CHRISTMAS TELEGRAMS

Southland Times, Issue 17230, 28 December 1912, Page 6

CHRISTMAS TELEGRAMS

I AXD POSTAL BUSINESS. Tlie business transacted at Ilia Post Office in the days preceding Christmas was very heavy. Both in the telegraph and in tiic postal departments full staffs were continuously engaged and wore kept working at very higlr pressure. The officials had made excellent arrangements and tlie mass of work was got through accurately and expeditiously. Tlie men who handle the letters, telegrams and parcels of the community are always r.r important factor in the social and business life of the community, hut never does so much pleasure depend upon their efficiency as at Christmas time. No one is more eagerly looked for than the postman, nothing that comes to tlie home is more welcome than, the presents and greetings which marie the remembrance of friends and relatives in oilier parts. Consequently the business of the post office reflects the activity of the commercial world and tlie vitality of the social world, and it is a matter for satisfaction to he able to record an increase in till brandies this year. As to telegrams (lie figures for this Christmas may be compared witli those of previous years ns follows : 1912 Forwarded. Iteeeived. December 20 TIG S9S, December 21 GST S 71! December 22 978 12S1 December 2 1 LTD 12ti2 Total 2922 42T4 191 I December 20 TT2 7.T1 December 21 7M 1)0-1 December 22 HOI 1082 December 22 142 1 1T22 Total 2 ,T ft 1 4 200 11) 10 December 21 T2l (174 December 22 T2S SIT December 22 GShl 117.4 December 24 J2CI 1.292 Total 31 TO 2 S T 5 It will he notert that tlie largo.--; number of telegrams is dealt with on tlie day before Cliristmas and on Tuesday the operators had a very strenuous day. Nevertheless by a combination of industry and rapidity they were Hoar of (he last wire at a surprisingly early hour. In the postal blanch there was a similar expansion of business and the letter carriers and mail room staff were kept going "at top." as the figures, compared with those for previous years, show : Number of mailbags, boxes and ham- ! pers handled : 1 ii 1 2 inn 1010 December 2d 412 2,1 2 2IT December 21 272 21 S 2118 < December 22 27A 222 2.T0 December 21 2G2 29T 214. - 1T 17 124.T 1287 ) The business for this .vear represents a 20 per cent, increase on Hint for JOlo. I The sale of stamps conveys some idea 1 of tlie number of letters, parcels and [ packages, and telegrams sent through the local office and in this connection I tills year shows a remark-able growth, ■ the sales exceeding those of last year ' by almost £2nn. as compared with an in- j crease of only t2T in lull as against Ill'Ll. The comparison is as follows : I AMOUNT OK STA.MK SALES. i Ul2 inn min ! f. f. r. ! December 2" I2T 172 27.7 ! December 21 121 lull ,s2 December 22 272 ITs 270 j December 21 2T:i 21s 122 ’ £977 £787 £7OO ! Tlie expansion of postal and IrlogiMp- 1 hie business is a fair index to the steady I advance of the town in trade and popu- I lathm and the figures given above must lie regarded as gratifying in everyway, j Not less satisfactory than the volume of business was the manner In which it j was handled and the staffs deserve to ! lie complimented on their success. We 1 are indebted for the figures to the cour- I tosy of the Chief rn-tmasler. '