THE POST OFFICE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 145, 7 October 1876, Page 3

THE POST OFFICE.

fDmtedtn Mar.) The number of letters passing through the Tost tWice ~m 1573 was ",038,456, being an increase of 1,36 >,30."> on the previous y«'.ir. The mifubor of newspapers was 6,306,602, or 504,583 more than in 19-74. The proportion of letters to the population ta 14'20 por head, which is below the rate in both Victoria and New South Wales, whore tt is 163 > and 16-38 respectively. The revenue for the financial year to 30th June last was£>l,sf>l o*., of which only £80,656 9s. was actually collected within the period. F«»r the calendar yyar of i 87.» the gross earnings of the department were £136,430 18s. 9d. The actual expenditure for the dnancial year amounted to £130,321 ISs. 4d., made ttp as follows :—Conveyance of mails bv sea. £72,743 Ss. 3d. : inland mails, £20,770 2s. 7d. : salaries. £32.13} 2jj. Bd. Tue onantity of franked letters is said to be increasing. In 18-74 the value of the postage of tats desce-iption was estimated at £42,223 6.*., last Veer it was £32,017 83.. o>" whieh £2.613 14*. 4:1. only was on Provincial aec>rnit.. Dnrhig 157"> there vvery 330 Inland n'-ail services in operation. ►■3 being cavti.'d by coach o.- mail cart. ITui by ('«>-•« ■, 2 : * oil fc'ooc, .". Iby wa'-'r. and 14 by railway. Thi.r total Ln/ f th of these .ievvicrs tSpeeded 7,030 mil-.s, and the tosw disfatttv travelled with mails was 1,464,112 rail', s. at- an a v.-rage c<->-*£ of 4jd. p-jt miL». The fact ha* forjrd its.'Ef Upon c.te department that the strict and exact obs of schedule time appears to be considered by many contractors of seeondary consideration. T;.:e department has always made the most liberal allowance for the difficulties and delays incidental to l>ad roads and Hooded rivers; but it has become apparent that many of the d; lays nr? nttribtttable to other causes, «>ve.r which contractors or their servants have control. The department has determined to insist upon contractors observing schedule time; and failing this, the penalty clauses will be enforced in every case of need ksa delay. The Government have decided that contracts for inland matt services shall for the future extend over two years, Instead of one, as is the general rule at present. By accepting tenders for two years the department will be relieved of a considerable amount of labor, while it is considered the change will tend to encourage greater competition than there has been hitherto.