POSTAL FACILITIES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4825, 29 April 1925, Page 3

POSTAL FACILITIES.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF NGATEA

AMAZING GROWTH OF BUSINESS.

The following official statement, issued by tlie Wellington office of the l est and Telegraph Department, was read by Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., at the official opening of the Ngatea Pose Office on Monday :—

A post office was opened at Ngatea on February 27, 1912. Tlie postmaster was Mr I. J. H. Bratlie, Mr Bratlies’ successors and the dates of their appointments have been as under: Miss A. G, Bratlie, January 1, ,1917 ; Miss E. G. Hilford, March 8, 1919 ; Mr J. M. Robb, August 22, 1923; Mr N. Boyne, present postmaster, to arrive.

Mr .Bratlie was a farmer, and one of tne first settlers in the district. He conducted the post office in a small building on his own property, nearly opposite the site of the present post office building. Miss Bratlie, who succeeded him as. postmistress, was his daughter. Mr Robb was the first postmastcr on the permanent staff of tlie .department, and at the time of his appointment a Morse telegraph instrument was installed. In addition to the postmaster, the staff now consists of an exchange clerk and messenger, and an assistant and messenger.

A telephone; office and bureau were established on May 23, 1912. In 191'3 there was formed a telephone association, with a membership of 30; which provided telephone facilities in the district until a departmental telephone exchange was opened on December 1, 1922, witli 33 subscribers. The exchange attendance was from 9 ,a.m. to 5 p.m. The number of subscribers now is about 100, and the attendance is from 7 .ium. to 9 p.m. A money-order office and a savingsbank branch were opened on June 9. 1919. Tlie office was served from Thames until December 31, 1921, by a mail service performed by oil launch by Mr H. Kerby. Tlie frequency was increased from twice to thrice-weekly from November 17,1913, and to daily from July 16, 1917. On January 1, 1922, the launch service was replaced by a motor service overland from Paeroa, performed daily by Mr W. Roigard. The contract for the performance of the overland service was relinquished by Mr Roigard on August 31, 1922, and since that date Messrs Brenan and Co. have been the contractors. The central position of Ngatea has caused ’it to become the distributing point for mails for the north-western part of the Hauraki Plains.

In 1912 the block on which the office is situated was in a virgin state of raupo. It was one of the new settlements on the Hauraki Plains on the western bank of the Piako River. The only signs of ’settlement, at that time were two tin huts. The name “The Orchard” was at first suggested for the post office, blit the Maori word “Ngatea,” the original place name of "The Orchard,” was chosen finally.

It was decided in 1920 that the erection of a permanent post office building was warranted. Plans were prepared of a building estimated to cost £>2750, but the then prevailing financial stringency prevented its erection being proceeded with. The need for improved . accommodation, however, v/as urgent; and, as a temporary measure, a ismall building, costing £323, was erected. The contractor was Mr W. Mackrell, of. Turua. The building wais occupied on September 11, 1922. The increase in the volume of the department’s business was so rapid, however, that, less than eighteen months later it was found that the temporary accommodation wais quite inadequate, aud in October las’: a contract was let for the erection o 1 the new building. It is of wood, and is a combined office and postmaster’s residence. The official portion consists of a postmaster’s room, 12ft 6ia by 10ft 6in ; a mail room, 25ft by 12ft; a public space, 17ft by’ 10ft; a telephone exchange room, 13ft 6in by lOlt 6in; a bureau, a store-room, and a private-box lobby. The private portion consists of a sittingroom, 13ft by 12ft; three bedrooms, one 14ft by 12ft, one 12ft by 12ft, and another 10ft by 10ft; a kitchen, 14ft by lift; a bathroom, a scullery, etc. Electric lighting is installed throughout the building. In an outbuilding are provide:! garage accommodation, a petrol store, and a linesman’s store ; and .office. The contractors were Messrs Street and Street, of Hamilton, and thei contract price was £2740. The following figures give an indication of the growth of the department’s business during recent years . In 1911 the number of letters, postcards, and other articles posted was 2950, and in 1924, 56,400.. In 1914 the number of letters, postcards, and other articles delivered was 7070, and in 1924, 94,270. In 1914 the postage revenue was £2l, and in 1924, £329. In 1920, 167 money-orders were issued, of a total value of £974, and in 1924, 525, of the tot'al value of £3125. In 1920, 62 money-orders ware paid, of the total value of £565, and in 1924, 135. of the total value qf £948. In 1920, 101 savings-bank deposits were made, amounting to £786, and in 1924 the number was 307, amounting to £4266. In 1920, 15 isavings-bank withdrawals were made, amounting co £340, and in 1924, 14’5, amounting to £4196. In 1914, 450 telegrams were forwarded, of the total value of £l4, and in 1924, 3383, of the total value of £l6B. In 1914, 443 telegrams were received for delivery to residents, and in 1924 the number was 2284. In 1914, 684 telephone toll messages were forwarded, the value being £l9, and in 1924, 14,280 ,to the value of £379. In 1914 the number of telephone toll messages received was 14, and in 1924 it was 11,384. In 1917 the only bridge over the Piako River was opened at Ngatea. Subsequently a branch factory of the N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co. was erected at Ngatea, and the headquarters of the Hauraki Plains County Council were established there.

A district high school has been established.

Tlie population served by the pos: office is approximately 500.