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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 9 December 1862, Page 2

To the Editor ofthe Invercabgill Times.

Str, — Perhaps you will allow me, through the medium of your journal, to lay before the pubic tha following reasons for having more lfrequent postal communication than at present exists between Invercargill and Riverton. (1). Our commercial and official relations with Invercargill require it : they are growing every day.

(2). Our supplies are from thence, and we want the means of noting our wants more frequently, so as less often to miss the uncertain means now existing of forwarding those supplies. (3). Thence come also all official announcements,—generally bearing pretty short time of notice, — in a recent case extending only to ten days, which by a weekly mail may virtually become only a notice of three or four days, and that perhaps affecting settlers some miles up the country; and the disposition now beinw to consider Gazette notices to the public sufficient, individuals might thus never know when their interests were in danger, till too late.

(4), Transactions connected with sales and transfers of property are greatly increased in proportion as land is sold and settled in the district of Riverton. Parties come to see land and to|buy it; what, with a more frequent post, might be done by letter and through agents, now involves tedious, and I may add, harassing journeys to and fro, more to cut short d#lays measured by weeks. But this latter is now become a strong and urgent plea for a Branch Land Office th^re.

(5). Casual opportunities of receiving commuuications and despatching replies by vessels from the Bluff or New River are entirely taken away from us at present. (6). And stated opportnnities of correspondence with fche Northern Provinces, with Melbourne, and with Europe, are rendered needlessly and vexatiously slow, and require despatch needlessly early before the announced periods of departure. (7). It being in prospect to have a bi-weekly mail overland to Dunedin, (thought desirable notwithstanding steam communication), we have reason to expect to share the benefit of it. (8). That Riverton represents nofc only the town and Hundred, but the back country stations behind it; and if the mail were conveyed by "VVallacetewn and across the country between that town and Jacob's River, the benefit would be shared by all the country lying to the west of New River — that is to say, by half the Province. (9). That the benefits of increased postal communication depend almost entirely upon certainty as to time. Settlers up the country then only can avail themselves of it. (10). But steam communication cannot be depended upon — first, because being run for private interests, business exigencies or preferences often take them elsewhere out of a regular course (all advertisements to the contrary notwithstanding), because the times of their departure from Invereargill and Riverton aro always dependent upon weather and tides, and casualties of sand-banks, mud-flats, and jetty approach. Also, they have other ports to visit, as the Bluff and Dunedin.

(ll). As there are now two issues a-week of two Invercargill papers, a corresponding postal communication with half the Province seems needful, if their benefit and their public usefulness are to go hand in hand. (12). A tri-weekly post, therefore, or at the very least a bi-weekly, (but ifc will soon need to be made ofteneT), seems called for as an immediate want; and it is believed the expense will be out of all proportion small (even if partly uncovered by receipts) to the substantial benefits and comfort it will afford to those labouring under the disadvantage (always a great one) of residing at a distance from the chief seat of official and commercial business.

(13). It is submitted, therefore, that the inhabitants of InvercargiU and Eiverton (both interested in all that tends to accelerate business) should concur in signing an address to our excellent Chief Postmaster, to the effect above stated. Doubtless sonae one will initiate the movement. — I remain, &c., KIVEnTONIAN.