POSTAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 292, 8 December 1900, Page 6

POSTAL IMPROVEMENTS.

THE EXPRESS DELIVERY.

NEW STAMPS AND POSTAL NOTES.

(By. Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day. "i-Tconnection with the new express delivery and special messenger service, the Department is issuing directions for guidance of the general public, and these will be posted in prominent positions at each of the post offices in the colony. All letters and parcels not exceeding three pounds in weight, posted at any post office, intended for express delivery, must b<i boldly and legibly marked on the left hand side "Express delivery." Two parallel lines must be drawn across front and back of letter or parcel, and the delivery fee affixed in stamps in addition to the ordinary postage. "Expressed" articles will be received up to the time for receiving late letters. The delivery fee for each article is to be sixpence for the first mile and threepence for each additional mile up to two miles, or three miles in all. Delivery will, unless otherwise directed, be by telegraph message boy. A receipt must be given by the recipient for each specially addressed article. "Express" letters, properly stamped for delivery from a, post office, also telegrams fully stamped for transmission, may be handed to any telegraph messenger or letter carrier for delivery at the office. In no case, however, will letter carrier or messenger wait while a letter or telegram is being written. A special messenger will be placed at the disposal of any telephone exchange subscriber on a request being made to the exchange, and may be utilised for running an errand, ordering a cab, delivering a small parcel, or letter, or any similar service. The fee to be paid will be the same as for express delivery, but beyond three miles and up to five miles, cab hire or return tram fare must be paid in addition to the mileage fee. The whole of the messenger's journey will be counted as from the post office. In the event of a boy being required to deliver a number of parcels or letters to different addresses, or to return with a reply, charge will be at the rate of one shilling for the first hour and sixpence for each succeeding half an hour, or portion thereof.

The postal authorities have in train all the arrangements for the commencement of the system of universal penny postage for letters and letter cards. Siomething like a million of new stamps will have arrived in the colony before the coming into opera-, tion of the system, sufficient to giva each post office in the colony a limited supply. Further supplies are under order for delivery as soon as possible. A new series of postal notes are to be issued at the beginning to-f the new year, which will, it is considered, be an improvement on the present issue. They are of artistic design, and are to be printed in different colour for each denomination. The present issue consists _f notes of the value of 1/, 1/6, 2/6, 5/, 7/6, 10/, 12/6, 15/, 17/6 and 20/. The denomination of the new notes will be 1/6; 2/, 2/6^ 3/, 5/, 10/, 15/ and 20/. Hitherto the 20/ has. been what is termed an "open note," printed in red ink, on yellow paper, and it bears siome resemblance to an ordinary bank note. The new 20/ note will be print.d in carmine ink on white paper, and, like the others, will be made payable "to bearer," which will facilitate handling and sorting by the postal authorities.