RETIRING POSTMASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1916, Page 6

RETIRING POSTMASTER.

SIR. HOLDSWOETH'S RECORD. SERVICE IX NEW PLYMOUTH. After a record of ■ service, extending over 4S yca''s, ill'. P. 1). Holdsworth, chief postmaster iri Auckland, is due to retire from the po-.t an:! telegraph sirvice at an early date. Though a native f England, Mr. Holdswortli came to this country at an early age, being only two years of ape when he landed in New Zealand. After spending some time in Australia, where his parents removed, he joined the New Zealand service as a cadet in the Telegraphic Department at Wellington in 1808. He was shortly afterwards transferred to Dunedin, and then to Oamaru. In February, 18S0, he was transferred to New Plymouth. In October of tl.e came yar the Postal and Telegraphic Department.- were amalgamated, and Mr. IbV'lswnnli was appointed cliief at New Plymouth. Ho'lhe st.iyid for 27 y.;ai>. during which period he watched New Plymouth grow from a village into a town of considerable importance. In January, 1907, Mr. Holdsworth was promoted to the position of chief postmastership at Auckland. The postal business in all departments, since his arrival, has practically doubled, and in the parcels department almost quadrupled. until now even the. space alloted to the latter department in the new chief post olTiee is insufficient. Over .100 new sub-offices have been established in the Auckland postal district, and the total number of such offices now under the supervision of the chief postmaster in Auckland is about 750. No other postal district, Mr. Holdsworth pointed out, can compare with the Auckland district for size or for ijjfrease in the volume of business. Land, which nine years ago was unoccupied, was now all settled, with established means of postal, telegraphic. and telephonic communication. The King Country districts had shown the greatest advancement in settlement. In the city, the growth of postal business had been extraordinary. Hourly suburban mail service had been established, and the chief post office was now working at its full capacity. Mr. Holds--1 worth will continue to reside in Auckland after his retirement.