PROGRESSIVE HIKUTAIA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4454, 16 August 1922, Page 2

PROGRESSIVE HIKUTAIA.

NEW POST OFFICE AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS. It is not often that two public buildings are opened in a town on the same day, but this is what was accomplished at Hikutaia on Monday. To mark the occasion streamers of flags were extended across the road, while the buildings that were the scene of attention were decorated with ferns and greenery.

There was a large gathering present to do honour to the occasion, a number of visitors being present from Paeroa. while most of the smaller centres near by were well represented.

POST OFFICE. Owing to the extreme stringency of money quite a number of. Government buildings have been removed from various places to do duty in other centres. In the present case the post office once served some 5000 people at Karangahake. In this respect Hikutaia is fortunate, for it is doubtful whether such a large building would have been erected. Be that as it may, after a very great deal of trouble the building is now completed, and from the signs of progress in every direction all its space can and will be well utilised. After the assembly had gathered in front of the building Mr Arthur R. Robiraon announced that the proceedings would commence with the singing or “God Save the King.” He then apologised for the absence of the Postmaster-General (the Hon. Mr J. Q. Coates), who was unable tp leave his Parliamentary duties. They had with them, however, a worthy representative of the Government in Mr TW. Rhodes, M.P. for Thames, Mr. HPoland, M.P. for Ohinemuri, Mr RH. Boyd, chief postmaster at Thames, and Mr A. Alley, riding member on the Thames County Council. He said that he was pleased to see such a large, gathering, which showed that the residents took a keen interest in the welfare of the town and district. He wished to thank Mr Rhodes for his efforts in getting the post office. Mr Rhodes said that he was pleased and proud to be there and take Phrt in th<» proceedings, and was also pleased and proud to see the indications of progress in the valley. He knew Hikutaia in the very early days, and when the present site was a standing bush. There was ample evidence in Hikutaia tp show that the people were alive to their own interests, and while that spirit lastel progress would follow, and he predicted a very bright future for the locality.- He was sorry that the Post-master-General could not be present, but when he (Mr Rhodes) had urged him to come Mr Coates pointed out, and rightly, too, that he was also Minister for Public Works, and he had a heavy lot of work before him. The Minister, had been good so far as Hikutaia was concerned. It was fortunate in being the most convenient place to transfer the Karangahake post office to, for they had now got an up-to-date office, and he hoped it would not be long before they were clamouring for a larger building. He was indebted .to Mrs Corbett and Mr Alf. Alley for giving him the history of the post office. He paid a hign tribute to the work done for Hikutaia by the late Mr Sid. Bax. They had records of postal business in Hikutaia in 1874, but prior to that there was postal delivery by steamers coming up the river. Amongst those early settlers who looked after the ma'is were Mr C. McCaskell and Mr W. Wiggins. Mr Rhodes then gave a brief history of the Hikutaia post office in the past. HISTORY IN BRIEF. A post office was opened at Hikutaia on October 1, 1874. The postmistress was Mrs C. McCaskell. Mrs McCaskell’s successors have been: Mr W. W. Wiggins, appointed December 1 ,1884 ; Mr R. Gibb, March 12, 1885; Mr S. Edmonds, June 1, 1885 ; Mr Robert Gibb, April 1, 1887 ; Mr J. Schaefer, November 1, 1888 ; Mj J. Edwards, February 10, 1890: Mr R. Frodsham, March 1, 1891 ; klr J. L. Stevens, July 6, 1891; Miss L. M. Stevens, July 1, 1894 ; Mrs M. Collard, February 25, 1896 ; Mr W. Williams. June 1, 1910 ; Mrs K. Courtney, July 1. 1915.

The office is opened in the building now provided under the charge of Mrs Brown, a permanent officer of the Department, formerly postmistress at Karangaihake. A telephone office was opened in 1888. A telephone exchange is to be opened as soon as possible. It is expected that there will be about fbrtyflve subscribers.

A money-order office and a. post office savings bank were opened m 1911.

Tn She early days of Hikutaia there was a thrice-weekly mail service by river boat. The mail was carried between the landing and the post office by Mr McCaskel.l Now there is normally a daily mail service. About two years ago direct communication by .telephone was established with Paeroa.

During the last ten years the business of the Department at Hikutaia has increased in all branches. In 1911 the number of letters anl posti-cards posted was 19,070, and m 1921, 23,180 other articles posted, 620 and 830. In 1911 the number of letteis and post-cards delivered to the residents was 24,130, and in 1921, 37,250 ; other articles delivered, 7880 and 8030. In 1911 the postage revenue was £209, and in 1921, £314. In 1911, 121 money-orders wereissued. of the value of £395, and in 1921, 239, of £1133. In 1911, 51 money-or-de’-s were paid, of the value of; £lBl, and in 1921, 89, of £725. In 1911, 32 savings-bank deposits were made, amounting to £227, and in 1921, 212, to £3062. In 1911, 23 savings-bank withdrawals were made, amounting to £339, and in .1921, 110, to £3039. Tn 1911, 1703 telegrams were forwarded, of the value of £5O, and in 1921, 2534, of £155. In 1911, 693 telephone toll messages were forwarded, of the value of £l6, and in 1921, 3030, of; £B4. In 1911, 1880 telegrams and telephone toll messages were received for residents, and in 1921, 2850.

Up to the present the Department’-:

business 'has been conducted in premises provided; by the respective postmasters, The building now provided was originally in use at Katangahake. -It is a combined office arid postmaster’s quarters. The accommodation for official purposes comprises a mail room, a public space, a cabinet from which to telephone telegrams, and a sound-proof telephone bureau cabinet. Private letter boxes are available. The accommodation ’or residential purposes comprises four rooms, scullery, etc.

Continuing, Mr Rhodes said that the figures quoted gave a lot of food for thought and gave an indication of the progress made. One noticeable thing was that Hikutaia people received more letters than they posted, .and he advised them all to get into the habit of writing more frequently and putting on the '2d stamp and helping the revenue along. He congratulated the district on .the prominent evidence of progress in the post offic?., school, and tennis courts and bowling green. He had pleasure in declaring the building open, and announced that the first wire was to the Postmaster-General. Mr Poland said that he had tp congratulate his co-worker in the Hikutaia district, in obtaining the post office. He had had a distinct promise from the Minister that it would be shifted to Patetonga, and right behind his back Mr Rhodes had got it for Hikutaia. He did not. mind, for he recognised that he himself represented the greater part of the Hikutaia district. There was a very great advance throughout the country, and new public buildings were required in all directions. He thought, that the telephone should be made available to the country people on the same footing as that to the subscribers in the towns. Country people would then be more satisfied with their lot.

The chief postmaster, Mr R. H. Boyd, said that it gave him great pleasure to be present on the occasion. Mr Rhodes, he considered, had done the occasion full justice. The opening of a new post office was usually a red letter day for a place, and he felt sure that, the people of Hikutaia would be pleased .to know that the office was opened replete with all necessary conveniences. He would like to express his sincere thanks to Mrs Courtney for the able way -she had 'conducted the Department’s business. Personally he was sorry she was leaving. The progress of .a town and district depended on its people, and he congratulated the Hikutaia people on their progressive spirit. Tn his district two new post offices had just been completed, two were nearing completion, and Paeroa was still hopeful that one day they would get a new office. He wished the town and district a progressive and successful future.

Three cheers were then given and the public admitted to the office. Mrs Corbett was the first to transact business over the counter, purchasing o 2d stamp.

The report of the school opening will appear in our issue on Friday.