THE RIVAL POSTAL ROUTES;

Manawatu Herald, 23 April 1895, Page 3

THE RIVAL POSTAL ROUTES;

*0 THE EDITOR OP THE MANAWATtJ HEBALt). Sir, — Being .a lover of fair play famld you kindty insert the followr ~~\3 in your much read paper. •pPin your report of the flood in issue you say that Mr Stansell has made arrangements to carry the mail, and that the post master here has made arrangements for the Palmerstqn mail to be sent to Levitt, and the Wellington mails to be delivered there instead of Shan* non. Now, sir, in fairness fco M* Keith, the mail contractor, who was reported as drowned, I may state that I rode through from Fox ton to Shannon on Thursday to find out whether Mr Keith was sate, as our local postmaster did not think it necessary to make any enquiries as to his (Keith's) safety. On seeing Mr Keith he informed me he was quite ready, and was able to get through with the mails but had been stopped; for why ? No reason being given, 1 concluded the Post Office officials were playing intd the hands of Statiseilj seeing that the postmaster himself helped to take the mails through by way of Wirokino Ferry, when Mr Keith could have brought them through as usual. Instead of hiring a boat, one of the Bowing Club's boats was used. However, as I am not a member of that wonderful institution I will not say any more about that.' I also notice in a part of a local in Saturday's issue you wind up by say-ing-—though not .disparaging Mr Keith's* •efforts, this proves that- the Levin route is by far the most convenient for all travellers. Knowing both the routes well, I am not Wrong in stating the Shannon one is by far the safest and quickest in time of high flood, but on account of Mr Keith not having the Club's boats to fly to, not having a volunteer crew from the Post Office, and not being in touch with Stansell and Company, apparently every effort was made to oppose his carrying the mails when he was willing and able to do so. On Saturday Mr Keith drove his coach and four through from Shannon, carrying all the mails from north and south, five passengers (in* eluding two ladies), and a lot of luggage. He left there at ten minutes to eleven, and arrived at the Post Office here at twenty minutes to one o'clock, whilst Stansell and Co. were floundering with the Club's skiffs somewhere between Levin and Foxton, and they did not arrive for some . considerable time , afterwards, although they had about an hour's -i^Sart. I may also say that the Levin coach wqjs not able to run right ythrough up to Saturday, though in a letter from Stansell in your Saturday'sj^ef^^ajri :^*« I am happy to sa^aLhpe^been able to get there and pact each day. with mails." I defy him to'proVe that statement, as no mails or : papers reached Foxton from Levin on Wednesday. Now, sir, which is the most convenient, route for all travellers, to shift from trap to boat and, boat to coach, and view the beautiful bush scenery, or travel right through by the one doaoh on dry land. as per Mr Keith's Royal Mail Coach. • It also seems very strange to me that mails should leave here at 10 o'clock in the morning to catch the night train at Levin, when mails are closed here at three in the afternoon, and Mr Keith, the mail contractor, leaves then for Shannon to catch.the up and down trains about 6 o'clock for Palmerston and Wellington. In conclusion I can plainly see tltat }f Stanaell and Company had been the successful contractors between Foxton and Shannon, there would have been no fault found with the; Shannon^ route ; but evidently the grievinefe lies in the fact that a Shannon man has obtainedthe mail contract for two years, against the wishes of Stansell and Company. < I am, &c, Observer. Foxton, -April 28td, 1895.