Queenslander (Brisbane), Saturday
6 February 1875, page 4
The Postmaster-General, notifies the public that in future it will not
be necessary to affix postage stamps to telegrams addressed to persons living
outside of the circuit of the messengers of the various telegraph offices. In
future such telegrams will be posted as a matter of course, without extra
charge. This is a very sensible step, as the old arrangement was not generally
understood, and caused frequent trouble and annoyance to persons unaccustomed
to the transmission of telegraphic messages. Mr. Thorn has exhibited a great
deal of care to meet the convenience of the public since he took charge of the
Post and Telegraph Departments, and has, by alterations similar to the one now
announced, proved himself one of the best administrators ever entrusted with
the direction of this branch of the public service.
The occasional references to a bit of telegraph being erected here and
there which occur from time to time in the papers, give little idea of the
amount of extensions which are really going on from day to day in connection
with the magic wire. During the last two months no less than six new stations
have been opened, viz., at the Lower Herbert, Charters Towers, Millchester,
Rocky Creek (Northern Railway line), Surat, and Miriam Vale. During the same
period new lines have been constructed from Waterview to the Lower Herbert,
fifteen miles; from Ravenswood to Charters Towers, forty-five miles; and from
Roma to St. George, via Surat, 123 miles. At the present time there are in
progress lines from Brisbane, via Beenleigh, to the Tweed River; from
Charleville to Tiaro; Gympie to Tewantin; Maryborough, via Tiaro, to Inskip
Point; Cooktown to Palmerville; and from Keppel Bay to Cape Capricorn and to
Sea Hill.
