the Minister, but he had a stern duty to perform in safeguarding the general interests of the country as a whole. One satisfaction of the present situation Was that a large proportion —more than half, in fact —of the Public Debt of New Zealand was owing in this country, and less than half to outside people. Under the present retrenchment proposals it was estimated th.xt, of the £14.891.090 for war expenses, z. saving of £1.800,000 would be effocted in Governmental expenditure, bringing the amount back to the 1913-1914 ba.js. The Minister went on to give some partsoolans as to the history of the postal r*»rvi x- in Alexandra. He stated that a post office was opened at Alexandra in the early ’sixties. The first postmaster is said to hove been a Mr Williams. The postn*cst/»r from December. 1862, was Mr D. C. V«cnpbelL Mr Campbell’s successors, and ibc dates of their appointment, had been ai follows:--Mr G. H. Harris (1863 V Mr Richard Watkins (1865). Mr J. C. Cuiraniiw ;1867), Mr W. W. Yause (1870). Mr (I Whelan (1875). Mr T. T. King (1878 V Mr J. H. Stephens (1878). Mr W. Henev (1879). Mr P. F. ,T. Cotter 11830!. Mr H. D. Willcox (1832), Mr IV. W. Menzies (1885). Mr K. Bovno (1888). Mr W. A. White (19011. Mr F. Bggiriton (1903). Mr L. V.A. Bot.t (19091, Mr T. A. Wilson (present postmaster, 1919). The office was at first called the “Manuherikia Junction.” The name was changed at various times to “Alexandra,’’ “Manuherikia,” and “Alexandra South.” and since 1914 it, has Ken “Alexandra. ’ A telegraph office was opened in 1809; and a telephone exchange and a telephone bureau were opened in 1915. There were now over 40 paying subscribers to the exchange. A money order office was opened in 1863, and a savings bank in 1867 —the year in which the Post. Office Havings Bank system was introduced in the dominion. In the early days mails were carried by coach from Dunedin, the routes being changed as time went on. In 1906 the railway was opened to Alexandra, and mails had since been conveyed by rail over the whole distanoe. The following figures, tie continuer!, would give some indication of the growth of the department’s business at Alexandra, during the last 10 years:—ln 1911 letters and postcards posted numbered 69,170, and in 1921 100.720. Tn 1911 letters anrl postcards delivered numbered 91.290. anrl in 1921 100,060. In 1911 the postage revenue was £430, and in 1921 £1027. In 1911 there were issued money orders of a value of £5217, and in 1921 of £7232. In 1911 there were paid money orders of a value of £1933, and j ii 1921 £3928. In 1911 there were made

savings bank deposits amounting to £10,913, and 1921 to £18,359. In 1911 there wore forwarded telegrams to the value of £274, and in 1921 to £317. In 1911 there were received for residents 6880 telegrams, and in 1921 10,660 telegrams and telephone toll messages. In conclusion, the Minister apologised for the absence of Sir William Fraser, who sent, his greetings and good wishes to them upon that occasion.

The Minister then turned the key in the door, and in doing so expressed the sincere hope that the residents would find it convenient, and that within a few years it would prove all too small to meet the growing needs of the increased population of the district. —(Applause.) The gathering then terminated with cheers for the Minister and the plaving of the National Anthem by the band.