Page 61 - KBHA Bulletin 9

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They declared the test-run most satisfactory in every way. The car was christened “The
Thistle” and according to media reports was “a handsome vehicle with a polished exterior

of teak-wood”. It was 48ft in length and 8ft broad. It was to be the first T.P.O. to operate in
South Africa and would be used on the Kimberley rail-route. This journey to Kalk Bay was

the start of an historic era that was to last until the 1950s.

In 1891, after the railhead had reached Simon’s Town in December 1890, all post-cart mail

conveyance ceased. The romance of the post-cart/omnibus had passed forever. The mail
was delivered by train at stations from Cape Town to Simon’s Town. There were four

mail-train deliveries/collections per day (increased to five at end of 1891).

The Post Offices

In 1848, all post offices in the Colony were placed into Divisions, with usually the most
important office being considered as the Divisional Head Office. The Cape Division

included Simon’s Town with a Postmaster / mistress; the remaining offices were D’Urban,
Three Cups, Rondebosch, Plumstead (Postmistress), Wynberg, Claremont, Kalk Bay and

Groenekloof, all which all employed the services of Deputy Postmasters / mistresses.

In 1863 all the offices of the Cape Postal Division were reclassified and provision was

made for payment for delivery of mail and a commission on stamps sold. The Deputy

Postmasters / mistresses at Kalk Bay were:

1847 – 1853: Mr. J. Peters (Appointed 1 October 1847; salary ₤9/a)
1854 – 1857: Mrs. P. Rogers (Salary ₤9/a)
1858: Mr. Isaac van Reenen (Ditto)
1859 – 1861: Mr. Alexander Wood (Ditto; he was a shop-keeper and died on 8/2/1862, aged 37)
1
1862 – 1868: Mrs. Mary Muller (Salary ₤10/a)
1869 – 1870: Mr. James Melville
1871 – 1872: Mr. William Best (School principal of original Anglican Mission School c.
1860 – 1868, before it moved to “Stonehaven”.)
2
1873 – 1874: Mr. James Gatt (School Principal, Anglican Mission School 1877 – 1883.)
3
1875 – 1889: Mr. Charles King (Salary ₤9/a; Proprietor of King’s Hotel.)