AKAROA'S PROGRESS,

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 54, 9 April 1914, Page 9

AKAROA'S PROGRESS,

VISIT OF HON. R. H. RHODES

NEW POST OFFICE. The prosperous and picturesque little township of Akaroa observed holiday yesterday afternoon, when the Hon. E. Heaton Ehodes, accompanied by Mr E. B. Morris, postmaster at Christehurch, and Mr A. J. Thomas, officer in charge of telegraphs, arrived to perform the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of Akartoa 's new post office and opening the new jetty. Amongst the borough councillors and prominent citizens groxxped on the platform were the Mayor (Mr G. Armstrong), Mr E. J. Newton, Mr L. J. Vangioni, Mr G. Daley, Mr C. W. Leet, Mr H. G. Youngman, Mr P. Master, Mr E. E. Lelievre, Mr W. D. Wilkins, Mr G. W. Thomas (Town Clerk), and the Eev. A. H. Julius. „ In introducing the Minister, the Mayor said that he and others had been insisting on the necessity for a new building for a number of years, and, though there had been a battle to get it, he was pleased that now the foundation was to be laid. The old building was very dear to all old residents of Akaroa, and it had done good work —first as the Lands and Survey Office, then as the Courthouse. He did not remember when it had been made the post office, but while it had served that purpose he knew that the postal officials had not had good health while working in it, and everyone would be pleased when the new building was erected. The Minister said he was always pleased to come to Akaroa, because of the pleasant reception he received, but it was particularly gratifying to be concerned in such a function as the present one. He had no need to speak of the efforts made by the Mayor to seeure a new post office, since the residents themselves knew what he had done. The first real promise to build the post office was given on October 18, 1911, when, in replying to a question from the speaker, Sir' Joseph "Ward had stated that plans for the building had been prepared and tenders would be eailed "in due course*.'' He had no wish to dwell on the omissions of others, but that '' due eourse'.' had been long in arriving. It was here now, however, and the residents would be able to forg<?fc all about .the long delays. The Minister went on to refer to the well-known charm of the Akaroa district, its prosperity, and its history. He did not intend to refer at length to the early history of the Peninsula, since those interested had only* to look up the records to find the details of Te Eauparaha's raids, the "purchase" of the Peninsula by Captain Hempleman in • 1837, and the later claim of Captain L'Anglais to have bought Akaroa, the outcome of which was the arrival of the first French settlers, and the hoisting of the English flag by the captain of the H.M.S. Britomart. Many old residents could remember the great changes that had taken place—the. old days of the whaling ships, how the bush had given way to pasture, and the saw mills given place to dairy factories, until the Peninsula had become one of the most flourishing parts of the Do-

million. Here and there he had hear< regrets that the bush had gone, but i few patches remained, and he hop«< these would always be preserved. Referring to the post office, he sai< it was the aim of the [Department ti make provision for present needs an< for years to come; but there was als< another duty, and that was to erect { building such as eitizens could take i pride in, one that they need not b< ashamed of, and though in the presem ease it was not a brick building thai would arise, the foundations were buili to carry- a brick building eventually He would not dwell on the business oi the Postal Department, which had de servedly" been held up by other ministries as one of the most progressive services in the Dominion, but he wanted to show how it also progressed under the present Government. The Government had placed £40,000 on the Estimates this year to provide for the installation of the automatic telephone system in the centres of Auckland and' Wellington, and it was hoped to continue the installation in Christchurch and Dunedin, and later in the smaller centres and inland towns. Another benefit given by the present Government was the reduction of the parcels rates by 25 per cent. It had also reduced the wireless telegraphy charges by half their previous amount, reduced cable rates, and introduced the motor delivery of mails. The Postal Department .was still a progressive institution, and though in providing some public conveniences there was a loss, it was able to show a very creditable balancesheet. The Telegraph Department's return la,st year showed an increase of £28,878, jas against art increase of £26,307 over the previous year. In the Savings Bank Department the interest had been increased from 3| per cent, to 3f per cent., and interest was now paid on deposits up to £IOOO. He congratulated the citizens on possessing what would be a thoroughly, up-to-date office. His knowledge that the old building was neither healthy nor big enough had impelled him to agitate for a new building, and as Minister of PublicHealth he wo\ild have merited condemnation had he not done* so. The Minister then formally laid the foundation stone, and was presented by the Mayor with a silver trowel as a memento of t the occasion. In returning thanks for the gift the Minister said he valued it not only as a gift from the residents, but also -because it was his first memento of such a public function in his own district. This ceremohy being concluded with cheers, the party then went to the new jetty near by. This jetty replaces the old "Daley's Wharf," which had fallen into decay, and in asking the Minister to declare it open the Mayor said that it also was as significant of the progress of Akaroa as the new post office. He hoped that in the near future the wharf' would be used by a. steamer serviee connecting with the train service from Little Eiver. It was "Some indication of the progressiveness of Akaroa that the cost of the wharf, £BOO, was being paid for out of ordinary revenue. The wharf was built primarily- for the benefit of tourists, and as a tourist centre Akaroa had a great future, for every year more tourists were visiting the place. Apologies for absence from the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher and Mr J. Bruce were read. In declaring the wharf open, the Minister said that though he could' not as fittingly perform the ceremony as could the Minister of Marine, yet he

could claim some special interest as Minister in eharge of the Tourist Department. He would like to see Akaroa progress' as a tourist resort, but already it was making progress in more than; one direction. Its capital value of land had increased since last valuation by £1,000,000, there was a large increase in stock, and a great increase in its out-' put of cheese. With regard to pushing on the construction of a railway from Little Eiver, that was always his endeavour, and the Minister of Public Works had assured him that as soon as a surveyor was available one would be sent to survey a route. He did not know any other town of the size of Akaroa so up-to-date —arid there "wer v e many larger towns without good drainage, water and electric lighting; systems—and it was evident that Akaroa intended to keep ahead of progress. - . The wharf having been formally opened, an adjournment was made to the Borough Council Chambers, where several toasts were proposed and honoured. The Ministerial party then returned to town, and Mr Rhodes left for Wellington in the evening.