POST & TELEGRAPH REFORM.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9938, 8 December 1900, Page 2

POST & TELEGRAPH REFORM.

+ New Postal Note Issue.

The Express Delivery.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Last night. The postal authorities now have in train all the arrangements for the commencement of the system of universal penny postage for letter and letter-cards at the beginning of the New Year. Something like a million of the new stamps will have arrived in the colony before the coming into operation of the system, sufficient to give 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 of 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 a differeat color for each denomination. The present issue consists of notes of the value of Is, Is 6d, 2s 6d, ss, 7s 6d, 10s, 12s 6d, 15s, 17s 6d, and 20s. The denomination of the new notes will be Is, Is 6d, 2s, 2s 6d, 3s, ss, 10s, 15s, and 20s. Hitherto the 20s note has beeD what is termed an "open note," printed in red ink on yellow paper, and it bears some resemblance to an ordinary bank note. The new 20s note will be printed 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. The new express delivery and speoial messenger service in connection with the Post and Telegraph Department comes into force on January Ist. The Department is issuing directions for the guidance of the general public, and these will be posted in positions at each of the j post-offices in the colony. They may be summarised for general information as follows :— There will be express delivery and special messenger services at the following offices : — Ashburton, Auckland, Blenheim, Bluff, Christchurch, Dunedin, Feilding, Giaborne, Gore, Greymouth. Hawera, Hokitika, Invercargill, Lyttelton, Masterton, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Oamaru, Onehunga, Palmerston North, Port Chalmers, Thames, Timaru, Wanganui, Wellington, and Westport. All letters and parcels, not exceeding 31b in weight, posted at any post-office intended for express delivery, must be boldy and legibly marked on the lefthand aide, " Express delivery." Two parallel lines must be drawn across the front and back of the 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 6d for the first mile and 3d each additional mile up to two miles or three miles in all. The delivery will, unless otherwise directed, be by telegraph message boy. A receipt must be given by the recipient for each specially delivered article. "Expresstd" letters properly stamped for delivery from the post-office, also telegrams fully stamped for transmission, may be handed to any telegraph messenger or letter carrier for delivery at ihe office. In no case, however, will the letter carrier or messenger wait while a letter or telegram is being written. A special messenger wnl 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 the express delivery, but beyoud 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 messengeis' journey will be counted as from the post office. In the eveut of a boy being required to deliver a number of parcels or letters to different addresses, or to return with a reply, the charge will be at the rate of Is for the first hour, and 6d for each succeeding half-hour or portion thereof.