The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts]
Post Office
Post Office.
The Post, Telegraph, and Telephone Departments at Blenheim occupy the north-west corner page 325 of the Government buildings. Originally the headquarters of the postal department were at Picton, but were removed to Blenheim, when that town was made the seat of the Provincial Government. For many years Blenheim was the chief transmitting station in New Zealand, and gave employment to sixty operators, but when improved methods of transmission were introduced, and an extra cable was laid, the staff was reduced in number. A telephone exchange, with about sixty subscribers, was established in the year 1887, and is now open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are a large number of private letter boxes in connection with the postal branch, and a morning and an afternoon delivery are made within the borough. Messrs J. R. Gard, John Allen, Bragge, Winstanley, A Livingstone, S. J. Macalister, Ballard, and John Bull have been, successively, postmasters at Blenheim. Mr. Ernest Northeroft is at present (1905) Chief Postmaster.
Mr. Ernest Northcroft was appointed Chief Postmaster at Blenheim in August, 1902. He is further referred to on page 932 of the Auckland volume of this Cyclopedia.
Mr. J. Bull.