WELLINGTON POST OFFICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 163, 27 November 1912, Page 5

WELLINGTON POST OFFICE.

COSTS £173,000. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Xew Zealand General Post Office was opened to-day by the Hon. W. Fraser, in the absence' of the Postmas-ter-General, the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, through indisposition. The ceremony was spoilt by persistent and drenching rain. Among those present were the Hons, J. Allen and W. 11. Hemes, and the Mayor. In his speech, the Hon. W. Fraser remarked on the enormous expansion of postal business. In 1840 the revenue was only £52. In 1888 it was £282,000, and last year it amounted to £1,087,000. He paid a tribute to the men who built up the Department, mentioning the Hon. W. B. D. Mantell, and Messrs. John F. Hoggard and W. Gray and Sir Julius Vogel. The contract for the present building was let for £93,000, and the total cost, including the land, was £173,000. He then opened the mam entrance with a key, amid cheers, followed by the National Anthem. The public then inspected the interior, and refreshments were provided. The Mayor, Mr. D. McLaren, also said a few words! The new building is one of the best equipped for its purpose in the southern hemisphere. The mail room measures 110 ft. by 50ft., and for the transaction o! parcels work nearly 11,000 square feet of floor 'space is provided in the basement.