RICCARTON POST OFFICE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17117, 12 April 1921, Page 5

RICCARTON POST OFFICE.

I NEW BUILDING OPENED. I The new Post and Telegraph Office »* : Upper BJooarton was officially opened yesj teiday afternoon by Mr Geo. Witty, M.P. He ! said it was understood that a post officers •opened at Upper Biccarton about January i Ist, 1871, -under charge of Mr Patrick Sworde. The earliest postmaster of whom the Department had ft Tecord was Mr J. E. Hanson, who was appointed on April Ist, 1671. Mr Hanson was succeeded on. January let, lavi, by Mr Robert Brake. Mr Hanson and jut Brake had between them conducted the office for half a century. A delivery by postman I from Christchurch was established on June 115 th, 1891. On the same date the post office ' was reduced to one at which mail matter could 'be posted only, Mr Hanson, the pos*--master, undertaking to deliver any J 00 * 8 " pondence for persons residing De J2 nd i ne limit of the postman's delivery. The ofiice exercised full powers again from March let. 1893. A telephone office and a telephone bureau were opened on August 31at, 1891- A money-order office and a savings bank were opened on March 16th, 1896. Mails were at first carried between Christchurch and upper Riccarton by Messrs Cobb and Company a coaches on their journey to and from tne Went Coast. After the opening of the roilway line between Christchurch and Prebbieton there was a mail service between Upper Biccarton and the Middleton railway station. From March Ist, 1893, there was * aail J service between Upper Biccarton and Christchurch, performed by Mr John Wood. W July Ist, 1899, the service was transferred To the Christchurch Tramway Board, an£ on the 17th of the same month- the frequency of the service was made twice daily. The service was later transferred to Mr F. P. Claridge, and eventually re-transferred to the Tramway Board. The following figures give some indication of the Department's business at Upper Biccarton in the last ten years:— In 1910 the postage revenue was £57, and ini 1920 £6l. In 1910 138 money-orders were issued of a value of £426; and in 1920 172 of £970. In 1910 122 money-orders were paid of a value of £510; and in 1920 251 of £2258. In 1910 221 savings bank deposits were made amounting to £1848; and in 1920 278 to £4848. la 1910 31 savings bank withdrawals were made amounting to" £301; and in 1920 42 to £lO4l. In 1910 the value of the telegrams forwarded was £63; and in 1920 £lOl. In/ 1910 3390 telegrams were received for delivery to the residents; and in 1920 4140. Hitherto the business has been conducted in the premises of the successive postmasters. The building now erected is of brick, and is a combined office and postmaster's residence. The official portion consists of a mail roomi 20ft x 19ft, a public office 12ft x 9ft, a telephono exchange room lift x 9ft, a telephone bureau room 4ft 6in x 3ft 6in, and a store room 7ft 6in x 3ft 6in. The residential portion consists of a dining-room 15ft x lift, ai kitchen 13ft x lift, two bedrooms 14ft x lift and 12ft x 12ft respectively, a bathroom 7ft &' sft .6in, a linen press, and a back porch. The -usual domestic conveniences are provided ia outbuildings. The contractor for the building was Mr George White, of Linwood. The contraot price was £2899. The new building is opened under the charge of Mrs E. h. R. Webster, a. permanent officer of the Department. : ' "- '