MAIL SERVICE TO CATLINS.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 189, 22 February 1878, Page 5

MAIL SERVICE TO CATLINS.

The following petition with reference to the mail service between Balclutha and Catlins River is being numerously signed in the Catlins, Owake, Ahuriri, and other, districts': — ■ . -X To the Chief Postmaster, Dunedin, — SIR,— We, the; undersigned, settlers, millowners, and residents of Catlins River and Ahuriri districts, desire to lay befor,e you tbo following statement, and hum b]y request you to giant our petition. ■ ... ■-.. • The mails which leave here on Tuesday and Friday for Dunedin through .being .conveyed by Port Molyneux are .detitiued in Balclutha until next morning, consequently they.-aro not- delivered until the afternoons' of, Vveduesday and Saturday. We are informed' that the residents of Port Molyueux. are petitioning ;to have the mails detained at that place: unj/i A Wednesday and Saturday morning, so that they will be able to answer any letters they have' received the previous day. ' We beg* 'to 'state that,' if. their petition-is granted it will be ; si' great injustice to our districts, as our letters wouid.be kept at Port Molyneux all night and; would' not reach Dunedin in time for delivery on Wednesday and Saturday,, neither would, we have the opportunity of answeiing our previous day's'correspondence. . ' ' a

Wo therefore earnestly desire that the mails which leave Duuediu onLluesday and? Friday mornings should be conveyed, direct to.Catlina Biver, the. Bort. Molyneux mail to. brauch off near Mr Hay's, place- By oui mails beibg conveyed direct they will "arrive at Owake about four o'clock, instead of seven o'clock as at present ; the mailman to remain all 'night, and Btart the following morning at nine a.m. with the outgoing mail, picking 7up..' the. Port Molyneux mail about twelve o'clock, arriving at Balclutha ia time to forward the mail to JDuheiiiu ! by tJi« last train, thus enabling us, as well as :tli6' residents of Fort Molyneux, to answer any communication, received the previous day ; and. we wish to point out that the amount of business, as ; well asthe quantity of shipping tradiug 'here, renders, suoh speedy com muuication very desirable.-' ■' '; . We believe the desired alteration will not cost any morb than tho present arra.ngeiuent,'.and considering the benefit which, will; bo -conferred upon the whole , district by acceding to. the request of your petitioners,' we hiiifibly trust tiiat you will see fit to grant oiir request, and as in duty bound your petitioners will' aver pray.