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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Chief Post Office

Chief Post Office. Though built over thirty years ago, the Auckland Post Office is a very fine edifice. It is situated near the foot of Shortland Street and adjoins the Victoria Arcade, which imposing pile stands at the corner of Shortland and Fort Streets, facing Queen Street. The Post Office extends through to Fort Street, and has thus two street frontages. For some years the public could enter from one street and pass to the other through a fine corridor, on one side of which were the different departments for letter-delivery, stamps, and money order business, while the Custom House long-room was on the other side. But the increase of postal business at the great northern centre long ago interfered with this very convenient arrangement. The Custom House was driven to a fine new building in Custom Street, and the corridor was so transformed that anxious enquirers desiring an interview with the chief postmaster or the chief clerk are now very civilly directed to return to Shortland Street, pass through the areade and re-enter the building from Fort Street in order to discover the private offices of those gentlemen. As may be imagined even the long suffering public of Auckland cried out against the outrage, and a site near the wharf has been secured on which it is intended to build a more suitable structure in the near future. The Auckland Post Office probably gets through the greatest mass of work of any in the Colony, and certainly a new building is badly needed. Two lady clerks attend to the sale of stamps and registration of letters, an innovation which seems to be generally appreciated. The official staff consists of Mr. Biss, chief postmaster, Mr. E. V. Senn, chief clerk, Mr. Dignan, chief money-order clerk, and about forty other clerks, twenty-four letter carriers, and five messengers. Mails are usually made up an hour before the ascertained time of the departure of steamers or trains by which they are to be despatched.