TELEGRAPHIC MONEY ORDERS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEST COAST TIMES.

West Coast Times, Issue 649, 23 October 1867, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC MONEY ORDERS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEST COAST TIMES.

Sir — Now that the Municipal Elections are over, will you permit me through your columns, to bring under the notice of tho public a system which, if adopted on the Telegraph lines in I"Tew Zealand, would not only be a great convenience to many, but would at the same time be a'source of revenue to the Telegraph Department. I allude to the establishment of a system of Telegraphic Money Orders. I first ventilated this subject in Christchurch through a journal there, and during the last session of the' Provincial Council, on my mentioning the matter to Mr Barff, he very kindly undertook to bring it under the notice of tho Provincial Legislature. Mr Barff performod his promise, and succeeding in carrying through the House a resolution affirming the desirability of establishing such a system on the lines under the control of the Provincial Government. The House also ordered that the resolution should be embodied in an address, and transmitted to his Honor the Superintendent. Nothing, however, has been done in tho matter. ■ The modus operandi is extremely simple. Supposing A, living in Hokitika, wishes to transmit a sum of money to B, residing in Christchurch. A goes to the Telegraph Office, in Hokitika, and fills up a paper with Bs name, address, and profession, and also the amount of tho sum of money wished to be transmitted. This money, together with a certain per centage, A pays to the Superintendent of the Telegraph Office, at Hokitika, who forthwith telegraphs to the Superintendent at Christchurch to pay B the money on his presenting a telegram from A, authorising him to receive it. B calls at the office in Christchurch, presents A's telegram, and has the money handed to him, for which he gives a receipt across A's telegram. I claim no originality in propounding this plan, which is already at work in tho other colonies, but I wish, Mr Editor, to enlist not only your aid, but also the aid of other journalists in "New Zealand, so that ere long some such system as the one I have sketched may be adopted, not only on Provincial lines, but also on the General Government lines of telegraph. I am satisfied that thereby a great public boon would be conferred, and moreover the- revenue of tho telegraph department would be greatly increased. I am, &c, J. Exai.li. Hokitika, 22nd Oct., 1867.

The Nelson Government does not appear to be the very perfect thing that tome of our Greymouth friends would havo us believe. Tho " Westport Evening Star," of the 17th, say* : — " From the result of the interview of tha Committee of Tuesday last with his Honor the Superintendent, the most sanguine among us must admit that littlo hope remains that any of the cryiug wants of the district -will be supplied through the medium of the Superintendent or through any representations which may bo mado to him. His sympathies ara either not with us, or he fails to see the necessity for more liberal legislation. 'This being the case, the people of We3tp ort have but one alternative, unless thoy are willing to wait for tardy justice. They must petition the Government. This is the only course open to us, and tho only ono which appear to us likely to be productive of beneficial results to the district, and we would therefore suggest that the gentlemen which formed . the committee for the drawing up and presentation of the address to his Honcr take steps at once for the framing of a petition to the Provincial Council praying for increased representation for tho district. This obtained, there is every reason to nope that the opening up of the country, the cutting of tracks which shall intersect the district and facilitate prospecting, the formation of our streets, and other desiderata will be supplied which tho single voice of our representative is powerless to accomplish. Let, as wo said before, the gentlemen who composed the committeo of the other day constitue themselvos a body representing the wishos of the community, and let thorn draw up a petition praying for increased representation, and we have not the slightest doubt that if our claims aro clearly aud faithfully set forth that tht prayer will be granted and Wesfcport be adequately represented in the Provincial Coumil Until this is effected and Westport has more than a single voice in its legislation, we will wait in vain for improved streets, embankments to our river, track cuttings, or lib»y*l land m«ftßur»i, 7