Page 62 - Bulletin 9 2005

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1889 – 1895: Mr. Kocks (Salary ₤9/a; appointed 1 July 1889.)
1896 – 1897: Mr. C. H. Simpson

1. Her salary covered the free delivery of mail. Previously all mail was collected at the postmaster’s/
mistress’s office. She also earned a commission on stamps sold. She had to take out a surety bond of £20 in
addition to two other sureties of the same amount. These sureties were supplied by Messrs. W. Wood and J.
Olive.

2. During his time, in 1874, all Postmasters and Deputy Postmasters received a printed book of instructions
(never before compiled), and a printed route list. The Postmaster General, Mr. Aitcheson, noted that these
would “prevent errors through ignorance which were frequent occurrences.”

3. During his term money (postal) orders were introduced at Kalk Bay (1882, and all Provincial Post Offices
were upgraded in 1884 to Head Offices, Sub-offices, and Agencies. Simon’s Town remained a Head Office
with both Kalk Bay and Muizenberg as Sub-offices. On 10 January 1884 Post Office Savings Books were
introduced and the Post Office revenue for Kalk Bay in that year was ₤134. In February 1885 the Post Office
and Telegraph Services were merged into one organization.

4, The reason for the low salaries paid was that the Kalk Bay Post Office was situated on business premises
and in terms of Post Office dispensations Deputy Postmasters and Postmistresses were not part of the Post
Office Establishment.

In 1895 Kalk Bay for the first time operated a fully equipped Post Office to official

specifications, in the old Anglican Church Hall at the north end of the railway station. (Fig.
2.5.) Mr. John William Coppenhagen was appointed the first Postmaster at Kalk Bay. This

was a blessing to the Kalk Bay community as he became a prominent resident and in 1900

served as the first Chairman of the Public School Board at Kalk Bay. His home “Harbour
Cottage” still stands opposite the entrance to the Kalk Bay harbour. At Muizenberg the

post office was housed in the first station building.

From all accounts the local post offices offered quite primitive facilities and gave rise to
much dissatisfaction and continual complaints, especially during the crowded summer

season. These came to a head during 1904 when numerous deputations and

communications passed between the Municipality and the Colonial Department of Public
Works. In April 1904 a local deputation to the Commissioner of Public Works pointed out

that while new post offices had been erected at Diep River and Plumstead people at

Muizenberg had to be content with an overcrowded space 6ft. x 5ft. The accommodation at
Kalk Bay was, if anything, worse and not infrequently the premises