The Capricornian, Sat 12 Jul 1902, p. 10
POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICES.
A post office was of course, established very early in the
history of the town, with Mr. P. D. Mansfield, storekeeper, Little Quay-street,
as postmaster. Mr. Mansfield carried on this work in addition to his other
business. In 1861 Mr. J. E. Rutherford, chemist, had the post office at his shop,
where the Bank of New South Wales now is. While Mr. Rutherford was the postmaster
the premises had a narrow escape from destruction by fire. Mr. Rutherford's
shop was next to the "Bulletin " office, and when that office was destroyed
in August, 1862, Mr. Rutherford’s building caught on fire thrice, but the
flames were successfully extinguished each time and the premises saved, though
considerable damage was done. Apparently no material injury was done to the mails
in the office. When the southern mails arrived there was always a great rush
for the Post Office, and the crowd pushed and struggled to get to the window. This
continued for a few years, though by degree the facilities for handing out the letter,
and papers were improved, and the work was accomplished more expeditiously.
Soon after the fire Mr. John Smith was appointed postmaster,
and the Post Office was removed to a little building in the vicinity of the
present Supreme Court. A wooden building was next erected on the site of the present
office at the corner of East and Denham streets, but it was only a makeshift,
and in 1866 a two-storey brick office was built. It seems the plans for the
Maryborough and Rockhampton Post and Telegraph Offices were prepared at the
same time, and in consequence of the extra cost of material at Rockhampton it
was found that the building could not be erected here for the price allowed.
The authorities got over the difficulty by giving the Rockhampton people the
Maryborough plans, and vice versa, Maryborough thus getting the better building
of the two.
About a dozen years ago the brick office here was found
inadequate and was replaced by the present fine stone building. Mr. Smith held
the position of postmaster for some years, and early in his term letter-carriers
were appointed, Messrs. G. Daglish and E. A. Isaac being the first. Towards the
end of the sixties, Mr. J. E. O. Daly, a brother of Mrs. C. S. D. Melbourne,
was appointed postmaster, with Mr. D. C. McPherson as assistant. Some few years
after Mr. Daly was succeeded by Mr. D. Peterson.
One of the most difficult facts for the present generation
to understand is that the early settlers were in a great measure cut off from
the outer world. To-day news is received by cable in a few hours from the most
distant parts of the world. In former times the news from Great Britain had to
be brought by steamer, and was generally seven or eight weeks old by the time
it arrived in Rockhampton. Even when telegraph lines had been brought largely
into use in Australia, there was no cable, and news from Great Britain had to
be telegraphed first from Melbourne, then from Adelaide, and afterwards from
Albany, when the mail steamers arrived at these ports. Steamers usually fired
two guns on arriving in the town reach of the Fitzroy and the steamer with the
English mail fired three, so that all knew when the English mail was on board.
One day the man in charge of the gun on one of the Queensland Company's boats
sent the wad through one of the windows of the Joint Stock Bank. This led to
the practice being discontinued.
Rockhampton was getting a big town before it was connected
with Brisbane by telegraph. It was in 1863 that this much-wished-for boon was
obtained, the line running from Brisbane via Toowoomba, Dalby, Hawkwood, and
Banana. Other extensions were made with more expedition till Rockhampton
eventually became connected with all the principal towns in the colony. Mr. O.
G. Langley was the first telegraph master, and after many years excellent
service he was succeeded by Mr. E. L. Hanna, who, after twenty-two years'
service, has just been promoted to the position of chief of the telegraph
service in Queensland.
