from Evening Post 23 November 1909
INLAND MAILS
SUCCESSFUL TENDERS for CARRIAGE
... Tenders have just been accepted by the Postal authorities for most of the inland mail services in the Wellington province. The contracts are for the ensuing twelve months. Following is a list of the successful tenderers, and the services in the neighbourhood of Wellington, Manawatu and Wairarapa:-

W. BAINBRIDGE
... Martinborough, Dyerville and O'Keefe's thrice weekly

G. BELL
... Otaki P.O. and Railway Station as required

J. BLACKLEY (see photo)
... Masterton, Bideford and Glendonald twice weekly

J. BURROW
... Wainui-o-mata and Hutt twice weekly

H. COLE and Son
... Masterton P.O. and Railway Station as required
- Wairarapa Daily Times 31 Jan 1914 CLEARING SALE AT NIKAU - Messrs Abraham and Williams Ltd., report:- We conducted on the 29th inst., on behalf of Messrs H. Cole and Son, a successful sale of sheep and cattle at their farm at Nikau. The sheep were not quite in the condition expected, but nevertheless sold at good values, as also did the cattle

J. CONNELLY
... Martinborough, Hautotara, Whakapuni, Waipawa, Stony Creek, Tora, Te Awaite, Oroi, White Rock and Homeburn, returning via Stony Creek, Waipawa, Whakapuni and Hautotara weekly

S. DAVEY
... Palmerston North and Kairanga daily

Thomas Henry GINGELL (1868-1934)
... Foxton, Moutoa and Shannon twice daily
- born in Wiltshire, England to Thomas GINGELL & Annie PHIPPS, Thomas Henry Gingell arrived into Wellington on 15 Dec 1878 on the ship Hermione with his parents & 3 siblings. He married Alice Margaret Smith (1881-1963) in 1903. He died in Shannon 23 February 1934 aged 66. He is buried General Block C Plot 59 Shannon Cemetery. Alice Margaret died 13 Sep 1963 and is buried General Block 7 Plot 96 at Foxton cemetery

J. GRANT
... Carterton, Parkvale and Gladstone daily

F. GROVER
... Palmerston North, Whakaronga and Kelvin Grove daily

J. J. and W. H. HADLEY
... Carterton, South Carterton and Railway Station as required
* William Henry Hadley (1864-1935) married Elizabeth Prudence Gill (1864-1939) in 1895. John Joseph Hadley (1865-1951) married Margaret Hughan (1853-1934) in 1908. They are all buried at Clareville cemetery, Carterton

G. R. HISLOP
... Karori and Makara thrice weekly

HODGMAN and DRAPER
... Levin and Foxton twice daily. Levin P.O. and Railway Station as required
- Ernest Christopher Hodgman and John Draper, carriers etc of Levin dissolved their partnership on 4 Sep 1911 after selling the business ot Mr F. W. FIRKINS of Wellington

J. HOOD
... Carterton, Gladstone and Te Wharau twice weekly

S. T. HUNT
... Palmerston North P.O. and Railway Station as required

Hugh MacKAY
... Featherston, Kaiwaiwai and Martinborough thrice daily
- The Martinborough Royal Mail Stables (H. MacKay, proprietor), Otaraia Road, Martinborough ... This business was acquired in 1902 by Mr. MacKay, who also holds the Royal Mail contract between Martinborough and Featherston. The stables contain twenty-five stalls, besides a ladies' waiting room and an office. The plant includes four coaches, three brakes, three buggies, and five gigs. Fifty horses are employed in the business. The travelling public can always rely upon getting a reliable turn-out at the Royal Mail Stables, and the conveyance of sporting, holiday, and deerstalking parties is also undertaken. Mr. Hugh Mackay, proprietor of the Royal Mail Stables, was born in Christchurch in April, 1862, and after leaving school removed to the North Island, where he had considerable commercial experience. He subsequently followed sheep station life for some years, and afterwards farmed for some time on his own account on the East Coast, until taking over his present business. Mr. MacKay has been a member of the Town Board from its inception, is treasurer and steward of the Lower Valley Jockey Club, president of the local football club, and vice-president of the Caledonian Society

D. McPHEE
... Masterton, Homebush, Te Whiti, Gladstone and Longbush daily

James William MARTIN (1877-1939)
... Featherston P.O. and Railway Station as required; also Featherston, Tauherinikau and Featherston South, rural delivery daily
- James married Minnie LAWRY (1881-1942) in Featherston on 7 April 1904
Minnie was a daughter of Thomas LAWRY & Caroline HOSKINGS (both buried in Featherston)
- James & Minnie had 4 sons:
1905 - ? William George Martin 'Bill' Martin
1907 - 1983 Leslie Thomas 'Tom' Martin (buried Masterton)
1910 - 1961 John James 'Jack' Martin (buried Masterton)
1912 - 1990 Arthur Edward Martin (buried Riverside, Masterton)
JAMES WILLIAM Martin died 4 Sep 1939 aged 62 in Masterton
MINNIE Martin died 5 Sep 1942 aged 61 in Masterton
- they are buried Row 24, Area Plan II at Archer Street cemnetery

S. PAUL
... Palmerston North, Newbury, Awahuri, Rongotea and Carnarvon daily

PINHEY Brothers (see photo)
... Masterton, Taueru, Te Nui and Whakataki thrice weekly
... Masterton, Taueru, Carswell, Blairlogie, Sevenoaks, Kohawai, Beaumaris, Riverdale, Eparaima, Waiorongo, Beaumont, Waikaeaka, Fernglen and Homewood twice weekly
... Masterton, Brancepeth and Stronvar weekly
- Pinhey Brothers (John Southwood Pinhey and Reginald Pinhey), Carriage Repository, Queen Street. Telegraphic address. Pinhey's Stables, Masterton. Bankers, Bank of New South Wales. Private residences: J. S. Pinhey came Chapel Street; R. Pinhey, Queen Street. Both partners are natives of Devonshire. Mr. J. S. Pinhey came to the Colony in 1886, per s. s. Kaikoura, and Mr. R. Pinhey in 1888, per s.s. Ruapehu, and both were connected with the same line of business in England. The splendid new stables used by the firm are built of iron and wood, Mr. G. E. Daniel being the contractor. These stables are much admired and considered the most modern in Masterton. The whole floor, which contains nearly 7000 square feet of space, is floored with substantial timber. Ladies' and gentlemen's waiting-rooms, with water and gas laid on, have been fitted up for the use of customers. The firm established themselves in 1894, and have been well patronized by the following:His Excellency Lord Glasgow, Hons. Walter Johnston, Rolleston, and Messrs. Beetham, Hogg, and Buchanan, M.H.R.'s. The firm have ten traps, consisting of landaus, broughams, drags, buggies, gigs, etc., which are always available with quiet horses and skilled drivers whenever required

William Alexander SAMMONS (1878-1954)
... Hutt P.O. and Railway Station as required; also Hutt P.O. and Taita twice daily
- William Alexander Sammons served in WWI as Private 22498 with the NZEF, 16th Reinforcements, J Company, embarking from Wellington 20 August 1916. His next of kin was his wife Florence Dulcie Sammons (1886-1968 nee FLEET m.1904), 75 Nelson Street, Petone, Wellington

James Wilson SHARPE
... Petone P.O. and Railway Station as required
- James married Ida Frances BELL (1875-1970) in 1900 & had 2 daughters:
* 1901-1988 Beryl Elizabeth Sharpe
- Beryl married Edward Reinsford Hunter (1901-1973) 27 May 1925
* 1907-1981 Joyce Mavis Sharpe
- Joyce married Harold Kitchener Robinson (1903-1971) 24 Nov 1925
In June 1918, when called for service with the 2nd Division, James was listed as a livery and motor proprietor, 26 Richmond-street, Petone. He was the Mayor of Petone 1925-1926

Mitchell Brown TAIT (1863-1950)
... Featherston and Waiorongomai twice weekly
- he was the Chairman of the Featherston Town Board 1910-1912 & 1914-1916. At the first borough election in 1917 he was on the council (as was Barry Yelverton below). He was also the first deputy-Mayor of Featherston (John Wiltshire Card was elected unopposed as the first Mayor). He was a member of the Featherston & District War Memorial Committee and he formulated the design for the War Memorial. Mitchell married Eliza Eleanor EVENDEN in 1886 & had 6 children. A son Arthur Mitchell Tait (1889-1958), Corporal 53088, served in WWI with the NZEF, 28th Reinforcements Wellington Infantry Regiment, B Company

Edward James USSHER (1866-1956)
... Hinakura, Spring Grove (No P.O.) and Martinborough twice weekly
... Hinakura, Glendhu, Pahaoa and Glenburn weekly
- Edward was in Carterton prior to moving to Martinborough c1895

Benjamin WADHAM (1866-1952)
... Carterton and Belvedere daily
- born in Porirua, the 2nd of 15 children of Henry Samson WADHAM & Esther CULL

R. WENDON
... Greytown P.O. and Railway Station as required
- Richard Wenden (1855-1917) married Emma Elizabeth Huxton (1863-1949) in 1882 and had 9 children

YELVERTON Brothers
... Featherston, Kahautara, Matawhero, Burnside, Tahunui, Pirinoa, Turanganui and Wangaimoana thrice weekly
- 7 Nov 1910 Mr Barry Yelverton, of Featherston, has just been advised that, through the death of a cousin, he is now Viscount Avonmore, writes the Featherston correspondent of the "Post". Mr Yelverton is the senior partner in the firm of Yelverton Brothers, livery stable keepers and has been settled in Featherston for many years past

PHOTO
Four mail coaches outside the Masterton Post Office
Note on back of file print reads: From left:
* J. Blackley (Biddiford Mail)
* Pinheys Castlepoint Coach (G. Daysh, driver)
* (Stonvar) Brake (C. Hartley, driver)
* Homewood Coach (R. Beattie, driver)
* A spare coach (J. Shaw driver)
Photograph taken circa 1912 by an unidentified photographer