The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 89 



Money Orders are issued and paid between 10 a.m. and 

 6 p.m. (except from 3.20' till 4 p.m.) on week days only; and on 

 Saturday Evenings Money Order Business may be transacted up 

 to 8 o'clock. 



In the year 1861 the Post Office Savings Bank was estab- 

 lished, and in the following year Mr Thorburn retired from the 

 office of Postmaster. He was succeeded by Mr Alexander 

 Loudoun, from the Greenock Office. Mr Loudoun may be 

 described as the first practical postmaster, for he had not only 

 been trained in the service, but was required to devote his whole 

 time to the duties of the office. The salary attached to the office 

 was at this time fixed at about £130. On his retiral in 1889 it had 

 been increased to almost £300 per annum. 



During Mr Loudoun's term of office further changes, resulting 

 in greatly increased facilities to the public, were made. For ex- 

 ample, in 1870 the Telegraph service was transferred from private 

 hands to the Government. Later in the same year a halfpenny 

 postage rate for printed matter was introduced, and a few days 

 later the first post-cards were on sale to the public. 



On the 1st of May, 1871, a sorting carriage, staffed by one 

 clerk from the Dumfries Office, made its first journey between 

 Dumfries and Stranraer, leaving Dumfries, with the Irish mails, 

 at 5.40 a.m. 



The Postal Order system was commenced in 1881. 



In August, 1883, the inland "Parcels Post" was started, 

 and two years later the parcel post was extended to foreign coun- 

 tries and the colonies. In 1883 the Postal Authorities secured a 

 lease of premises at the station to be utilised as a parcel depot. 

 Here the work of receiving and despatching the parcel mails to 

 and from Dumfries is still conducted. 



The continuous and rapid expansion of postal business fol- 

 lowing on these improvements, combined with continued agitation* 

 by the people for still further facilities, led to the erection of the 

 commodious and handsome Post Office in Buccleuch Street. 

 The contract for the erection of the die w building was given to Mr 

 David Kirkland, Ayr, and the foundation-stone was laid with full 

 Masonic honours. The office was first occupied at Whitsunday, 

 1889, when the late Mr Wm. G. Weir, a Greenock officer like his 

 predecessor, was appointed to take charge, at an increased salary. 



