Wednesday, March 22,2000 000 PIGEER PORTRANS PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW view 27 Posial service on the Peninsula From outposts: to established services Brad R. Morison Over the past few articles, we have discovered that the de- velopment of the postal service on the Saanich Peninsula did not come about without its problems. There were disputes and complaints as to where the mails shouid be dropped off; whether in open bags or closed; by land or water; and con- cerning which day of the week delivery and pickup should oc- cur. This week we will continue with our survey of the postal ser- vice and some of those who carried it out. | | | A fter retaining the mail coitract for the conveying of =a. the mails to the Peninsula for 12 years, John W. ; William lost the contract to Henry Simpson, the well known keeper of the Prairie Tavern, at the end of. March 1877. The new contract consisted of the weekly de- . livery of the mails from Victoria to Saanich, over a period of ~ four years, for the annual sum of $245. With the first delivery on April 4, the British Colonist re- _ ported that: “Under the new mail arrangements the West ~ Saanich Road will not enjoy the privilege of a mail service.” the East Road only. “The West road,” continued the Colonist, “is thus de- prived of what it has always regarded as a great public con- ‘receive letters and papers must either come to Victoria or cross from the West to the East road.” This was essentially a reversal to how the service origi- nally was contracted a decade previous, when the settlers ~ from the East Road had to make their way across the Penin- recorded on this point. - : The normal course ee operation in ‘the carriage ‘of the “per week: On Wednesdays and Saturdays, he picked up pas- ~ gengers at designated. stops on Government, Johnson and “day run.’ : Business must fave beéi fairly profitable, as Sinipsott is recorded purchasing a brand new Mackenzie & Meston. his passengers per trip is not known, but was likely in the ~ mally took about three or four hours, making stops at each. watering hole and wayside inn on the route. T he trip was. alsoa bumpy affair; the stage often having to run-along ruts ‘made in the roads by narrow cordwood wagons. As the tion, the trip occasionally took considerably longer. . One example is recorded in the Victoria Daily Standard, in February 1879, that there was four feet of snow on the. ground in the Saanich district, and that the stage only. “made 12 miles in seven. hours.” ~ Mail delivery in the district during Henr y Simpson’ 's first four-year contract appears to have been ac complished with: out many problems. The contract consisted of a trip the -road, and six returning to Mt. Newton Cross Road.) Simp- North Saanich took it.over, During these years, several “changes were brought about in the postal service. es ama e Spies e ean Butter. “we Soap Making: { Supplies © Local Pottery “We offer a wide range of natal remadtiog: I ~ Come see US Aloe ete | Hi . seasons and every possible weather Apparently the contract required me delivery to and fro by - made the following resolution:. - venience, and persons residing on the line and wishing to_ - 1885, at which time Simpson began to carry the mailstwice — § -a week, for which he received the annual sum of $445. Pre- vious to this, a Post Office was established at the Brackman - a) sula to the West Road for their mail and papers. How long — Hoe this, new: ‘delivers y. arrangement: lasted i is.not clear, but it. ~ could- not: have been for, long, as 00. complaints were. ae money order. office was being established i in connection to’ mails was that the’ ‘prospective carriers operated the run- =. “ning of a stageceach service, making the necessary. trips to _and from Victoria. ‘The mail contracts were essentially an ‘extension of their. business, and added. very few additional. se expenses. ‘Simpson's $ normal routine was to make: two trips ae money. orders purchased, to the total’ value of $849. 03, : ‘which was a considerable amount at the time. © “was € established, with, John Dart Bryant, acting as its Post- - Douglas Streets. He also carried the mail on the Wednes- -“‘tablishment lasted only for a few. years, closing on : March " 31, 1890. The reason for its closure is not clear, although the — : “postal service was about to take a dramatic change in the ~ next few years ven saw several Post Office districts es-. “four-wheeler” for the route in June 1879, which was capa-. . ble of accommodating nine passengers, What he charged: Post Office, opened on June 1, 1892, with Lionel Dickinson area of $2 each, as this was the typical charge. The trip nor- stage ran in all seasons and every possible weather condi-:- _ Turgoose Post Office; with Peter Turgoose as Postmaster; gan Post Office, with James Hagan as Postmaster and Young Post Office, with Henry Young as Pos stmaster. length of 24 miles, [18 miles from Victoria to Wain Cross: “gon was successful in renewing the contract several times, . holding it until August! 31, 1892, when Rufus P. Horth of .| In January 1884, Robert F John. and George A. McTavish, on oni Sats mee an= com ' 7060 Ws W. SAANICH ROAD Prete oct iunaieeanineiiomanivosnmoninn Hbemsenurmhaantnnneurnnin simian anmih Loan kaeeneeniaiasamadaiadaaaamiaiaaa nema ot Part Sour = “The trip normally took about three or four hours, making stops at each watering hole and wayside inn on the route. The trip was also a bumpy affair; the stage often having to run-along ruts made in the roads by narrow cordwood wagons. As the stage ran in all condition, the trip occasionally took considerably longer.” | SERVICE LTD. » Call Today! 656-0905 1-800-223-5256 42- 2310 Beacon Ave., Sidney, B.C. VBL 1X2 ae the districts representatives in ‘the Provincial Legislature, “That a respectful address be presented to his honor the = Lieutenant-Governor, praying his honor to recommend to... § the Dominion Government the expediency of establishing. § a semi: weekly mail between Victoria City, Lake and Saanich — : ” The recommendation was not brought about until July1, 9 & Ker. steam gristmill i in North Saanich on May 1, 1884. By: January * ‘1885, ‘the Daily Colonist. reported. that a the Mill Post Office and did not open to the public until Apri 1: During i its first three months in ‘operation, there were 35 On August 1, 1887, in South Saanich a ‘second Po t Offic Prices are Par parson; ‘round t! ; based nm availability and sub i to change ; ‘ without, notice, terms and conditions Apply. Bor more information or to reserve ae contact Susan or Kim: tablished. om The first of these new establishments v was the Sidney as Postmaster. Sidney at this time was not much of a town, only. having a few buildings standing, and a sawmill. Al though i in a few years time, on the completion of the Victo- ~riak Sidney Railway, the resemblance of a town soon de- oy veloped. Four more district Post Offices were established on Au = gust 1, 1892, each known by the name of their Postmasters: Sluggett Post Office, with John Sluggett as Postmaster, Ha- During the next fe w articles, we well take a look at some of the district Postmasters and their Families, | we Vancouver ‘ coving eer ed in Vasosh 8 Departures : eeeldae pods LONDON cams. i iciean. § MALS | May 3, . 499 pa Alay 116,23, 23.8, ws Jun 1,8) 5, 6,8 Brin dune We a Vari. auver osarivis NEW BOOKINGS ONLY. firey ae Loninidieap, ‘an Ww fet slic ny BD departure dates Paces are te fewest available at isan date, and are fubjecl 40 change or “ withdrawal without nelie, Package prices are por perior), Baud an-douhly occupancy o Be Canada S000 holidays ten and canditians apply, All toaey, ea _ Wateportstion relates 4 i tu “oh ale 110 | — Wie. “Ke ei. #5 w52ne-\ h, “1s Tn nit int Mar. 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