DEAD LETTERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7114, 12 July 1886, Page 4

DEAD LETTERS.

Some curious information is contained in the annual report of the Commissioner of Post and Telegraphs respecting " dead letters." He says: — The unclaimed letters dealt with show a decroase of 2*82 per cent, compared with the number disposed of in the previous year. 9442 book-packets and circulars were returned to foreign countries, 5171 were returned to the senders through the Dead Letter Office, and 8571 •were returned by Chief Postmasters — a total of 23,184 book- packets and circulars, against 17,132 in 1884. The under-men-tioned articles of value were found enclosed in letters opened in the Dead Letter Office, and returned to the senders where practicable:—ls9 money orderp, £494 4s. 7d. ;39 Bank drafte, £3,560 lls. Id. ; 108 chequer, £644 9s. Bd. ; 5 promissory notes, £346 169. 4d. ; stamps, £5 16s. 2d. ; Bank note?, £182 ; gold, £25 ; silver and copper, £4 13s. lOid ; representing a total of £5,243 11b. Bid ;in addition, 5 gold ringp, 9 gold rings set with precious stones, 2 sets of gold shirt Btuda and sleeve-links, 1 sleevelink, 1 gold scarf pin set with amethjst, 1 gold locket, 1 gilt watch-guard, 1 packet of gold dust, 4 silver hunting watches, 1 silver Geneva watcb, 1 silver watch with silver chain and locket attached, 1 silver watch with silver chain, 2 silver brooches, 1 silver bracelet, 1 silver ring, and 1 New Zealand war medal. 4204 unclaimed registered letters were dealt with. 30 letters detained for postage were received, 20 of "which were subsequently forwarded, 558 newspapers and 293 books and other articles without addresses were also received; of these, 50 were delivered,' and 83 book-packets forwarded to London and other countries for return to the senders. 98 letters were posted without addresses. II letters with libellous addresses wero intercepted. IG4 letters were imperfectly and wrongly addressed. 2490 letters were refused by the addressees. 4 letters were posted with previously-used stamps.