NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4396, 27 November 1912, Page 5

NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE.

OFFICIAL OPENING YESTERDAY Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The new General I’ost Office was opened, to-day by the Hon. W. Eraser, Minister of Public Works, in the absence of the Postmaster-General (Hon. R. 11. Rhodes) through indisposition. 'l’he. ceremony was spoilt by persistent and drenching rain. Among those present were the Hons. .1. Allen and W. H. Herries, and the Mayor. •>

In his speech, Mr Fraser remarked on the enormous expansion of postal business. In 1840 the revenue was only £4O. In 1888 it was £282,000, and last year is amounted to £1,087,000. He paid a tribute to the men who had built up the Department, mentioning the Hon. W. B. D. Man-te-11, John F. Hoggard, W. Gray, and Sir Julius Vogel. The contract for the present building was let for £93,000, and the total cost, including the land, was £173,000. Mr Fraser then opened the main entrance with a key, amid cheers, followed by the National Anthem.

The public then inspected the interior, and refreshments were provided. The Mayor (Mr D. McLaren) also said a few words.

'Hie new building is one of the best equipped for its purpose in the Southern Hemisphere. The mailroom measures 116 ft by 50ft, and for the transaction of parcels work nearly 11,000 square feet of floor space is provided in the basement.