AUCKLAND'S NEW POST=OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1603, 21 November 1912, Page 6

AUCKLAND'S NEW POST=OFFICE.

THE OPENING CEREMONY. SPEECHES BY MINISTERS. AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING. (By Telegraph— Press Association.) Auckland, November 20. The opening of the new Auckland Post Office by the Prime .Minister this afternoon was attended by close upon ten thousand people. Among those 011 tho platform were: The Prime Minister, the Post-master-General, the Minister for "Hallways, the Minister tor Finance, and tho Hon. Dr. Pomare. Several visiting und local members of Parliament were present, and Mrs. W. F. Massey (wife of the Prime Minister) also occupied a scat on the platform. The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) presided. . When the Ministerial party look their seats 011 the front of tho platform there was a storm of cheering and applauso from the,huge crowd in front. The Postmaster-General (tho Hon. R. H. Rhodes) was greeted with cheers when ho rose to speak. He said that he was pleased to lie alile to sec a building opened for the citizens of Auckland which indicated tlie wonderful progress the city was making. The Government was going to pay particular attention to tho rural services. The day of tho old coach had passed, and it wa9 intended, where possible, to utilise motor-cycles and motors for the delivery of letters. Then they were going to have automatic telephones, and soon, too, they would have tho new telephone exchange in Wollesley Street. Mr. Rhodes then, referred to the wireless station on the roof of the building. The station had worked with very satisfactory results. It had spoken with. Sydney, and (ho work had exceeded expectations. It was almost a romance to look oyer tho history of wireless telegraphy. They would soon have an Imperial chain of wireless, and he had had a confidential communication which stated that there was a possibility of wireless messages being sent more quickly by wireless than by the ordinary cable. 'They had a prophecy of Marconi, too, that wireless rates would bo soon only id. a word. The.. Hon. W. H. Hon'ics said that he congratulated the citizens on the new Post Officc, but the only trouble was that'they were hiding his new railway station. He had hoped that during his term of'offico there would be a new railway station erected. The new station was one of the works, contemplated, and as soon as tho money. could be got they would have a station which would be a credit to the city. .Ho concluded by congratulating the, builders and the people themselves upon what, with the exception of the steps, was. a fine building. (Laughter and lapplause.) The Prime Minister, upon rising to address the assembly, was greeted with a roar'of applause.' Hats were waved, and tho outburst, lasted for a considerable time. So much hud been said, and well said, by his colleagues, said Mr,. Massey, 1 'that his. duties were purely nominal. He had to thank his friends for the niagni-. ficent reception given him. He wished to congratulate the citizens of, Auckland upon their magnificent post office. An ominent postal authority had assured him that tho new building was excellent ,in every way, and was even better than the post office in Washington. It was" a milcstono in tho progress of the city.. (Loud atfplatfse.) There was 110 better indication of tho advancement of a city than its postal business. -He had pointed out the. progress of the city, but what j was Auckland, to bo in the course of J years? It liad grown from a small insignificant. placo to what his friend, Mr. Albert Edward Glover, called the Queen City of New Zealand; but in less than 20. years, aye, n dozen years, what a place .Auckland would be. Tho East Coast and North Auckland railways would be built and connection would bo made with all the magnificent farming land of the district. . The groat steamers would bo'travelling from Auckland through the Panama Canal, ;and gathering in 'trade from the •coast ff America. Then Auckland would be tlie. centre for' a. prosperous,-happy I 'community. That was his confident prediction. (Loud applause.) Mr. Massey then declared tho office open.