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Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17982, 26 December 1918, Page 6

Letter-writing in the days of our grandfathers was a luxury in which poor folk could not indulge. But even of late years huge sums have been expended in sending a single message. A few years ago a package measuring 26in by ,12in, and made of finely-woven linen, arrived at an Austrian bank from Russia. It bore no fower than 182 ten-rouble stamps, about £IBB worth. ft contained papers of great value, svd this was the sender's idea of insuring it. The package arrived safely enough, but the sender was apparently unaware that for a few pounds lie could have sent the letter to its destination in charge of a trusty special messenger, and got a receipt for its safe delivery. The most costly private telegram "over" is said to bo the one in which King Victor of Italy informed tho Duke of Abrazzi of his_ father's death. Quito lately n wire from London to Argentina, containing fewer words than a column of " The Times." pimp to £ISOO at 16s 8d a word. Three thousand two hundred pounds is the highest sum ever paid for a sinsrle v. ire. It «'as the cost of a message sent to Australia by tho late Henniker Hraton, the champion of Imperial penny postage.