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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 365, 16 October 1878, Page 2

Ok Saturday last, a deputation consisting of the two Bank Managers, ansi haH-a-duzen of the leading tradesmen waited upon Mr Francis Long, Postmaster, Carlyle, and represented the great inconvenience experienced by business people in the mails for Wanganui and the South, being closed at 7 p.m. at night, although the coach did not leave Carlyle until after eight o’clock next morning. It was desired by the deputation that the mail should be kept open, as formerly, until half-an-hour before the departure of the coach, or at all events, that the time for closing should be extended until 10 p.m. in the evening. In reply the Postmaster stated that the official time for closing the mail hero was five o’clock —the hour at which the Post and Telegraph Office was closed for transaction of public business, but with a view of granting extra facilities over and above the regulation hours, he had himself extended the time fore-losing a couple of hours —namely, until 7 p.m. Considering the already long business hours of the Post and Telegraph Department, in addition to which he had to be in attendance between half past seven and eight o’clock encli imu-miig, to deliver the mail to the coachman, he scarcely thought the deputation could expect anj 1- further concession. Whilst we should be well pleased for the time for closing the Southern mail to be extended until half-an-hour before the departure of the coach, we cannot overlook the fact that Carlyle is better situated than Hawera, and lias in some respects, advantages over New Plymouth. Mails close at Hawera for Wanganui, at 7 p.m., whilst the coach with the inward mail does not arrive there until half past four or five o’clock. The mails close at Wanganui for Patea at 7 p.m., the coach arriving from Patea about half past three o’clock. Carlyle has the advantage over both places for answering correspondence, of three or four hours. Besides ordinary business hours, the time of the Postmaster at Carlyle (also Telegraphist), is occupied on two evenings of the week, from 7 o’clock until 10, 11, and sometimes until midnight, awaiting transmission of Press telegrams. It would scarcely be reasonable to encroach further on his time. The convenience of such as require to post letters on the morning of the departure of the coach, could be very well and easily met by the affixing to the coach of a “ late letter box,” or bag. Into this box or bag letters could be put up to the actual time of the departure of the coach, the condition being that a late letter foe should be charged,- in addition to the ordinary postage. Government have letter boxes attached to railway trains, which are much used by the general public. Why not have a similar convenience attached to mail coaches, and so allow of postal business in country places, to be transacted within the usual business hours, and avoid the necessity of encroaching on the private time of Postmasters. The simple arrangement of late letter boxes would prove very convenient to the general public, and a source of additional revenue to Government, while at the same time lessening working expenses at the Post Office, by reason of tbo saving in lighting, and other little expenses attached to keeping the office open beyond the usual hours. [Since the above was in type, wo have received notification from the. Carlyle Postmaster, that a supplementary mail wilj be made up daily for Wanganui and Wellington at 7.30. a.m.]