INFLUX OF MAILS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16906, 4 December 1922, Page 4

INFLUX OF MAILS.

BUSY TIME FOR POST OFFICE.

The largest mail ever received in Christchurch ai rived by the ferrv steamer Maori from Wellington on Sat urday morning. This mail consisted ot 513 bags and 265 hampers for Christ church alone and there were also 426 bags and 229 hampers for places south of Christchurch. It included mails from Britain and America and there was also a double North Island mail The English portion was large becauseas a result of the shipping trouble, it had accumulated at Sydney.

The Maori berthed at 9.20 a m. on Saturday and the whole of the letter portion of the mail for Christchurch was sorted before 1 p m. This quick work was made possible by the fact that there were large staffs at Lyttelton. and the Christchurch Railway Station to receive the mail, while the whole of the sorting staff at the Christ church office was put on to handle it. A second letter-carrier’s delivery was made on Saturday afternoon and thl% gav l people a chance of replying to

letters and catching the mail for England which was despatched for th-| north by the Maori on Saturday night. It was at first intended to despatch the southern portion of Saturday momin gs mail by steamer, but when the railway authorities decided to run a second express the mail was sent by this train. A postal van with two marl agents on board was attached to the train and there was also a large waggon containing mails. Yesterday morning a mail consisting of forty bags and 237 hampers arrive! from thnorth. Yy the Wingatui and a mail of 163 packages was due to arrive from the north by the Wootton last night. In addition a special train arrived from Dunedin yesterday with mails. The Wingatui’s mail was sorted yesterday afternoon and owners of private boxes were able to obtain delivery. Arrangements have been made to have the Wootton’s mail brought up from Lyttelton by the first train this morning. This ukail, together with the Wingatui’s mail and the DtmediA mail, will be delivered this morning.