WHO FORGOT?

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20292, 20 February 1915, Page 4

WHO FORGOT?

Without blare of trumpet, beat of drum, flying of flag, or voice of orator, the new Post Office at St. John’s commenced its official career yesterday morning. It is to be regretted that something in the nature of an opening ceremony was not organised, for the erection and opening of the Post Office are undoubtedly events of more than passing interest to the people of Wanganui. There may be grounds for criticism of the location, and of the provision

for future extension of the building; but, the Post Office being an established fact, such criticism should be silenced by a feeling of gratification that Wanganui’s growth demands such an institution. For a long time past the residents of the upper portion of the town have been served by a sub-post office at Richardson’s store. Their wants have been well attended to, but Wanganui has grown to such an extent during recent years that the postal and telegraph work done at St. John’s has become quite a big affair; hence the new post office. Our regret that something in the nature of an official opening did not take place is based on the fact that such an occasion serves to impress upon people the growth and advancement that have taken place in the town. As a rule, the residents of a city or town are to a large extent oblivious to the expansion of their district. This can be gathered from the exclamations of those who make even a small excursion which takes them off their accustomed beat to and from business or places of recreation. It is equally true that periodical visitors to a city are those upon whom growth or stagnation is most impressed. Visitors to Wanganui cannot but be impressed by the extraordinary growth that has taken place—a growth which, at the same time, partakes of the oak nature rather than the mushroom. We referred some weeks ago to the opinions on this subject expressed by a gentleman who, knowing Wanganui in the early days, had made a recent visit. That gentleman’s pleasurable surprise was reproduced in another visitor this week. Wanganui has grown in an unmistakable manner, and, humanly speaking, has a great future. The advent of the St. John’s Post Office is but another evidence of the town's growth, and the fact that the opening of the building was not officially noticed is our excuse for referring to the matter.