THE DOMINION’S FIRST P.O.
The first post office in New Zealand was established eightytwo years ago, in 1831, when the Dominion was a dependency of New South Wales. It was in the settlement at Kororareka, in the Bay of Islands, and a settler named Powditch was commissioned by the postmaster of New South Wales to make up the mails. It was not until 1840, however, when the local administration was established under Captain Hobson, that a proper post office was opened, and then postage rates were so heavy that the settlers received it with scant favour. The charge was 4d for one sheet of paper, and a letter from Sydney, besides the ordinary postage of 3d was subjected to a surtax of 4d. Newspapers were then carried free of charge, and the mail from Russell to Port Nicholson by the Tneresa on November 12, 1840, consisted of one unpaid letter, eleven free letters, bearing Government franks, and ninety-eight newspapers.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19130529.2.28
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1102, 29 May 1913, Page 4
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159THE DOMINION’S FIRST P.O. Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1102, 29 May 1913, Page 4
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