POST OFFICE TIME.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 562, 23 March 1868, Page 2

POST OFFICE TIME.

(From tlio Daily Times, March. 12.) The intimation that Wellington time -vill in future be observed at the Dunedin Post Office, lias created a great deal of surprise, and in the absence of sufficient explanation for the reason of so strange a proceedure, it is hard to regard it as anything else than a fresh instance of the tyrannical caprice which actuates our rulers at Wellington. If there were railways through the Colony, there might be some reason for adopting a uniform time; but as long as, between the different Provinces, the chief communication is by water, there does not seem any advantage to be gained; whilst on the other hand.

there are obvious disadvantages. It will be exceedingly awkward to vary existing time arrangements, by twenty minutes, which is stated to be the difference between the two times. It will be some time before people will understand that the announcement that the mail is to close at two o’clock means twenty minutes to two. And when people get used to the routine of this arrangement, they will still revolt at its tyranny. Why should the Post Office open and close twenty minutes earlier than has hitherto been the custom, because there is twenty minutes difference between the times of Wellington and Dunedin? It is certain that the Government will not be able to procure an adoption of Wellington time generally in Dunedin. People will not breakfast and dine, or go to their offices and places of business, twenty minutes earlier than they are accustomed tn, to please an arbitrary Postmaster-general. Neither the places of worship, the places of amusement, nor the Banks, will conform to the arrangement. Its adoption will be

euiiiiaea to tliu Post Office aud otamps and Customs Departments; and will lead to an infinite variety of confusion and inconvenience. In some cases it 'may lead to legal difficulties. There lare many things the time of which is I fixed by law. For example, the times jfor opening and closing the poll at an 'election. The adoption of Wellington !time by the Post Office will not make jit the legal time for other purposes. |lt is to be hoped the question will be | taken and a strong remonstrance made )on the subject.