Post Office Anniversaries

This year sees the centenary of the Post Office Savings Bank in New Zealand, the first branches of which were opened in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Hokitika in 1867.

The Gisborne branch was opened on April 1, 1872.

Two stamps, a 4d and a 9d, have been issued to commemorate the occasion.

On the first are the heads of Queen Elizabeth 11 and Queen Victoria, and the 9d shows the reserve of the one doylar piece which will be issued in July of this year at the conversion to decimal currency; and also the reverse of a half sovereign which was in circulation in the 1860's.

The Gisborne Floral Festival Society has arranged an 1860's display in the P.O.S.B. in Lowe Street and it features a thrifty lady ofthat period studying her pass-book.

Last year, Mr Bob Dunlop of 63A Endcliffe Road received from friends in Scotland one of the special envelopes and two of the stamps issued for the anniversary of Robert Burns's birthday.

Issued on January 25 last year, the cover and stamps commemorate the famous Scottish poets birthday in 1759.