WEREROA POST OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 798, 22 April 1910, Page 3

WEREROA POST OFFICE.

OFFICIAL OPENING. Fine weather prevailed at Wereroa yesterday, afternoon when the Prime Alinister (Sir Joseph Ward) officially opened the new post office, which is a fine structure, including residential quarters, and is situated opposite tho railway station. Upon his arrival Sir Joseph inspected ,the cadets, whilst the boys' band struck up an appropriate air. Among those present were Mr. Field, M.P. for the district, Airs. Field, Mr. Gardeuer, Mayor, of Levin, Mrs. Gardener, Colonel Kobiu, Mr. Robertson," Secretary of the Postal Department, and leading citizens, besides a fairly large gathering of young people. Mr. i Gardener, in introducing Sir Joseph, pointed out that within threo miles of Wereroa there resided a quarter'of tho electors of the Otaki district. He next sketched' the' growth of the town, which had lately gone in for gasworks and a water supply. Sir Joseph would remember that a promise' had been made that when an adequate supply of water was available at the. station all trains would stop at.Levin.- They would soon be in. that fortunate position... •

The Prime Minister congratulated . tho town and district upon the marked growth which it had made. When the undertaking in regard-to water was completed, the trains would stop as promised., (Loud applause.) It could not be expected that through trains should be required to deal with intermediate traffic as well, because if that were sought to bo done there were no engines in the Dominion which could pull them. Levin and Weroro.'t woro so close together that lie would like to see tßeih joined into ono town. The residents would then perhaps be in a difficulty as to what to call it, but they might give' it the hyphenated name "Lovin-Wereroa." (Laughter.) Sir Joseph then paid a tribute to the hard work accomplished by the pioneers. lie went on to say that the valuation of the borough in' 1905 was

|10G,0fl0, whilst by 1908 it had risen to .£222,000. This showed that the people had every confidence in the futuro of the town. (Applause.) Sir Joseph referred to the great ability with" which the postmistress, Mrs. ■ Inder, ' performed her duties, and to the creditable manner in' which Mr. Pringle had carried out his contract, and returned thanks to all who had come out to welcome him, mentioning particularly the cadets and tho band. In conclusion, he asked that fne ecliool children should be granted a whole holiday to-day in honour of the occasion. (Loud applause.) ■' , Subsequently Sir Joseph was called upon to present to Mrs. luder, the. post mistress, a testimonial (signed by all the residents), appreciative of the capable manner in which she had always conducted the business of the post office. Mr. Field, M.P., in the course of a brief speech, expressed his pleasure at being present on such an important ocicasion for the district of which he was the member. After cheers had been given for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, the Mayor and the postmistress, the company adjourned to the post office, where tea, provided by Mrs. Inder/ was partaken of.