Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Mails to Gayndah - 1898

An article outlining the problems faced by mail contractors in getting the mails to their destinations

Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Monday 17 January 1898, page 3

THE GAYNDAH MAILS

TO THE EDITOR


Sir, Kindly allow me space to contradict a statement made by your Degilbo correspondent, appearing in Thursday's issue of the Chronicle, and dated the 12th, which reads: ' The coaches are blocked, and no mails have gone out since Saturday.' On Tuesday I despatched the malls to Gayndah and Paradise by horse and coach respectively. The Paradise mail got through on that day, with difficulty, however, and has not been delayed since. The Gayndah mail, with difficulty, reached Barambah creek. Not the usual crossing at Bon Accord, but at the Rawbell Board's boat, but the Board's ferryman would not cross the boat (as he considered it unsafe, the timber coming down furiously) consequently the return of the mail from within six miles of Gayndah. With due apology to your correspondent, I consider I have a license to contradict the above statement, no doubt, made rashly, and not with intentional harm. — Thanking you in anticipation, I am, yours, etc. Geo. Bates, Mail Contractor. Appallan, 12th January, 1898.