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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5353, 24 May 1878, Page 4

It is probable that ere long a new class of telegrams will be sanctioned by the department, to be known by the technical term “ Deferred." They will be subject to the condition that they must be transmitted after C o’clock, at a charge much less than the present rates for ordinary messages, most likely it will be 6d. - for ten words. This change in the charges for messages will afford facilities to mercantile l men arid others whomay wish to conduct a correspondence more rapidly than they could by pbst, : but who would not be prepared'to pay as much ns tho present tariff. Many telegrams are even now forwarded which might as well bo sent after 5 o’clock as earlier in the day, and when it became known that the line could bo used at half-rates after business hours, numerous messages would bo kept back. This would relievo the strain on _ the ‘ wires during the day, and by enabling telegrams -' to' ’ bo transmitted and answered rapidly,' would afford such; increased inducements ; as ’ would lead to a more general and .frequent use

of the telegraph. Broadly, telegrams may be divided into two classes : those which people. wish forwarded with the 1 smallest possible delay, and these sent in lieu of letters. With regard to the latter, the senders are not parti-, cular as to a few hours, and they would gladly! avail themselves of the “deferred” system.’ An evening contemporary, in alluding to this, a novelty in New Zealand, says it believes that the idea originated with the Hon. Mr. Fisher, the Minister for Postal and Telegraph services. This is hardly : correct, though, of course, it is possible that this, like many other ideas, has dawned on • the mind of more than one man at the same time ; hut if that be l.h-j case, it is somewhat strange that two of those who have hit upon this happy thought should be a late and the present Minister'for Post Offices. Those of our readers who may have the December number of the “Nineteenth Century” by them, will find in it a very interesting article bn “ Cheap Telegrams, 1 ’ by Sir Julius Vogel. From it will he gathered the whole merits of the “ deferred" system, explained clearly and lucidly. We do not want to rob Mr. Fisher of any of the departmental laurels ho has won, but we cannot retrain from asking attention to this very remarkable coincidence.: * ■ . ' ■ • ;

We understand it is contemplated bythe : Government to sell the land on which the present: post and Telegraph. Offices and Custom House! stand, with a view to the erection of a building oil the new reclaimed land, to be used for' the Postal,! and: Telegraph ; Departments.';! One iargument in favor of the disposal of the ground, is that it would realise a sum sufficiently large, to provide for the erection of handsome and! Commodious offices on a now site, which would, bo granted, and thus suitable buildings would ■be obtained without any cost to the country. Provision also probably be made! for. establishing a Post and Telegraph Office, &c„ at Te Aro. No-doubt these would be great advantages; hut it is quite! likely that they might be purchased at too dear a price. The position now occupied by the Post Office is beyond doubt the - best in Wellington, being central and especially convenient for the business portion of the community.: It is near the shipping, the hanks,' insurance offices, and merchants’ counting-houses ; and if it were removed to any place north of Waring Taylorstreet, it •: would - actually' be at the extreme end of the, business part of. the city, and would riot afford any increased convenience worth ! mentioning to more than a’ : very' few ! people. It riiust be : remembered that a very large area of the new reclaimed laud will be: used for Government buildings and as a railway reserve, hence it will, uof offer facilities for, the extension of business in that direction. Indeedit is likely that the centre of trade will have a tendency to go southwards instead of t towards Thorudori. The question is a very important one to mercantile men, for the loss of a few minutes in despatching a telegram or even a letter might often be serious, and to remeve the Post and Telegraph Offices' a 'quarter, of a .mile at the least from their present site Would lead to a great deal of annoyance and waste of, time! It is to be,hoped that the Government will not hastily , take any. action to sell the very excellent site they now possess, for a bettor could not possibly he. obtained.