Seerion IT., 1901 ZEN Trans. R.S. C. 
IV.—Post Office Reforms in the Victorian Era: And the Development 
of an Imperial Cable ,Service.* 
By Str SANDFORD FLEMING, K.C.M.G., LL.D., C.E. 
(Read May 22, 1901.) 
At an early date the postal service everywhere was of the most 
primitive character. The English record points out that at one time 
foot carriers were employed to convey the mails, and that they tra- 
velled at the rate of 16 or 18 miles a day. Frequently two months 
elapsed before any answer to a letter could be received in London 
from Scotland or Ireland. 
Great Britain has taken a leading part in post office reform. 
This fact is universally recognized. When our great and good Queen 
came to the throne, the service was still deplorably unsatisfactory. 
It is now 64 years since a process of transformation commenced 
which has been marked by distinct stages of development, each stage 
opening a new chapter in the history of the Post Office service. The 
last chapter, yet unwritten, may be regarded as having been opened 
on the closing day of the century, when the contract for establishing 
the Pacific Cable was signed on behalf of the Home Government and 
the Governments of Canada, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland 
and New Zealand. | 
The British Post Office to-day is admirably administered, and 
when the final development shall have been consummated, it will in 
all probability take rank as one of the most perfect and most bene- 
ficent of all human organizations. 
In referring briefly to the development of the Post Office, it will 
be convenient to allude to some of its functions and operations in con- 
nection with the following reforms:— 
1. The adoption of penny postage in the United Kingdom. 
2. The adoption of the postal telegraph system in the United 
Kingdom. 
3. The adoption of penny postage throughout the Empire. 
4. The adoption of a Postal Cable Service between all parts of 
the Empire. 
All these great advances are associated with the Victorian Era. 
The first took its origin in the year when the young Princess Victoria 
ascended the throne, and the last was initiated a few weeks before, 

1 See Proceedings, supra, p. xliv. 
