OUR MAIL SERVICE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 73, 1 July 1870, Page 3

OUR MAIL SERVICE.

r lt is very much to be regretted that a feeling of deep dissatisfaction npw prevails throughout the up-country districts at the irregular manner in which the mail service is being con"We are well aware that winter deluges of snow and rain flood the rivers, making passing streamlets roaring torrents, aiid saturate the country iato an almost impassable condition for coach and dray traffic ; but while admitting the impossibility, under reasonable safety for human life and property, of the contract coaches performing with regularity the desired work, yet surely &>me other plan might be devised by the Chief Postmaster —say by boats and horses—of sending on the mails to our much neglected, although important inland townships. On the Wanganui river, a large navigable stream in the Wellington Province, there is a thick wire rope stretched from bank to bank, 350 yards in length. By means of this rope punts and boats can cross in times of the very highest floods by night and day. We believe the rivers with which we have to deal, viz., the Manuherikia, Taieri. Kyeburn and Shag could quite easily and at little expense be roped over in a similar manner. It is very clear, therefore, that this present irregular mail service, by a slight and inexpensive divergence from the present system of carriage, can be easily and satisfactorily adjusted.