The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 8.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 154, 8 January 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 8.

Some few years ago, when the idea was first mooted of erecting a telegraph station at Akaroa, there were many who treated the matter with ridicule, and considered ,uch a proposition as utterly absurd in connection with so small a place. But, that "the proof of the pudding is in the eating thereof," Ins been amply testified in. the results accruing to the district from the possession of telegraphic communication with other parts of the colony, and, we may say, the world. This is chiefly visible in the rapid strides made in a commercial point of view. When, also, the latest statistics as given in the last annual report of the Telegraph Department, shew a marked increase in the use of the wires by the people of this district, so much so that the station is self-supporting, and bringing iv a revenue instead of drawing outhe Treasury coffers, then it becomes .i question as to how best to accommodate the public in the use of what they themselves have proved to be a great necessity, a benefit, and, probably, a fruitful source of colonial revenue. The natural configuration of the Peninsula entails considerable loss of time, and no small amount of labour, in travelling from the outlying districts to Akaroa, only to send, say a shilling telegram, yet, the ' subject matter is urgent, and the journey must be undertaken. We propose, then, in the interests of by far the larger section of the community, that a smtill branch office .should be erected at the Head of the Buy , which is somewhat central, and a place of steadily increasing size and importance. Combined with this branch telegraph station the postal work of a large portion of the district could be done with the utmost saving of time labour and expense to very many people, who now suffer by the inconvenience of having to go to Akaroa. It is fully time too, that the postal work at the Head of the Buy, where there are three or four branch mails to be re-transmitted, should be placed in the charge of a proper and responsible officer. Not for a moment do we mean to imply that there is the .slightest shadow of any grounds of complaint against those who now conduct the postal business of the Bay, but simply because we are. of opinion that the prosperous condition of the place, and the growing importance consequently of public business demands accommodation and recognition on the part of the proper authorities, and we bufc do our duty in advocating the rights of any section of the community. The intended i removal of the meetings of the Akaroa and Wainni Itoad Board from their present office to one at the Head of the Bay, not only hears out our opinion as to the benefit to be derived by making places of public business as central as possible, but nlso adds to the importance of the necessity for our suggestion being carried out, and we now leave it in the hands of those whose interests will be served thereby. I