The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 248, 25 August 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1877.

We give prominence to the following “ want” of business people at Hawera: The mail coach arrives at .Hawera from New Plymouth on Monday and Friday

evenings, generally between five and six o’clock. The Wanganui coach also arrives on the same evenings, as well as on the Wednesdays. In any case letters are not obtainable until next morning, on the Post office opening for business, that is some hours after both coaches have started on their respective journeys North and South. In the case of letters arriving on Monday evening from New Plymouth, or Auckland via New Plymouth, no opportunity _of replying is afforded until the following Saturday, or rather Friday evening (the latest time at which letters must be posted). Many of the settlers and traders have considerable business transactions both with New Plymouth and Auckland, and a week’s delay in the answering of a letter is often a matter of very serious consequence ; and in fact is a very great hindrance to the despatch of business. It is not always convenient or advisable, and besides which it is very expensive to send long orders, or orders requiring much explanation, by telegraph. It actually takes about the same time to reply between New Plymouth and Tlawera as between Auckland and Sydney—not necessarily so ; but on account of the present rigid postal regulations. It is a very common practice, in places peculiarly circumstanced, as is Hawcra in regard to its mail service, for special arrangements to be made to suit the special circumstances. In the case of the English mail arriving at any of the chief towns in the colony, all the available strength of the department is engaged in sorting and getting ready for delivery the letters, oven though the mail should arrive after the usual business hours, and so soon as the sorting is done, delivery commences, and is generally continued for one hour, sometimes more sometimes less, according to circumstances. The mads arriving at Hawcra from north and south on Monday and Friday evenings are of equal importance to tradesmen and settlers in that township as is the arrival of the English mail in the chief towns of the colony. They arc not, however, equally well served. Though the mails may be, and no doubt are, sorted, immediately on arrival, delivery does not commence till next morning ; and therefore there is no help for it but to await the departure of the next coach, at the end of the week, before a reply can be sent. It would bo a very groat convenience, if say from half-past six to seven o’clock on Monday and Friday evenings, such arrangements were made as would enable tradesmen and others to got their letters on calling at the Post office. Half an hour’s attendance on trie part of the Postmaster or assistant would be ample. Then if the making up of the out going mail was delayed till ton or half past ten o’clock, time would be given for replies to be written and thus a week’s delay would bo avoided. This may seem a trivial matter to some people, but it is a matter of very great importance to all engaged in business at Hawera, and of Avhich mention ought to have been made at the late public meeting. If proper representations were made to the authorities no doubt the Post office would be opened for half an hour on the two evenings of the week named, and (he time of closing the mails altered to suit the requirements of the settlers.