AIR MAIL SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1932, Page 4

AIR MAIL SERVICE

INAUGURATION TO-DAY

PLANE’S FAST TRIP TO HOKITIKA

The first official air mail service in New Zealand is now a thing of reality, and became an established fact to-dav when a plane, bring.ng a considerable quantity of mail, arrived at Hokitika from Wellington, alter calling at Nelson ami Westport to collect and set down mails. Leaving Wellington at 8 o’clock this morning, the piano completed its trip before schedule time lanA--r -n t’ 11

airport site at south Hokitika at '12.12 p.m., having nuuie a qmc* a.gin , i Westport, leaving there before 11 c'Gock. Captain McGregor, the pilot, left on the return trip to Wellington eariv in the afternoon.

During tile time the plane was at Hokitika, the landing ground bore an animated appearance. Large crowds assembL'.l to witness the arrival of the mail plane, and considerable i»tere.-t was evinced in the unloading, and subsequently, the departure.

lx has been an extremely busy time for Die officials of the local Post Office during the past few days, for the work in this connection has had to be attended to in addition to the usual routine, and consequently the amount of work requiring attention has been equal to, if not greater than, the rush period at Christmas. Nevertheless, the staff have met the demand made upon them, ' and the increased amount of work has been put through without in* convenience to the public, The mail delivered here this afternoon, like that which was taken on the return flight, represented a quantity far in excess of the amount originally anticipated, but a large quantity of it represents the enthus.asm of philatelists, or stamp collectors, who are desirous of acquiring souvenir stamps. Alatty people, resident in 'Hokitika, received letters from all parts of New Zealand, advising that letters were being forwarded to them by the a;r mail, and '“would they be so kind as to send back the envelope to the enclosed address.” 'Others also received bundles of letters, same from almost unknown people, asking them to return them by air mad, the instructions given in some cases to ensure the souvenir being in good condition being frealiy wonderful.” It is on lx curd that at least six people have received as many at twenty letters in one bundle, each one requiring to be sent back, bearing the air mail

stamp. One of the most outstanding features of this service, and one that Hokitika should take exception to, is in connection with the special air mail envelopes which have been issued. On each envelope is a map of New Zealand nhereon is marked the princ'pal ports of call in connection with the service. Nelson and Westport are given prominence, but Hokitika has been overlooked, while Greymouth has bc-on included. The good nature of the Postal officials must have been sorely tried oil occasions, for despite the publicity that has been given to the mail service, they were continually besieged with the inquiries ; Have you air .nail stamps? Wliat time does the mail close? One lady innocently asked if she could have a letter <S ent by the aerodrome 1