PEI was not allowed to make its own improvements to the mail service without consulting Britain. (6) By 1851, the Island had gained control of its postal service. The following year, salaries had risen for mail carriers. In the next year Patrick Mooney , at £1.10 per trip, earned £52.10 for taking the mail once a week from Charlottetown to St. Peters Bay , Fortune, Souris and East Point. (7) Hutchinson's Directory, published in 1864, lists the times of mail delivery for the ":" Monday and Thursday at 7pm: St. Peters : William Sterns Lot 56 : William Norton St. Peters Bay : John Sutherland Farmington : George Robinson Monday at 7pm: Goose River : Michael McDonald We are left to assume that the names of the men are the individuals who were responsible for the distribution of the mail. The next recorded mail carrier for the '' that we are familiar with is George Henry Dingwell of Midgell , who in 1865 tendered to haul the mail from Souris to Charlottetown . George Dingwell hauled the mail over this route for nine years. He had a stagecoach built that could hold up to six passengers and the mail. It was all enclosed and hauled by four horses in the summer and six in the winter. He made three round trips per week. He left Charlottetown early in the morning; he fed his horses their midday meal at his home in Midgell ; and he arrived in Souris that same evening. The following day he returned to Charlottetown . (8) In 1854, an order was placed with J. Francis in London to purchase 32 hand stamp instruments, one of which was for "Saint Peters" (9) By 1860, post stamps were issued and used across the Island. The stamp's value was in pence, which of course was the local currency at this time. In 1872 the decimal currency had been adopted, resulting in new stamps being made and distributed. In 1875, the railway began to carry the mail. By this time, post offices within the fire district area had been established in Big Marsh - which later become Monticello , Cable Head *, Farmington , Goose River the Head of St. Peters Bay , and Marie Bridge. Having a post office within these communities was of great convenience for the local residents. In * In 1875, the post office was called simply ' Cable Head .' It is not until 1893 that a distinction was made between Cable Head East and Cable Head West , in respect to the post office. 160