POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. (TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1879 Session I, F-01

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1879. NEW ZEALAND.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. (TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 18th July, 1879. I have the honor to submit to your Excellency the Twentieth Annual Eeport on tho Postal Service of New Zealand. I have, &c, J. T. Fishee, His Excellency Sir Hercules George Eobert Eobinson, Postmaster-General. G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand.

EEPOET. Notwithstanding the commercial depression which has within the past year made itself so severely felt throughout the colony the business of the Post Office Department has not suffered. Indeed, it may be assumed that the postal revenue has been augmented from many of the effects produced by the late and existing state of trade. The returns show a large increase of business in all branches. The cash receipts for the financial year ended 30th June ultimo amounted to £129,906 13s. 5d., against £114,191 12s. 9d. for the previous year, the increase being £15,715 Os. Sd., or 1376 per cent. The total expenditure for the same period is estimated at £142,708 Is. Sd. The department's expenditure for the financial year 1877-78 was £136,118 13s. 9d. From the following statement of the number of letters, newspapers, &c, received and despatched, it will be seen that the increase for the year has been exceedingly large: — 1878. 1877. Increase. Letters—Received ... ... ... 8,236,062 7,119,765 Despatched ... ... ... 7,288,699 5,935,105 15,524,761 13,054,870 2,469,891 Post Cards—Received ... ... ... 116,674 81,274 Despatched ... ... ... 137,509 41,030 254,183 122,304 131,879, Book Packets—Received ... ... ... 505,294 461,522 Despatched ... ... ... 413,855 280,657 919,149 742,179 176,970 Newspapers—Received ... ... ... 5,097,907 4,805,785 Despatched ... ... ... 4,312,459 3,260,526 9,410,366 8,066,311 1,344,055 —the letters increased 1892 per cent., post cards 107-83 per cent., book packets 2384 per cent., and newspapers 1666 per cent. The average number of letters posted in proportion to the estimated population was 1685 to each person. In 1875 the average was 1429, and in 1877, 1451. The increase of post cards is very marked, and the extent to which they have been used by the public has exceeded the most favourable estimate. The first balance-sheet of the Post Office Account, being for the year ended 31st December, 1878, has been prepared, as required by " The Public Eevenues Act, 1878 " (Vide Table No. 5). The transactions amounted to nearly five millions pounds sterling.

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The securities held by the department on the 31st December, in trust for the Savings Bank depositors, represented the sum of £756,310 10s. 2d., nominal value, and the interest received and accrued on the investments (Vide Table No. 6) was £36,390 3s. 2d. Interest to the amount of £31,664 12s. 9d. was credited the depositors. The profit for the year, after deducting expenses, was £2,747 lis. 3d., which will be paid into the Consolidated Fund. The requisite books in connection with the establishing of penny savings banks at schools have been forwarded to the Education Department for issue to the several Education Boards and School Committees, who have the power to decide whether the system shall or shall not be introduced in the public schools under their control. The payment of postage-stamp poundage to Sub-Postmasters not on the permanent staff of the department has been abolished ; but an equitable increase has been made to the salaries of these officers. The inspection of departmental stores, &c, has recently been brought within the control of the department. The duty of examining post office property, stores, &c, will now devolve upon the departmental officers. The department has not yet entered the General Postal Union, —a reference to which was made in last report. Nothing further will be done until the question of Imperial postage payments to the colonies has been equitably settled. The completion of the railway line between Christchurch and Invercargill has brought about improved changes in the matter of the transit of mails by railway. Carriages specially fitted up as travelling post offices, and in the charge of postal officers, are attached to the express trains running between Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill. The increase of telegraph business at Wanganui and Masterton made it necessary to place the post office and telegraph services under separate control. This course will also be followed with respect to the offices at Foxton. The offices of Postmaster and Telegraphist at Kumara have been combined. A room at the lower Barracks, Mount Cook, Wellington, has been adapted to the requirements of a branch post office. Money order and savings bank, as well as telegraph business, is also transacted at this office. The parcels post regulations, so far as relate to the transmission of articles within the colony, have been extended. Any article of merchandise, &c, not likely to damage the mails or injure the officers of the department, is now accepted. The weight of any parcel must not exceed 5 lb. The inland book-post regulations have also been extended, and are now of a very liberal character. Suburban letter-carriers' deliveries were established at Dunedin and Christchurch on the Ist and at Auckland on the 14th January last, with most satisfactory results. At Auckland tho free delivery has been extended to Eden Terrace, Grafton Eoad, Newton, Ponsonby, and Upper Parnell. The Christchurch free delivery includes the Suburbs of Addington, Bingsland, Knightstown, Phillipstown, St. Albans, and Waltham. The Suburbs of Caversham, Anderson's Bay, Forbury, Kaikorai, Kensington, Kew, Lindon, Mornington, Murrayville, North-East Valley, Opoho, Eoslyu, Snnnyside, The Glen, and Waikari, are within the Dunedin Suburban deliveries. The full advantage of these deliveries cannot be secured by the public until the carriers are afforded greater facilities for delivering correspondence. Much time is lost (particularly in the case of the mounted carriers) from the carriers having to walk a considerable distance off the roads to reach private residences. Not only this, but the " postman's knock" is not, in many instances, promptly answered. These delays would disappear if householders would cause to be erected at their front gates, or some other convenient part of their premises, receptacles for the receipt of the correspondence to be delivered by letter-carriers. These remarks also apply, although in a lesser degree, to the deliveries within populous centres ; but the absence of any general system of street-numbering is the more serious drawback. It is hoped that regulations providing for the numberiug of all premises within the chief centres of population will ere long be adopted. 65 offices were established, and the total number open at the close of the year was 814. Nine additional money order and savings bank offices were established during the year. The conduct of the officers generally has been good; and on the part of the public there is a disposition to recognize that their interests are carefully studied by the officers of the department. It is gratifying to be able to state that complaints from the public are comparatively few, and not of a serious character. Eevenue and Expenditttbe. The gross cash revenue for the financial year ended 30th June ultimo, and the estimated expenditure for the same period, are given in the statement underneath:— Revenue. £ a. A. Expesdituee. £ i, d. Sale of postage stamps ... ... 101,402 10 8 Salaries ... ... ... ... 40,565 14 9 Money order commission ... ... 6,902 19 0 Conveyance of mails by sea ... ... 56,562 14 6 Fees for private boxes aud bags ... 3,017 0 0 „ inland mails ... ... 29,395 19 9 Miscellaneous receipts ... ... 728 9 0 Contingencies ... ... ... 5,953 12 8 Imperial costage receipts ... ... 15,000 0 0 Estimated liabilities ... ... ... 10,230 0 0 San Frafliisco Service, payments by uoncontracting colonies ... ... 2,855 14 9 Balance of expenditure over revenue ... 12,801 8 3 £142,708 1 8 £142,708 1 8

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The total revenue, £129,906 13s. 5d., shows an increase of £15,715 Os. Bd., or 1376 per cent. The sum collected within the colony for the sale of postage stamps, &c, was £112,050 18s. Bd., being an increase of £15,386, or 1590 per cent, over the local receipts for the previous year. The balance of expenditure over revenue as shown by the foregoing statement amounts to £12,801 Bs. 3d., against £21,927 Is. for the year 1877. Taking into account the sum of £56,176 os. lOd. for official postage, the gross earnings of the department for the year amount to £186,082 lis. 3d., or £43,374 12s. 7d. in excess of the expenditure. Official Coreespondence. The postage value of the official correspondence transmitted free of charge is estimated at £56,176 os. 10d., as shown by the following statement: — Letters. Books. £ s. d. Letters. Books. £ s. d. Auckland ... 8,284 lb. ... 6,843 Ib. ... 2,888 010 Christchurch 8,022£ lb. ... 8,7011b. ... 2,442 4 9 Thames ... 1,427£ „ ... 1,823 „ ... 411 19 0 Hokitika ... 6,074 „ ... 1,096 „ ... 1,656 5 8 New Plymouth 3,702 „ ... 1,613 „ ... 1,078 10 4 Greymouth... 1,525 i „ ... 46 „ ... 410 5 2 Napier ... 858 3,078 „ ... 336 BHi Dunedin ... 17,230j „ ... 4,204 „ ... 4,788 11 1 Wellington ... 144,708 „ ... 44,076 „ ... 40,689 6 4 Invercargill 1,603 „ ... 2,068 „ ... 514 7 61 Nelson ... 1,487 „ ... 2,173 „ ... 481 6 8 Westport ... 539 „ ... 423 „ ... 161 2 2 Total ... ... £56,176 010 Blenheim ... 863 „ ... 2,341 „ ... 317 12 4 — The total weight of the free correspondence forwarded through the several post offices exceeded 122 tons. The value of this description of correspondence in 1877 amounted to £52,848 9s. 4d. I Departmental. Three additional postal districts were establised on the Ist January last. The chief offices are Wanganui, Timaru, and Oamaru, respectively. The new districts are described below : — Oamaru Postal District. The Postal District of Oamaru extends from the Eiver Shag to the Waitaki Eiver, and included all sub-post offices within the County of Waitaki. The following sub-post offices were transferred to the district when established : —

Timaru Postal District. The Postal District of Timaru extends from the Waitaki Eivgr to the Eiver Bangitata, and included the undermentioned sub-post offices situated within the Counties of Waimate and Geraldine: —

Wanganui Postal District. The Postal District of Wanganui extends from the Eangitikei Eiver to the Eiver Taungatara.

Name of Sub-Office. Formerly Subordinate to Name of Sub-Office. Formerly Subordinate to .wamoko luutroon !nfield ... [ampden _akanui [aerewhenua taheno ... [oerakij... Chief Post Office, Dunedin Ngapara Oamaru (Chief Office) Omarama Otepopo Papakaio Pukeuri Upper Ferry Weston Cluof Post Office, Dunedtn.

Name of Sub-Office. Formerly Subordinate to Name of Sub-Office. Formerly Subordinate to llbury ... ilue Cliffs iurke's Pass Ch. Post Office, Christchurch Rangitata Sandie Town Silverstream St. Andrew Tern uka Timaru (Chief Office) Waimate "Waimate Junction Washdjke Waitaki Winchester Waihao WaitohiFlat Waihi Bush Ch. Post Office, Christchurch. It It ti ti )» II » it 2ave . airlie Creek }eraldine lilton ... _ake Tekapo lakikihi )rari )taio II >» tt 11 It 11 II 11 it a _» » n 11 ii 11 ii ii 11 J» . I 11 11 11 11 ii „ Dunedin. „ Christchurch. 11 II 'areora ... 'leasant Point 'leaeant Valley 'ukaki Ferry It II I) It a ii ii ii 11 tl ii ii lt II n ii

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The following sub-post offices,' all within the Counties of Eangitikei, Wanganui, and Patea, were included in the new district: —

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Name of Sub-Office. Formerly Subordinate to Name of Sub-Office. Formerly Subordinate to Bull's ... Crofton ... Fordell ... Greatford Hawera ... Kai Iwi... Kakaramea Makirikiri Manutahi Marton ... Maxwelltown Chief Post Office, Wellington ii ii Normanby Parawanui Patea ... St. Johns Taylorville Turakina Waitotara Wangaehu Wanganui (Chief Office) ... WaTerley Ch. Post Office, New Plym'th. „ Wellington. „ New Plym'th. „ Wellington. ii ji i> ii „ New Plymouth „ Wellington „ New Plymouth „ Wellington „ New Plymouth „ Wellington ii n ii ii II w ii ii ii ii ii » ti ii 64 Post Offices were establish Bingsland, Canterbury Becks, Otago Blackbridge, Wellington Brunswick, Wellington Chatton, Otago Crookstos, Otago Elmslie's Bay, Nelson Fairdowri Junction, Nelson Fordell, Wellington Fairlie Creek, Canterbury Granville, Westland Grovebush, Otago Greatford, Wellington Glendermid, Otago Gap, Invercargill Harlington, Otago Horrelville, Canterbury Kopua, Hawke's Bay Kaitoke, Wellington Kuripuni, Wellington Kyle, Canterbury Lakeside, Canterbury ed and 1 re-opened during the yea: Mabel Bush, Otago Myross Bush, Otago Mangare, Auckland Maungnkaramea, Auckland Maungatawlriri, Auckland Mokau, Taranaki Ngunguru, Auckland New Brighton, Canterbury Ormondville, Hawke's Bay Otamete, Otago Ohiwa (reopened), Auckland Petone, Wellington Pukerau, Otago Pukerimu, Auckland Penrose, Auckland Periwaka, Auckland Pukearuhe, Taranaki Patearoa, Otago Point Curtis, Auckland Puki-iviti, Otago Port Awanui, Hawke's Bay Roslyn Bush, Otago ir at the following places : — Rotherharo, Canterbury Russell's Flat, Canterbury South Ashburton, Canterbury Sylvan Bank, Otago Seacliff, Otago Southbridge Junction, Canterbury Seafield, Canterbury Sergeant's Hill, Nelson Stratford, Taranaki The Glen, Otago The Reefs (Skipper's), Otago The Willows, Hawke's Bay ■ Turua, Auckland Tangihua, Auckland Trondheim, Wellington Terrace End, Wellington Tuparoa, Hawke's Bay Wailiopai, Otago Wainiauku, Auckland White Cliffs, Canterbury Wakanui, Canterbury. The following offices, 9 in nu: mber, have been closed :— Half-Ounce, Westland Newton, Canterbury Stanmore Road, Canterbury Switzer's, Otago Waltham, Canterbury Zala Town, Westport. Clarendon, Otago Colombo Street Soutb, Canterbury Lowther, Invercargill 814 post offices were open o: strength of the department, indue The following table shows th< years 1877 and 1878 :— n the 31st December last, and tht live of 786 Sub-Postmasters, was 9! s number of post offices open in tl e total number of officers on the 187. ho several postal districts for the 1 . _. is; 7. Poital Districts. Chief Offices. Secondclass Post Offices. Sub.Poit Ollic-as. Totals. Chief Offiees. Secondclass Post Offices. Sub-Post Offices. Totals. Auckland Thames Taranaki Hawke's Bay ... Wellington Nelson Westport Marlborough ... Canterbury Hokitika Greymouth Otago Southland Chatham Islands 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 i 3 162 10 16 51 69 27 19 14 156 28 22 165 46 1 165 11. 17 54 71 29 20 17 160 29 23 168 48 2 l 1 l 1 l l l 1 1 l l 1 l 1 2 2 1 1 2 3 150 9 13 46 61 26 18 14 147 28 22 157 38 1 153 10 14 49 63 28 19 17 151 29 23 160 40 2 2 1 2 1 Totals 11 M 786 814 14 14 730 758 46 additional stamp licenses wen stamp vendors on the 31st December the sale of stamps. The cost for the carriage of inti £2,654 13s. lid. 2,740 private boxes were let, . a revenue of £2,615 10s. i issued in 1878, and 6 o last was 282, who receive ancelled. id £1,13: . The 1 3 7s. 8d, total nui . by way mber of licensed of poundage on .rprovincial and intercoL onial ma lils by u insubsid: ized vessels, was .hich, together with th< 3 fees ( jn 168 private bags, produced

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The following return of officers of the Postal Department for the years 1877 and 1878 shows to what extent the staff was increased during the year:— Officers. 1878. 1877. Officers. 1878. 1877. Postmaster-General ... ... 1 1 Postmasters ... ... ... 14 14 Secretary ... ... ... 1 1 Clerks ... ... ... 101 91 Inspector of Post Offices ... 1 1 Sub-Postmasters ... ... 786 730 Accountant, Money Order and Letter-carriers ... ... ... 42 38 Savings Bank Department ... 1 1 Messengers ... ... ... 12 11 Clerks in General Post Office ... 6 5 Mail-cart drivers ... ... 2 2 Clerks in Money Order and Savings Shipping Officers ... ... 2 2 Bank Department ... ... 4 4 Chief Postmasters ... ... 14 14 Totals ... ... 987 915 An additional iron pillar has been erected and eight receiving houses established during the year. The pillar was substituted for a receiving house at the Thames, and the additional receiving houses were distributed as follows : 2 at Kumara, 3 at Christchurch, 2 at Featherston, and 1 at Invercargill. 21 iron pillar receivers and 59 receiving houses were open at the close of the year. 200,416 newspaper wrappers were sold between the Ist April and the 31st December, 1878 ; and 121,232 wrappers were disposed of to the public for the six months ended 30th June ultimo. Letter carriers' deliveries have been established at Eeefton, Lawrence, Featherstou, and Ashburton. Suburban letter-carriers' deliveries have also been established at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and the principal suburbs brought within the free delivery. At Napier, Wellington, Wanganui, and Invercargill the letter-carriers' deliveries have been extended. The Government Insurance business at Wellington was transferred from the charge of the Chief Postmaster on the Ist of July,<lB7B. Government Insurance Offices have been opened at the post offices at Newmarket, Ohinemutu, Manutahi, Amberley, Caversham, Hyde, Waihola, Bennett's, Aratapu, and Halcombe. The money order and savings bank office has been removed from Switzer's to Waikaia. The post offices at Bennett's, Waihola, and Waipahi have been removed to the railway stations. The post office, Mohaka, has been transferred to the telegraph station. The following changes of names of post offices have been made : Waiwera (Dunedin) to Waiwera South; White Cliffs Junction to Horndon Junction; Carleton to Bennett's ; Ashburton South to Tinwald ; Manutahi North to Lepperton ; Taueru (Upper) to Bideford ; Newcastle to Ngaruawahia ; Otamatea to Batley; Southbridge Junction to Hornby ; Lake Waipori to Berwick ; Teaneraki to Enfield ; and Coldstream to Ealing. Dead Lettebs. The regulations governing the return of unclaimed letters have been amended in the following important respect—viz., that letters posted within the colony, with the names and addresses of the senders printed on the address side of the envelopes, if not claimed within one month, are returned to the writers or senders by Chief Postmasters, instead of being retained for two months at the office of destination, and then forwarded to the Dead Letter Office to be opened and returned to the writers. Letters posted within the colony, having the names and addresses of the senders printed on the address side of the envelopes, together with a request that the letters be returned if not claimed within a stated period, are also similarly returned, provided the letters shall have remained in the post office to which they may be addressed at least ten days. This amended regulation should be of considerable advantage to business houses. 67,473 unclaimed or dead letters were disposed of during the year. The table underneath enumerates the number of this class of letters disposed of, year by year, since 1874 :—

The proportion of letters received in the Dead Letter Office, out of the total number transmitted' was as Ito 230. In the United Kingdom the proportion is Ito 217. The following particulars show the number and articles of value enclosed in letters which had been received at the Dead Letter Office:— £ s. d. 107 money orders for ... ... ... ... ... 344 9 1 58 bank drafts ... ... ... ... 2,332 18 0 97 cheques ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,190 15 7 2 promissory notes ... ... ... ... ... ... 58 10 8 Postage and stamps... ... ... ... ... ... 5 11 2 Banknotes ... ... ... ... ... ... 119 0 0 Gold ... - ... ... 11 0 0 Silver and copper ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 6 0£ Eepresenting a total of ... ... ... £4,063 10 6| The following articles were also received in the Dead Letter Office: 1 gold ring, 4 pairs gold earrings, 1 gold chain, 1 gold locket, 3 gold pins, 6 gold studs, 1 silver watch, 1 set silver studs, and 3 silver coins.

Manner of Disposal. 1874. 1875. 187G. 1877. 1878. •pened and returned to the writers Returned unopened to other countries leissued lestroyed 26,153 6,828 105 4,227 39,051 10,321 78 6,081 44,067 9,703 83 5,217 52,607 9,835 94 3,417 53,483 8,733 117 5,140 Totals 37,313 55,531 59,070 65,953 67,473

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567 registered letters were dealt with. 35 letters were posted without addresses. 427 letters were detained for postage ; only 22 were subsequently prepaid and forwarded to their respective addresses. 649 newspapers and 421 books and other articles without addresses reached the Dead Letter Office during the year, only 63 of which it was found practicable to deliver. 2 letters were detained for having obscene and libellous addresses. 76 letters were received imperfectly and wrongly addressed. 396 refused letters were received in the Dead Letter Office. 7 letters were posted with previously-used postage stamps. Eegisteeed Lettebs. 68,978 letters were registered during the year, being an increase of 8,391 on the number registered in 1877. Buildings. The new offices at Christchurch not having been completed within the time fixed by the contract, and the construction of the necessary fittings having produced a further delay, it was not practicable to remove the post office to the new buildings until the 14th instant. The change is one which cannot but be appreciated alike by the public and the officers of the department. Suitable offices for the joint accommodation of post office and telegraph have been erected at Newton, Auckland, and will' be shortly open to the public. The new offices at North Dunedin were occupied on the 4th January last. Plans have been prepared for new offices at Wellington. Beyond this nothing has been done. Additional accommodation to meet the increased business of both the post office and telegraph is urgently required. The erection of new offices at Timaru has been commenced, and the building should be completed in July next. Offices have been erected at Eakaia, Waihola, Duntroon, Kingston, Takapau, Featherston, and Halcombe. The offices at Ashburton and Masterton have been enlarged. New offices are being built at Patea, Gore, Catlin's River, Duvauchelle's Bay, Pahi, Wyndham, Ohaupo, and Woodville; and the offices at Hawera, Waipawa, Waipukurau, and Foxton are being enlarged. It is proposed to build offices at Oamaru, Eangiora, Mercer, Greatford, Lower Hutt, Westport, Normanby, Nuggets, Balclutha, Ahaura, Lake Wanaka, Alexandra, Waitahuna, Albury, Te Kopuru, Port Albert, Dargaville, Aratapu, Paparoa, and Waitara, and to enlarge the office at Wanganui. Inland Mail Services. The following are some of the more important Inland Mail Service alterations during 1878 : — Ngaruawahia and Whatawhata service made thrice weekly instead of twice weekly. Weekly service established between Ngunguru and Whangarei. Weekly service established between Waipu aud Maungaturoto. Maungatawhiri and Pokeno service increased from twice weekly to thrice weekly. Service between Napier and Petane increased from weekly to four times weekly. Services between Wellington, Foxton, and Wanganui, and Wanganui and Hawera, made daily. Twice-weekly service established between Norsewood and Ormondville. Second daily service established between Wellington and Masterton. Second daily service established between Greymouth, Kumara, and Hokitika. Thrice-weekly service established between Beefton and Boatman's. Weekly service established between Ahaura and Orwell Creek. Thrice-weekly service established between Leeston and Lakeside. Twice-weekly service established between Eakaia and Kyle. Daily service established between post office, Albany Street, and North-East Valley. Oamaru and Duntroon service made twice daily instead of daily. Daily service established between Dunedin and the Glen. Queenstown and Kingston service increased from twice to thrice weekly. Weekly service established between Tapanui and Crookston. Weekly service established between Skipper's and the Eeefs. Four-weekly service established between Long Bush and Waihopai. Daily service established between Invercargill and Sylvan Bank. The following statement shows the number and description of the inland services for the year compared with that of 1877: — 1878. 1877. Performed by coach and mail-cart ... ... 113 82 horseback ... ... ... 207 187 foot ... ... ... ... 52 43 „ water ... ... ... ... 45 46 „ railway ... ... ... 48 31 465 389 Aggregate mileage ... ... ... ... 8,355 7,314 Total number of miles travelled... ... ... 2,308,872 2,071,219 Cost to the department ... ... £28,435 10s. Bd. £28,797 Bs. 6d. Average cost per mile... ... ... 3d. 3|d.

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The cost per mile is a fraction less than the rate paid in 1577. This is mainly to be attributed to railway extensions. The question of payment by the department for the carriage of mails by rail having been raised by the railway authorities, the matter is now under consideration. No payment is at present made for the carriage of mails by ordinary trains, but special services, or special trains, when required by the department, are charged for at the rate of 15s. per mile. Mail Steam Services. The agreement of 1874, under which the Imperial Government consented to carry the colonial mails between San Francisco, Galle, Singapore, and London free of charge to the colonies, and to pay over the sums representing the outward postages (less the British inland rate), provided the colonies established and maintained at their own cost mail services to either the points named, expired on the 31st December last. In view of the expiration of the agreement, the Secretary of State for the Colonies made proposals to the several Australasian Governments for a readjustment of the amount of postage to be retained by the Imperial Government, after the Ist of January ofthe present year, on the outward correspondence for the colonies. The proposal was that the Imperial Post Office should retain threepence per half-ounce letter in addition to the inland rate previously referred to, thus reducing the amount to be paid the several Colonial Governments from fivepence to twopence per half-ounce letter. As there was no apparent reason in justification of the proposed reduced payment the proposal was naturally met by a strong protest from all the colonies, and the several AgentsGeneral were instructed by their respective Governments to urge for more favourable terms. Correspondence on this subject will be found among the printed papers relative to the San Francisco Mail Service, recently presented to Parliament. The result of the negotiations was that the Imperial Government consented to the coutinuancc of the old arrangement until the 31st of January next, when the present Suez Contract will expire, and thereafter to retain twopence, instead of fourpence per half-ounce letter as originally proposed. As this Government is, however, in conjunction with that of New South AVales, committed to a heavy annual expenditure until October, 1883, on account of the San Francisco Mail Service, and as the present contract was entered into under the belief that the arrangement of 1874 would not be disturbed during the term of the contract, the Imperial Government has been urged to approve of a further extension of the existing payments until the termination of the San Francisco Mail Contract. There is reason to hope that this may eventually be agreed to. The contract for the amended San Francisco Service has not been finally executed. The amended agreement has been accepted by the Pacific Mail Company, but the sureties' bond is not completed. The Contractors having been unable to obtain a surety in the place of Mr. Macgregor, the contracting Governments, after protracted negotiations, consented to accept the firm of Messrs. John Elder and Co. as sole surety for the due performance of the contract. The San Francisco Service continues to be performed with regularity. The Contractors have shown every desire to consult the interests of the contracting colonies, and to improve the service. The mails, with one exception, have been delivered in London and Auckland within contract time. Tho outward mails have been landed in Auckland in 40 and 42 days, the average transit occupying 4092 days, and to Dunedin 4608 days. The homeward mails, on the average, have been delivered in London in 4033 days from Auckland, and 4542 days from Dunedin. The shortest delivery from Auckland was made in 39 days, and the longest in 43 days. The mails despatched in April last by the " City of New York " were delivered in London in 43 days from Sydney. The coastal service for the carriage of the San Francisco mails between Port Chalmers and Auckland has been recently rearranged. The homeward mails from Otago, Canterbury, Nelson, and Wellington are now despatched a day later, while Gisborne and Tauranga are enabled to forward English correspondence to Auckland within two days of the sailing of the mail steamer. The outward mails by the Galle and Suez Service have invariably been delivered considerably within schedule time. The August and September Brindisi mails respectively were landed at the Bluff in 44 days. The homeward mails, via Brindisi, have been delivered in London from the Bluff, on the average, in 5P61 days. Mails by the Stad Haarlem were landed at Port Chalmers in 56 days from Plymouth. Advantage was taken of the Stad Haarlem's return voyage to forward direct mails to London. She left Lyttelton on the sth May last, via Cape Horn, and her mails wero delivered in London on the 30th ultimo, the transit occupying 56 days. The postal receipts and the several payments in respect of the San Francisco and Galle Mail Services for 1878 are disclosed in the following statement: — San Francisco Service. Db. £ s. d. £ s. d. Subsidy to Pacific Mail Company ... ... 32,500 0 0 Estimated bonus due Contractors ... ... 1,500 0 0 Interprovincial services, Mail Agents, &c. ... 7,657 13 9 41,657 13 9 Cb. Postages from London Post Office ... ... 13,029 511 Postages collected in the colony ... ... 13,339 17 1 Beceipts from non-contracting colonies ... 2,855 14 9 29,224 17 9 Net cost to the colony ... ... ... £12,432 16 0 The estimated net cost of the service to the colony for 1877 was £13,181 15s. 3d.

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Galle and Suez Service. De. £ s. d. £ s. d. Payments to Victoria ... ... ... 9,348 16 4 Intercolonial service, &c. ... ... ... 5,104 0 0 14,452 16 4 Cb. Postages from London Post Office ... ... 3,556 18 9 Postages collected in the colony ... ... 3,504 5 6 7,061 4 3 Net cost to the colony ... ... ... £7,39112 1 For 1877 the net cost was £6,844 Is. The payment made for the year for the transmission of correspondence by the Torres Straits Mail Service was £45 4s. 3d. The contract for the carriage of the Suez mails between Melbourne and New Zealand expired in September. The agreement, however, has been renewed until the date of the expiration of the contract between the Victorian Government and the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the Galle and Melbourne Service —viz., Ist February, 1880. The Government of Victoria have concluded a contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Company for a fortnightly service between Melbourne and London, commencing in February next. The question of the future carriage of our English mails via Melbourne aud Galle will, therefore, require to be reconsidered at an early date. It has been necessary, owing to the increase of mail matter transmitted by the San Francisco Service, to appoint Assistant Mail Agents. The office of Senior Mail Agent has been made permanent. A thirteen-knot steam service has been established between Queenstown and Kingston. It was considered desirable that a better class of steamer should ply on Lake Wakatipu on the completion of tho railway to Kingston, not alone for accelerating the delivery of the mails, but also as an indirect means of encouraging railway traffic. Steam services have been established between Tauranga and Katikati, and Waitara and Mokau ; and a nominal subsidy is paid the steamer Patea trading between Wellington and Patea. Savings Banks. There were 13,005 new accounts opened during the year, against 11,235 in 1877; and 9,634 accounts were closed, against 8,591 in 1877. The number of accounts remaining open at the close of the year was 32,132, against 28,761 at the close of 1877. The deposits received during the year were 69,908, amounting to £762,084 125., the average amount of each depoisit being £10 18s. The withdrawals were 42,746 for £742,043 14s. 3d., the average amount of each being £17 7s. 2d. The amount at the credit of depositors had increased to £819,071 Bs. 2d. at the close of 1878, from £767,375 17s. Bd. at the close of 1877. The excess of deposits over withdrawals was £20,030 17s. 9d., against £14,271 ss. 9d. in 1877; and a sum of £31,664 12s. 9d. was credited to depositors for interest, against £29,193 14s. Od. in 1877. Since the establishment of Post Office Savings Banks in the colony in 1867, 89,261 accounts have been opened, and 57,129 closed. There were therefore 32,132 accounts remaining open on the 31st of December, last. The total amount deposited from the commencement of the savings-bank system, inclusive of the interest credited depositors, was £5,795,316 4s. 6d., aud the total amount withdrawn was £4,979,244 16s. 4d. The balance remaining on deposit on the 31st of December, 1878, was £819,071 Ss. 2d. The average cost of each Post Office Savings Bank transaction, deposit or withdrawal, in the year IS7B was SJd., and for the whole period of the existence ofthe Post Office Savings Banks in the colony, 7d. The total amount of interest credited to depositors since the establishment of the Post Office Savings Banks in the colony is £214,006 14s. 2d. The average daily number of deposits during 1878 was 228, and the average daily amount £2,490. The proportion of depositors to the population was 1 to 13 for the year 1878. In the United Kingdom the proportion was, in 1877, 1 to 19 —or 1 to 15 in England and Wales, 1 to 74 in Scotland, and 1 to 82 in Ireland. Monit Ordees. The transaction of Money Order business was extended to 9 new offices—namely, to Blueskin, Dargaville, Halcombe, Inglewood, Kopua, The Port (Nelson), Waihola, Wangaroa, and Waitara. There were 101,017 orders issued during the year for £368,254 16s. 10d., against 90,672 orders for £334,973 7s. 9d. in 1877, the increase being 10,345 orders and £33,281 9s. Id. The number of money orders paid was 74,937 for £270,915 Is. 10d., against 68,558 orders for £254,334 4s. 10d., paid in 1877 ; the increase being 6,379 orders and £16,580 17s. The money orders issued in New Zealand for payment in the United Kingdom and the Australian Colonies were" 30,486 in number for £117,393 10s. 10d., and 4,788 orders for £20,532 12s. 9d. were issued in those countries for payment in New Zealand. There was accordingly a balance of upwards of £90,000 remitted out of the colony by means of money orders. In 1877 the balance against the colony was £80,000, in 1876 £77,000, and in 1875 £81,000. The telegraph was used during the year for the transmission of 13,228 orders, amounting to £54,807 10s. 6d. For the previous year, 12,478 orders, for £55,653, were sent hy wire. The revenue derived from the issue of money orders was £6,288 135., against £5,714 18s. 4d.,for the year 1877, the increase being £573 14s. Bd. The average number of money orders for every 100 persons in New Zealand was 233. In the United Kingdom, in 1877, the average was 637 for England and Wales, 43 for Scotland, and 22-5 for Ireland.

9

F.—l.

Table No. 1. Table showing the Number and Amount of Money Orders issued and of Money Orders made payable in New Zealand, Year by Year, since the Year 1863.

Table Wo. 2. Statement of the Money Orders issued in New Zealand on the United Kingdom and the Australian Colonies during the Years 1877 and 1878.

0NEY RDERS 'SSUED IN THE 0L0NY. Where Payable. Total. Year. Commission Received. In the Colony. Uni ited Kingdom. Australian Colonies. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 £ ». d. 1,057 9 o 1,619 2 6 1,463 18 6 1,761 14 o 1,815 '9 6 1,863 1 6 i,932 3 ° 2,367 3 6 2,608 3 6 3,068 17 6 3.562 3 2 4,393 2 3 4,950 19 4 5,261 19 2 5,7'4 '8 4 6,288 13 o 2,201 4.267 6,2()2 8,924 IO,29 . 11,898 '4-..05 l6,82I 20,514 28,1 .6 34,288 40,968 48,611 55.748 64,000 7°i53* £ »• d9,613 11 11 19,427 4 4 29,742 15 1 42,823 4 1 49,496 13 o 54,342 18 6 63,897 1 10 73.344 " 9 88,546 9 7 120,125 14 8 142,642 4 10 171,683 6 1 ■93.5s 1 13 9 212,089 1 6 233804 15 10 250,861 6 o 4,74° 7,700 7,756 9,238 9,242. 9,241 9,263 9,624 10,407 10,619 Ii,9i3 14,379 16,949 17,33' 18,369 21,169 £ s. d. 21,944 2 I 35,74i 5 ° 33,426 11 5 41,987 15 o 40,998 14 11 40,581 13 9 39,939 8 6 4i,472 3 7 44,197 18 3 44,535 9 9 48,547 11 4 57,821 2 6 66,332 14 9 66,977 4 2 69,670 11 10 80,681 15 8 4,645 4,625 3,'88 4,548 4.938 4,7i5 4,859 5,419 5.37o 5,885 6,150 7,36.5 7.467 7,i76 8,303 9,3i7 £ s. d. 24,145 7 5 23,388 10 2 15,406 17 2 23,968 5 2 25,' 1.5 5 1 23,286 11 5 23,381 14 7 25,637 12 7 24,653 5 9 26,347 17 7 28,068 5 5 33,6.59 19 2 33,597 2 3 31,202 o 3 31,498 o 1 36,7" 15 2 11,586 16,592 17.236 22,710 24,473 25,854 28,427 31,864 36,291 44,660 52,351 62,712 73,027 80,255 90,672 1 o 1,017 £ 8. d. 55,70.3 1 5 78,556 19 6 78,576 3 8 108,779 4 9 115,610 13 o 118,211 3 8 127,218 4 11 140,454 7 11 157,397 13 7 191,009 2 o 219,258 1 7 263,164 7 9 293,481 10 9 310,268 5 11 334,973 7 9 368,254 16 10 Money Orders diiawn on the Colon Where Issued. Total. Year. the Colony. lited Kingdom. Aus1 tralian Colonies. Ni'. Amount. Nn. Amount. No. Amount. No. I _ Amount. 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 ■873 1874 i8/5 1876 1877 1878 2,067 4,248 6,218 8,886 io.353 1' .903 14,250 16,798 20,514 27.983 34,288 40,968 48,61: 55,748 64,000 7o,53i £ s- d. 9,169 4 6 19417 10 5 29,282 13 10 42,768 to 9 49,931 17 2 54.349 8 3 63,820 15 5 73.245 8 3 88,592 o 3 119,676 1 2 142/142 4 10 171,683 6 1 193.551 13 9 212,089 1 6 233,804 15 10 250,861 6 o 415 675 762 1,100 1,198 1,401 1,218 1,156 1.396 1.504 1,482 1,603 1,969 2,243 2,258 2,260 £ »• d. 1,824 o 8 3,274 2 2 3,568 15 10 5,021 14 9 5,649 2 10 6,502 3 o 5,630 18 8 5,523 4 4 6,217 11 5 7,078 8 6 6,625 14 5 7,284 10 7 9,262 9 7 10,202 13 6 9,744 8 8 9,833 18 6 558 697 700 917 1,108 1,294 1,272 1,267 1,318 .459 1,668 1,800 1.995 2,385 2,568 2,528 £ s. d. 3,o77 13 7 3,776 1 7 3,7i2 1 5 4.753 3 10 5,570 6 4 6,685 1 3 6,382 4 3 6,055 6 11 5,9i4 18 7 6,803 15 3 7,689 6 8 8,316 17 5 9,340 19 11 10,838 16 8 11,056 2 7 10,698 14 3 3>°4° 5,620 7,680 10,903 12,659 14,598 16,740 19,221 23,228 30,946 37.438 44-371 52.575 60.376 68,826 75.319 £ s- d14,070 18 9 26,467 14 2 ..6,563 II I 52,543 9 4 61,151 6 4 67,536 12 6 75,833 18 4 84,823 19 6 100,724 10 3 133,558 4 11 ■56,957 5 11 187,284 14 1 212,153 3 3 233,130 11 8 254.605 7 1 271,393 18 9

1877. 1878. Where Payable. Number. Amount. Number. Amount. Jnited Kingdom /ictoria South Australia Sew South Wales iueensland rasmania iVesterii Australia 18,369 5,2i6 291 2,104 217 469 6 £ »• d. 69,670 11 10 20,951 17 9 1,137 16 1 6,340 11 2 691 11 5 2,344 13 8 31 10 o 21,169 5,923 380 2,375 172 45° 17 £ s. d. 80,681 15 8 23,956 12 o 1,483 3 3 8,369 o 2 713 17 4 2,144 17 5 44 5 o Totals 26,672 101,168 11 11 30,486 "7,393 10 10 Statement of the Money Orders is: New Zealai ied in the United Kingdom a: 1 during the Years 1877 and id the Australi; 1878. in Colonies on 1877. 1878. Where Issued. Number. Amount. Number. Amount. United Kingdom Victoria South Australia ... New South Wales Queensland Tasmania Western Australia 2,258 1,110 •5° 877 193 225 13 £ s. d. 9,744 8 8 4,819 10 3 627 1 9 3,609 5 8 889 10 6 1.033 16 7 76 17 10 2,260 iii°5 124 864 '75 244 16 £ s. d. 9,833 18 6 4,442 14 5 528 12 6 3.617 12 9 756 15 9 1,236 12 10 116 6 o Totals 4,826 20,800 11 3 4,788 20,532 12 9 2—F. 1.

E.-l.

Table No. 3. Table showing the Number and Amount of Transactions at the several Money Order and Savings Bank Offices in the Colony of New Zealand during the Year 1878.

10

Money Orders. Savings Banks. Offices. Issued. Paid. gi2 °8g De No. Deposits. 'eposits. Amount. <S-6 — c v o u u Withdrawals. No. Commission. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. Auckland Alexandra Aratapu Cambridge ... Dargaville Drury Hamilton Hokianga Kapanga Kawakawa ... Mangapai Mangawhare... Mercer Mongonui Ngaruawahia Ohinemutu ... Onehunga Opotiki Otahuhu Pahi Port Albert ... Pukekohe Raglan Russell Tauranga TeArai Te Awamutu... Te Kopuru Waipu Waiuku Waiwera Warkworth ... Whangarei Whangaroa ... 5,723 447 366 879 62 121 951 333 610 426 144 265 229 207 33i 69 328 309 175 64 138 90 285 280 717 65 375 183 267 275 161 £ s. d. 409 7 10 19 17 o 13 19 o 4i 17 4 2 10 6 5 16 8 44 3 6 23 1 8 28 7 2 25 8 2 5 5 o 12 16 6 8 16 4 896 14 1 2 520 20 13 6 14 15 o 8 8 6 360 4 18 6 300 10 5 6 14 11 4| 40 19 6j 3 3 6 | 16 13 4 7 13 6| 9 14 °\ 11 15 4i 6 13 10 8 16 10! 1692 8 15 4 £ s. d. 21,800 17 I 1,620 5 4 1,508 3 5 3,041 8 9 343 13 9 428 n 5 3,209 13 6 i,5'4 3 1 1,657 15 o 1,602 2 8 581 19 o 1,401 14 5 566 13 5 704 16 8 819 13 2 314 14 2 1,188 10 10 994 2 4 479 1 3 2S3 13 9 49i 17 2 242 3 8 1,350 o 9 1,071 19 2 2,490 15 11 238 15 10 1,190 18 11 963 8 o 1,118 14 o 911 16 11 S64 3 5 686 5 3 1,016 14 11 707 9 7 n,i35 167 33 204 4 86 4471 56 260 83 28 23 55 69 209 46 605 135 187 19 48 38 38 •57 358 21 "3 6 68 100 16 103 165 53J £ s. d. 42,319 19 8 572 11 8 194 16 o 756 15 10 12 10 6 358 15 11 1,469 18 4 334 18 7 812 24 449 15 7 148 9 1 64 3 2 191 2 10 369 17 7 825 o 2 251 12 7 2,597 11 10 529 14 8 711 o 4 88 10 7 196 5 2 165 1 3 149 11 3 563 19 5 1,184 o 5 69 13 10 572 1 2 43 11 6 304 15 7 396 14 4 72 3 o 477 1 3 624 o o 199 S 9 37 12 i6 10 801 6 50 38 io 5 83 5 16 46 6 22 9 6 23 4,650 34 199 154 21 58 377 14 94 203 15 75 43 2; 8c 21 216 32 145 27 7 20 i? 66 £ s. dJ 57,509 18 4 MS 6 3 1,686 3 o 992 15 o 382 10 o 2/9 8 5 2,218 6 o 221 18 O 601 IO II 1,676 O O 99 11 o 1,197 2 o 5'4 14 o 176 7 o 622 9 o 112 14 O 2,156 6 7 402 8 5 55' 8 o 137 10 o 53 19 o 42 10 o 122 18 o 356 13 8 1,510 11 10 251 16 o 572 14 o 636 18 o 461 Io o 424 o 9 456 13 o 477 5 o 509 7 o 45' 10 722 4 17 ... 1 4! «_ 7 8 9, 3 3 12 1 15! 6 4,136 20 SI 45 1 20 140 4 20 29 7 27 12 17 33 54 11 £ s. d. 60,672 o 8 194 17 9 1,075 15 o 617 6 10 100 o o 159 o 10 1,234 15 10 97 o o 309 3 o 801 8 10 70 o o 483 5 io 127 14 4 287 5 11 869 10 9 16 4 1 832 17 2 211 6 7 558 19 6 28 o o 124 o 9 64 12 7 87 9 o 769 1 8 978 17 6 125 5 o 281 14 11 94 o o 147 10 6 166 8 8 180 o o . 2 3 7 18 7 1 2 " _ 12 55 3 8 6 9 23 40 7 "5 5 12 30 8 150 27 95 7° 18 7' 46 51 85 37 12 15 9 14 5 10 20 7 2 3 12 4 19 30 5 239 317 222 2 10 '92 S 4 496 3 5 28 10 o 20 Thames 1,65. 92 2 8 5,774 '8 9 1,330; 4,837 2 9 325 1,962 20,285 '9 4 219 i,775 19.893 17 11 New Plymouth Hawera Inglewood Manutahi Patea Waitara I1301 529 73 90 444 76 81 19 4 26 19 4 5 10 2 5 11 o 25 1 o 5 4 8 4,615 9 8 1,779 1 6 235 18 1 ..65 3 3 1,446 13 o 276 10 8 737 .48 9 19 327! 44 2,698 o 9 638 13 11 36 10 o 49 12 4 1,123 11 11 168 5 4 191 24 1.3 3 33 8 1,002 74 27 8 142 20 14,998 o 3 1,118 14 7 615 6 9 58 o o 2,563 11 11 IC2 2 O 148 21 4 676 4' 8 1 16,951 1 3 927 7 9 230 9 7 2 10 o 15 2 29 7 2,214 5 9 74 o 4 Napier Gisborne Hastings Kopua Port Ahuriri ... Taupo Waipawa Waipukurau ... Wairoa 2,284 i,537 85 110 276 398 384 300 259 167 15 6 109 17 6 6 18 6 7 14 6 1980 25 12 6 27 6 10 2184 ■3 17 8 8,815 12 10 6,308 14 6 359 3 o 496 10 o 1,118 6 4 1,587 7 8 1,359 19 10 1,051 2 o 939 16 5 1.485I 394 35 6 131 55 107 43 81 5,403 19 4 1,635 2 6 no 13 9 29 1 o 629 19 11 220 9 5 317 18 4 144 9 9 277 18 5 389 123 4 19 17 II 1,910 502 33 54 133 56 135 58 78 20,349 8 9 4,59° 9 11 217 16 o 582 o o 978 13 3 438 9 1 1,181 4 8 774 1 o 295 12 o 313 63 5 17 4 17 8 i,347 '58 6 11 7° 14 52 25 4 21.157 3 o 2,792 16 3 39 1 8 161 9 7 733 7 8 167 2 1 983 1 1 347 8 11 11 11 7 33 21 14 2 Wellington ... Bull's Carterton Featherston ... Feilding Foxton Greytown Halcombe Hutt Marton Masterton Palmerston N. Sanson Turakina Upper Hutt ... Waitotara Wanganui Waverley 10,317 519 346 342 600 384' 437 20 646 15 2 30 2 8 19 15 2 19 17 10 28 4 8 2100 24 19 o 1 6 2 8 8c 33 15 2 51 8 2 30 14 6 8 11 o 11 7 8 7 3 10 7 1 10 174 13 10 12 16 10 34,o6i 8 2 1,760 6 s 1,222 2 5 1,162 13 9 i,946 15 5 1,182 3 10 1,699 14 9 72 9 10 695 12 8 2,274 2 I 2,981 9 2 1,742 6 II 536 2 7 752 5 3 353 'o 6 618 18 2 9,925 10 3 75 1 3 6 10,318 193 145 146 197 273! 231 2 101 293 327 380 70 78 7Sj 49 1.577 58 38,437 5 1 737 14 3 613 11 8 458 8 7 723 2 9 765 1 1 850 10 3 3 16 4 33i 7 4 847 14 2 1,230 9 11 1,140 15 5 187 o 1 259 9 3 287 18 4 182 4 9 5,685 12 8 190 18 o 2,000 11,922 162 96 205 129 138 178 5 287 146 228 130,265 10 9 1,039 6 9 59o 5 2 2,360 9 9 787 12 11 1,044 IS o 1,138 2 o 40 o o 2,584 13 o 970 6 4 2,147 11 10 1,149 o 2 563 15 5 443 o 9 1,838 7 5 163 14 o 11,353 16 5 214 9 o 1,677 13 13 33 17 14 21 8,604 44 25 76 43 43 73 i34,m 9 ° 1,026 14 8 670 19 10 i,i34 13 1 662 7 2 731 10 o 851 15 7 174 619 837 607 216 218 116 182 2,638 226 42 24 7° 43 25 38 3 46 37 65 41 13 10 27 6 283 6 IS 24 48 29 6 6 7 2 53 46 134 61 16 13 29 . 3i c 7 883 9 6 891 4 5 2,917 o 8 1,442 10 1 34i 11 5 196 8 7 562 11 6 76 8 2 7.194 5 10 157 I0 n ■3' 63 59 152 63 1,136 17 121 3 Blenheim Havelock Kaikoura Picton i,57o 53: 182 573 90 12 10 23 17 2 i'i 8 10 26 10 4 6,076 13 6 2,039 11 11 658 12 1 2,193 11 1 714 162 72 385 2,339 15 9 580 4 9 205 1 7 i,376 S 6 ■55 18 13 57 861 107 36 295 9,736 9 8 945 8 5 546 9 o 2,435 17 3 M4 i? 9 23 547 4. 87 10,226 14 3 1,009 9 4 548 4 11 2,426 7 1 Nelson Coliingwood ... 1,864 321 108 6 o 11 15 6 6,213 16 6 1,219 9 7 3,650 56 14,719 14 4 198 7 1 211 11 1,325 28 12,532 18 8 613 1 o 182 6 789 15 14,961 18 8 436 5 i

.F.—l.

11

Table No. 3— conti ,nued. 'able showing the Number and Amount of Transactions at the in the Colony of New Zealand during t'. several Money Order and Savings Bank Offices he Year 1878 — continued. Money Orders. Savings Banks. Offices. Issued. Paid. z = _ Deposits. U '— C u Withdrawals. No. Commission. Amount. No. Amount. _; No. Amount. . o ° O O u No. Amount. Motueka Port Richmond 346 60 92 16 s 8 4 13 10 6 5 6 1,419 2 1 262 8 10 394 2 8 305 15 112 i,390 14 3 53 2 4 513 5 2 32 3 200 26 143 £ •• d. 2,130 5 o 179 9 o 1,293 16 o 15 70 £ s. d. 1,152 16 10 4 20 691 18 o Westport Charleston Lyell 87. 424 585 57 14 10 25 13 6 36 9 10 3,257 8 3 1,469 6 o 3,368 16 s 718 164 64 2,845 16 2 475 12 3 267 17 o 69 28 9 4°5 208 36 4,184 13 8 ',972 5 8 696 16 o 79 12 303 57 31 5,936 4 1 2,564 3 1 956 7 2 11 5reymouth Ahaura Reefton 2,067 814 1,417 132 17 2 40 3 10 96 n o 7,316 2 10 3,841 17 2 5,721 18 o 1.965 98 691 6,460 17 5 414 16 2 2,387 o II 124 16 658 119 229 8,708 10 o 1,094 '9 ii 2,833 13 9 128 6 605 28 90 9,918 n 1 478 10 4 1,914 16 2 55 37 Iokitika Kumara Ross 1,363 1,122 276 87 2 10 63 n 8 13 16 6 5,030 18 6 3,895 n 6 932 10 6 i,743 388 228 5,669 19 10] 1,410 6 d 788 11 8j 66 81 4.8 432 111 4,582 16 2 4,183 n 9 1,285 16 3 no 43 16 414 172 51 6,954 19 o 2,693 16 2 1,242 16 6 19 Christchurch ... Akaroa Amberley Ashburton Cheviot Dunsandel Geraldine Hurunui Kaiapoi Leithfield Lyttelton Malvern Oxford Rakaia Rangiora Southbridge ... Temuka Timaru Waiau Waimate Woolston 8,065 440 228 1,277 63 132 340 72 357 135 1,038 233 273 302 396 3°5 55° 2,637 ,64 843 38 625 15 o 23 4 o 17 18 o 78 8 o 5°o 6 15 o 20 o 2 4 16 o 22 IS O 5 2 8 67 17 8 13 13 4 11 7 4 15 12 6 29 18 2 17 1 6 31 n o 179 18 2 9 IS 2 45 17 6 212 6 30,669 o 3 i,379 12 5 926 7 8 4,472 4 8 248 13 2 388 12 8 1,175 9 3 290 3 8 1,144 1 o 310 1 2 3,S4o 7 o 830 13 7 798 6 6 1,063 14 2 1,35° 9 7 858 6 6 1,859 18 3 10,098 16 3 647 15 9 3,229 18 2 141 16 4 •5,72i 201 65 377 8 32 76 12 308 41 580 '65 103 66 208 139 188 1,219 37 226 28 19,730 14 1 866 16 9 241 1 0 i,537 6 6 30 7 8 ; 156 12 7 236 10 8 63 7 o 1,252 2 10 189 5 3 1,978 10 o 316 14 5 341 5 3 221 13 7 818 19 1 436 3 o 721 16 1 4,032 13 4 119 12 2 784 7 9 98 7 6 2,097 38 25 119 11 7 35 15 83 5 143 7 23 31 75 27 52 413 14 63 15 12,230 194 91 444 '7 29 192 53 388 47 902 32 111 145,049 14 4 i,949 3 4 811 16 o 5,006 3 6 380 s 9 363 o 4 1,0.53 6 o 582 16 0 3,i34 11 0 432 5 o 7,603 16 o 363 17 o 1,516 13 ° 973 11 o 3,091 3 o 706 o o 1,264 4 8 16,498 12 2 1,592 9 o 1,875 14 8 620 16 o 1,45° 14 9 73 3 6 16 3 40 7 80 8,131 53 24 187 6 9 38 4 119 23 252 I? 4i 54 121 4' 88 613 21 82 154,633 11 7 1,269 3 s 316 13 5 3,686 4 5 189 6 7 127 11 1 418 14 10 37 1 " 1,889 12 5 374 12 10 3,888 6 4 303 o 9 535 J3 7 606 1 8 3,224 8 10 1,121 14 3 1,925 12 9 12,273 10 11 477 10 6 i,4H 13 7 501 3 1 10 12 92 350 99 212 i,7i5 76 212 104 24 5° 19 44 275 3 40 2 22 _>unedin Albany Street... Arrow River ... Balclutha Blucskin Clinton Clyde Cromwell Green Island ... Hamilton's Hampden Hyde Kaitangata ... Kakanui Lawrence Manuhevikia ... Mataura Milton Mosgiel Naseby Oamaru Ophir Otepopo Outram Palmerston Port Chalmers Queenstown ... Roxburgh St. Bathans ... Tapanui Waihola Waikaia Waikouaiti 7,082 669 320 53' 88 36s 525 480 79 149 250 57 298 252 623 260 270 5 J5 135 490 2,637 288 553 8 2 46 18 o 17 15 4 29 19 6 4 4 6 18 9 4 23 7 10 24 5 4 828 9 18 6 n 3 6 2 13 o 11 13 o 13 9 8 31 12 o 11 9 8 13 2 2 26 3 2 8 12 o 24 14 8 179 16 10 12 11 2 9 13 6 n n 6 24 19 4 52 18 10 22 610 17 20 10 18 2 18 11 10 4 10 8 18 15 2 1890 27,782 19 5 2,285 16 1 9Si S 6 1,825 3 11 374 17 2 1,273 12 11 2,415 11 3 1,602 s 6 336 10 8 689 10 11 759 14 7 218 12 4 941 12 5 1,165 14 8 2,142 6 2 730 2 1 867 16 8 1,675 11 8 469 11 2 i,S9i 9 2 10,693 ■ 1 9 968 o 6 689 10 10 S96 9 5 1,556 18 1 3,152 14 7 1,329 8 1 1,169 8 10 581 10 8 1,179 18 o 366 13 9 2,100 10 8 1,272 13 n u,758 321 76 3" 39 67 39,809 11 3 1,224 9 7 200 16 10 1,118 11 1 181 18 6 282 10 2 306 1 7 404 18 6 262 4 7 97 4 2 336 8 1 79 19 8 201 15 5 '45 9 o 1,4" 13 1 309 7 10 292 o o i,5i5 3 2 381 14 5 410 6 4 3,392 8 2 186 15 5 in 46 274 3 8 691 15 2 2,344 17 9 1, 663 17 1 335 8 7 | 114 4 01 420 16 2 79 14 o 168 12 4 626 o 9 1,789 194 8 59 21 20 13 13 21 8 10.227 1,862 18 163 69 73 76 84 165 126,158 o 10 12,033 19 4 713 o o 2,436 7 6 269 1 o 379 n 7 235 3 o 462 15 o 1,309 16 o 1,100 18 o 360 19 o 1,849 97 10 28 5 6 7,902 377 13 83 12 17 141,902 15 3 5,025 12 4 241 2 1 1,444 8 4 283 17 11 281 4 o 38S 6 4 175 10 3 562 7 8 751 9 10 203 19 10 42 18 9 37 18 9 143 16 9 2,314 2 10 241 o II 3i5 9 2 1,962 19 s 537 2 8 902 4 o ii,5*4 ° 4 1*07 7 o 171 8 o 168 4 7 1,092 s 7 3,309 14 4 262 8 9 148 8 3 70 1 1 59i 7 7 1000 938 14 1 433 16 1 129 138 90 i? 83 15 66 7 18 '5 25 25 20 9 44 59 8 8 I '5 4 5i 3 9 7i 18 22 367 2 6 10 196 6 o 405 10 o 2,426 o o 31 1 o o 197 12 o 2,538 1 8 808 19 o 682 12 o 15,995 2 9 8 n o 389 12 o 259 18 o 1,430 14 6 5,197 3 4 459 15 o 348 16 6 475 5 11 382 8 10 146 19 o 489 7 7 657 19 o 1 6 37 440 62 58 27 300 2 S 33 2 8 45 14 16 9 88 6 92 411 86 5 51 364 108 94 i,3S8 10 14 115 24 40 487 1 221 220 507 769 435 396 263 364 105! 455: 37 6 129 1,007 43 34 92 199 572 223 in 31 57 111 671 40 23 33 101 217 1 4 5 20 76 8 14 15 48 239 17 16 32 120 29 106 11 7 6 18 7 7 22 4 1 23 1 9 11 3 34 2 30 48 148 20 39 90 21 34 Invercargill ... Campbelltown Gore Longbush Riverton Winton 2,278 282 5'7 ■5' 470 225 164 12 o 13 12 10 23 12 4 5 17 i° 27 3 ic n 10 ic 8,738 14 4 1,299 9 1 1,682 13 7 402 o 1 1,586 16 9 70S 4 7 i»573 133 108 4,844 12 2 59o 5 6 572 15 o 99 5 o 652 12 9 169 15 21 294 10 22 18 28 1,344 64 52 72 96 68 18,365 7 2 761 9 2 979 " 1 545 o 11 808 1 4 954 2 9 207 3 11 6 932 14 27 IS 34 J5 17,112 17 3 197 10 4 630 13 2 155 i° 4 667 8 2 355 8 8 29 172 67 14 7 20 Total 6,288 13 o 368,254 16 10 270,915 1 10 13,005 69,908 762,084 12 o 9,634; 42,746] 742,053 14 3 101017 74,937

F.-l.

12

Table No. 4. Statement of the Business of the Post Office Savings Banks in New Zealand, Year by Year, from the date of their Establishment to the 31st December, 1878.

Postal District. Number of Post Office Savings Banks open at the close of the Year. Number of Deposits received during the Year. Total Amount of Deposits received during the Year. Average Amount of each Deposit received during the Year. Number of Withdrawals during the Yenr. Total Amount of Withdrawals during the Year. A\-erage Amount of each Withdrawal during the Year. Excess of Deposits over Withdrawals during the Year. Excess of Withdrawals over Deposits during the Year. Cost of Management during the Year. Average Cost of each Transaction, Deposit, or Withdrawal. Interest for the Year. Number of Accounts opened during the Year. Number of Accounts closed during the Year. Number of Accounts remaining open at close ofthe Year. Total Amount standing to the Credit of all open Accounts, inclusive of Interest to the ciose of the Year. Average Amount standingto the Creditof each open Account at close of the Year. Auckland Thames Taranaki Hawke's Bay Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westport Greymouth Hokitika Canterbury Otago Southland 34 I 5 9 20 4 5 3 3 3 21 7,243 1,962 1,273 2,959 iS.i'7 1,299 1,722 649 1,006 961 17,590 16,4.. 1,696 I £ 8. d. 78,OI2 3 2 20,285 19 4 19,455 15 6 29,407 14 8 158,694 16 8 13,664 4 4 i6,749 9 8 6,853 15 4 12,637 3 8 10.052 4 2 194,869 17 9 178,987 15 4 22,413 12 5 £ 8. d. 10 15 5 10 6 9 15 5 8 9 18 9 IO IO o 10 10 5 9 14 6 10 11 2 4,881 i,775 762 1,687 9,58i 691 894 39i 723 637 9,946 9,74i 1,037 £ 8. d. 72,482 12 3 19,893 17 II 20,399 14 8 26,393 1 10 153,852 10 5 14,210 15 7 17,242 18 7 9,456 14 4 12,311 17 7 10,891 n 8 189,214 8 9 176,584 2 9 19,119 7 n £ 8. d. 14 16 II II 42 26 15 s 15 12 10 16 I 2 20 II 4 19 5 9 24 3 8 17 o 7 17 111 19 06 18 2 6 18 8 8 £ s- d. 5,529 IO II 392 1 5 3,014 12 10 4,842 6 3 £ 8. d. 943 19 2 546 11 3 493 8 11 2,602 19 O ... ... ... ... | £ s. d. 3,558 7 7 i,i37 3 9 646 17 o 1,169 4 2 S,4o6 o 5 819 12 2 1,136 12 4 413 9 3 7°3 18 9 57i 2 3 7,828 1 4 7,180 8 o 1,093 15 9 1-378 325 272 631 2,779 243 274 106 935 219 190 429 2,049 193 207 102 171 169 2,180 2,542 248 I 4,126 1,074 700 1,264 5,726 744 1,025 391 920 8,272 6,320 1 £ 8- d. 94,588 14 5 28,183 11 4 15,552 19 10 31,189 18 1 143,439 14 9 20,543 15 1 28,127 10 o 9,691 3 10 17.683 ii) 4 13,487 18 7 203,845 IO o 182,727 7 10 39,009 5 1 £ a- d. 22 18 6 26 4 10 22 4 4 24 13 6 25 1 o 27 12 3 27 8 10 24 15 >s 19 4 5 26 2 9 24 12 10 28 18 3 37 ° 3 12 n 3 1092 n 1 7 10 17 10 13 4 3 325 6 1 195 166 3,298 2,946 392 5,655 9 o 2,403 12 7 3,294 4 6 839 7 6 33 6 ... ... i Totals for Colony in 1878... 1877... 1876... ,1 1, 1875... 1874... 187.... 1872... 1871... 1870... „ „ 1869... 1868... Totals for Colony from 1st Feb. to 31st Dec, 1867 ... 147 138 124 119 103 97 92 81 70 59 55 69,908 60,953 57,295 56.129 52,627 39.223 31,681 24,642 20,489 17,133 13,014 762,084 12 o 681,294 13 2 664,134 12 6 657,653 4 o 699,249 14 3 580,542 s 5 430,877 o o ..2,338 18 4 264,328 s 7 240,898 s 9 194,535 11 6 10 18 o 11 3 6 11 11 9 11 14 4 13 5 8 14 16 2 13 12 o 12 13 6 12 18 o 42,746 39,363 39,486 36,977 29,778 21,268 17,254 14,773 ii,934 9,292 6,365 742,053 14 3 667,023 7 5 696,281 7 4 729,759 17 9 620,155 8 9 425,908 3 S 3'3,'76 7 11 261,347 16 3 209,509 13 2 180,518 4 1 107,094 17 3 17 7 2 16 18 10 17 12 8 19 14 8 20 16 5 20 o 5 18 3 o 17 13 9 17 11 1 19 8 7 16 16 6 20,030 17 9 14,271 5 9 79,o94 5 6 154,634 2 o 117,700 12 1 50,991 2 1 54,818 12 5 60,380 1 8 87,440 14 3 32,146 14 IO 72,106 13 9 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,250 1,800 i,35i 1,264 1,186 789 o Ss o 6 o 6^ o 6§ o 6f o 7i o 7t't o 8f o 9iV o 10{f o 9i I 31,664 12 9 29,193 14 6 28,762 4 7 28,565 3 5 26,935 6 8 20,106 16 10 14.7" o 5 11,291 IO IO 9,242 3 11 7,412 8 o 4,880 7 3 13,005 11,235 n,255 10,346 7,382 6,205 4,615 4,304 3,839 3,282 9.634 8,591 9,472 8,681 5,736 .,816 3,188 2,383 2,277 1,801 1,186 32,132 28,761 26,1 17 24,334 21,742 17,132 13,566 10,549 8„.7 6,290 4,252 819,071 8 2 767,375 '7 8 72..,9'° '7 5 727,295 7 8 770,836 18 o 664,807 5 10 490,066 7 o 357,654 14 6 295,372 1 7 231,311 5 3 163,518 15 7 25 9 9 26 13 7 27 14 4 29 17 9 35 9 ° 38 16 1 36 2 s 33 18 1 35 1° 3 36 15 5 38 9 1 ... ... ... 14 1 2 14 18 n 46 6,977 96,372 7 10 13 16 3 1,919 26,415 18 9 13 15 3 69,956 9 1 822 1 ioj 1,241 5 o 2,520 364 2,156 71,197 14 1 33 o s

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Table No. 5. Balance-sheet of New Zealand Post Office Account for the Year ended the 31st December, 1878.

Balances on 1st January, 1878. Transactions. Balances on 31st December, 1878. Cr. Dr. Cr. Dr. Cr. Dr. Money Order Accounts: — Money orders Commission, Foreign Office „ New Zealand United Kingdom Victoria New South Wales Queensland South Australia Western Australia Tasmania £ 8. d. 7,8/5 19 5 £ a, d. £ »■ d. 388,787 9 7 i,497 3 6 6,288 13 o 81,494 6 6 24,141 1 o 8,441 19 2 819 6 4 1,494 18 3 44 14 o 2,159 1° IX £ »• d. 388,308 12 8 i,577 4 5 6,288 13 o 5S>76o 19 4 23,476 13 11 9,044 17 9 762 7 3 1,232 12 o 116 19 6 i,945 3 4 £ a- d. 8,354 16 4 £ 8. d. 395 18 7 475 19 6 651 o o 60 8 2 2,145 1 i° 309 14 6 23,588 5 4 354 12 7 48 1 5 '17 7 3 9° 9 1 21 8 3 171 17 2 50 17 3 i34 13 2 79 14 5 Savings Bank Accounts: —- Deposits and withdrawals Transfers Treasury (investments) ... Unpaid expenses 738,182 3 o 147 14 11 714,636 16 1 822,942 19 5 36,745 1 10 759,6.36 16 1 1,250 o o 742,053 14 3 33,497 16 8 45,000 o o 819,071 8 2 3,395 o 1 1,250 0 o Revenue Accounts: — Postage stamps Postal Guides Private-box and bag rents Miscellaneous revenue Commission on postage stamps Carriage of mails and expenses Postal revenue 121,051 9 3 334 2 o 2,628 o o 37 16 1 1,059 10 10 3,076 16 11 117,692 14 1 1J 93,008 14 1 1 332 is o 2,628 o o 37 16 1 1,136 18 7 3,293 5 95 109,157 8 7 28,042 14 4 1 7 o 77 7 9 216 8 1oi 8,535 6 4 i General Accounts: — Post Office Account Postmasters Investments Accrued interest on investments Imperial pensions Voted services Advances to Treasury for pnymeut of foreign money orders Suspense Profit and loss ... ... i3,39i 19 11 15,760 s o 1.044.305 1 ii 1,300,500 13 7 15,490 10 4 38 II IO 206 0 6 1,107,960 1 10 1,328,842 16 4 761,612 5 10 7,652 9 8 38 11 10 146 o 6 20,000 o o 77,046 19 10 44,102 7 9 746,121 15 6 7,652 9 8 ... | 60 o o ... ... 20,000 o o 7 12 6 ... 7 12 6 2,747 11 3 42,170 2 5 39,42 2 II 2 Total 746,946 6 3 746,946 6 3 4,784,335 10 2! 4,784,335 10 2I 895,744 6 ij 895,744 6 ii

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Table No. 6. Statement of the Profit and Loss of the Post Office Account (Savings Banks) for the Year ended 31st December, 1878. Also List of the Securities, &c, held by the Postmaster-General on account of the Savings Bank Fund, and the Interest Accrued thereon, but not paid, on the 31st December, 1878. Profit and Loss Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1878.

Interest received on investments £ 8. d. 28,737 13 6 Sundry expenses £ s. .1. 157 16 8 Interest accrued... 7,652 9 8 Written off, being deficiency in funds received from Treasury 570 2 4 Credited to depositors for interest to 31st December 31,664 12 11 Total Expenses unpaid Balance 1,250 o o 2,747 11 3 36,390 3 2 Total 36,39° 3 2 Securities, &c, Standing in the Name of the Postmast Fund, and the Interest Accrued thereon, :r-General on Account of th but not paid, on the 31st I Post Office _ 'ecember, 187 Javings Bank _ i. Description of Securities, &c. Nominal Value. Value at Cost Price. Interest and Dividends Accrued, but not Received, at the end of the Year. £ s- d. £ *■ d. £ s. d. Consolidated Loan, 4 per cents. 13,000 o o 12,480 o o 109 13 11 Westland 5 per cents. 50,000 o o 50,800 o o 527 7 11 Immigration and Public Works 1870, 4 per cents. 173,200 o o 166,272 o o 1,461 10 4 „ „ 4l P« cents. 14,900 o o 14,527 10 o 141 8 11 Waimakariri River Bonds, 6 per cents. 4,500 o o 4,500 o o 45 2 s General Purposes Loan, s per cents. 142,600 o o 142,600 o o 898 11 s „ „ 4 per cents. 5,200 o o 4,342 o o 43 17 7 Defence Loan, 4 per cents. 75,000 o o 72,000 o o 632 17 6 ,, 4! per cents. ... 5,000 o o 5, 000 o o Wellington Debts Act Bonds, 5 per cents. 53,000 o o 53,000 o o 287 10 o Oamaru Harbour Mortgages, 5^ per cents. 3S,ooo o o 35,000 o o 806 18 3 Patea Mortgages, 6 per cents. 510 10 2 510 10 2 23 1 o North Otago s per cents. 38,900 o o 38,900 o o 360 16 s Treasury Bills, 3$d. per cent, per diem 65,500 o o 65,500 o o 561 17 4 North Rakaia River Bonds, 6 per cents. 6,000 o o 6,000 o o IS '5 7 New Zealand 5 per cents. 44,000 o o 44,689 15 4 729 6 3 Fixed Deposit in Bank, 6 per cent. 30, 000 o o 30,000 o o 404 7 7 Post Office Account 602 7 3 Totals 756,310 10 2 746,121 15 6 7,652 9 8

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Table No. 7. Statement showing the Number of Days occupied in the Delivery of Mails between London and the under-mentioned Places by the San Francisco Mail Service. SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

15

OUTWARD VIA SAN FRANCISCO. Auckland. Wellington. Dunedin. Sydney. Melbourne. Date of Despatch from London. Date of Arrival in Auckland. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from London. Date of Arrival in Wellington. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from London, Date of Arrival in Dunedin. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from London. Date of Arrival in Sydney. 1878. July 11 August 6 September 2 September 29 October 28 November 25 December 22 1879. January 23 No. of Days. Date of Despatch from London. Date of Arrival in Melbourne. No. of Days. '878, 1878. Tnlv 4 July 31 August 27 September 24 October 22 November 19 December 17 1879. January 16 1878. 1878. 1878. 1878. July 12 August 9 September 2 September 29 October 27 November 23 December 21 1879. January 20 1878. 1878. : 1878. May 23 |une 20 July 18 August 15 September 12 October 10 November 7 42 41 40 40 40 40 40 May 23 June 20 July 18 August 15 September 12 October 10 November 7 July ? August O August 30 September 26 October 25 November 22 December 20 1879. January 18 46 47 43 42 43 43 43 May 23 June 20 July 18 August IS September 12 October 1 o November 7 5° 5o 46 45 45 44 44 May 23 June 20 July 18 August 15 September 12 October 1 o November 7 49 47 46 45 46 46 45 May 23 June 20 July 18 August 15 September 12 October 10 November 7 July 14 August 8 September 4 October 1 October 30 November 27 December 26 1879. January 27 52 49 48 47 48 48 49 December 5 1879. January 2 January 30 February 27 March 27 February 13 March 13 April 9 May 7 42 42 42 41 41 December 5 1879. January 2 January 30 February 27 March 27 February 15 March 15 April 12 May 9 44 44 44 44 43 December 5 1879. January 2 January 30 February 27 March 27 February 17 March 17 April 14 May 11 46 46 46 46 45 Decemher 5 1879. January 2 January 30 February 2 7 March 27 February 18 March 18 April 15 May 12 49 47 47 47 46^ December 5 1879. January 2 January 30 February 2 7 March 2 7 February 21 March 21 A pril 17 May 14 53 50 50 49 48 Maximum Minimum Average 42 40 40.92 47 42 43-83 50 44 46-08 49 45 46(17 53 47 49-25 HOMEWARD VIA SAN FRANCISCO. Melbourne. Sydney. Dunedin. Wellington. Auckland. Date of Despatch from Melbourne. Date of Arrival in London. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from Sydney. Date of Arrival in London. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from Dunedin. Date of Arrival in London. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from Wellington. 1878. March 30 April 27 May 25 June 22 July 20 August 17 September 14 October 12 November 9 Date of Arrival in London. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from Auckland. Date of Arrival in London. No. of Days. 1878. March 29 April 26 May 23 June 20 July 18 August 15 September 12 October 1 o November 7 1878. 1878. 1878. April 3 May 1 May 28 June 25 July 23 August 20 September 17 October 15 November 12 I878. 1878. March 23 April 20 May 18 June 17 July 15 August 12 September 10 October 8 November 5 1878. May 14 June 10 July 7 August 4 September 1 September 29 October 26 November 24 December 23 1879. January 22 52 51 5° 48 48 48 46 47 48 May 14 June 10 July 7 August 4 September 1 September 29 October 26 November 24 December 23 1879. January 22 46 45 45 45 45 45 44 45 46 1878. March 28 April 25 May 23 June 20 July 18 August 15 September 12 October 1 o November 7 1878. May 14 June 10 July 7 August 4 September 1 September 29 October 26 November 24 December 23 1879. January 22 47 46 45 45 45 45 44 45 46 May 14 June 10 July 7 August 4 September 1 September 29 October 26 November 24 December 23 1879. January 2 2 45 44 43 43 43 43 42 43 44 May 14 J une 1o July 7 August 4 September i September 29 October 26 November 24 December 23 1879. January 22 41 40 40 40 40 40 39 40 4i December 3 50 December 5 ,879. January 2 48 December 5 1879. January 2 48 December 7 1879. J anuary 4 February 16 46 December IO 1879. January 7 February 16 43 40 December 31 1879. January 28 February 16 47 February 16 45 February 16 45 43 March 16 ___47_ January 30 March 16 45 48 44 45 '3 3 January 3 1 March 16 44 February 2 1 I March 16 42 February 4 March 16 40 Maximum Minimum Average 52 46 48-5 48 44 45'42 46 42 43'42 43 39 4Q'33

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Table No. 8. Statement showing the Number of Days occupied in the Delivery of Mails between London and the under-mentioned Places by the Mail Service via Galle and Suez— Brindisi Route. GALLE AND SUEZ MAIL SERVICE. -

OUTWARD VIA SUEZ AND OALLE—BRINDISI ROUTE. Melbourne. Sydney. Bluff. Dunedin. Wellington. Auckland. Date of Despatch from London. Date of Arrival in Melbourne. ! No. of Days. Date of Despatch from London. Date of Arrival in Sydney. 1878. May 22 June 22 July 18 August 13 Sept. 13 October 11 Nov. 6 Dec. 7 1879. January 6 February 1 No. of Days. Date of Despatch from London. Date of Arrival at Blu-)'. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from London. Date of Arrival in Dunedin. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from London. Date of Arrival in Wellington. 1878. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from London. Date of Arrival in Auckland. No. of Days. 1878. April 12 May 10 June 7 July 5 August 2 August 30 Sep't. 27 October 25 1878. 1878. April 12 May 1 o J une 7 July 5 August 2 August 30 Sept. 27 October 25 1878. April 12 May 10 June 7 July S August 2 August 30 Sept. 27 October 25 1878. 1878. April 12 May 10 June 7 Ju'y 5 August 2 August 30 Sept. 27 October 25 1878. April 12 May io June 7 J"'y 5 August 2 August 30 Sept. 27 October 25 1878. May 28 July 1 August 2 August 20 Sept. 23 October 22 Nov. 12 Dec. 20 1879. January 13 Feb. 10 May 20 June 20 July 16 August 11 Sept. 11 October 9 Nov. 4 Dec. s 1879. January 3 January 30 38 41 39 37 40 40 38 41 40 43 41 39 42 42 40 43 1878. April 12 May| 10 June 7 July 5 August 2 August 30 Sept. 2 7 October 25 1878. May 27 June 25 July 22 August 19 Sept. 16 Oct. 13 Nov. 10 Dec. 9 1879. January 7 February 3 45 46 45 45 45 44 44 45 May 28 June 26 July 23 August 19 Sept. 17 October 15 Nov. 1 o Dec. 9 1879. January 8 February 3 46 47 46 45 46 46 44 45 May 30 June 28 July 25 August 22 Sept. 20 Oct. 17 Nov. 14 Dec. 13 1879. ' January 9 February 6 48 49 48 48 49 48 48 49 46 52 56 46 52 53 46 56 Nov. 2 2 Dec. 20 1879. January 17 February 14 March 14 March 1 March 26 April 22 42 Nov. 2 2 Dec. 20 1879. January 17 February 14 March 14 March 3 March 28 April 24 45 43 Nov. 2 2 Dec. 20 1879. January 17 February 14 March 14 March 6 March 3 1 April 28 46 45 48 45 _4S__ 48 44 45"23 S.V23 Nov. 2 2 Dec. 20 1879. January 17 February 14 March 14 March 6 March 3 1 April 28 47 45 48 45 __45__ 48 44 45'77 53' 7 7 Nov. 2 2 Dec. 20 1879. January 17 February 14 March 14 March 9 April 3 May 1 48 48 51 48 48 1 51 48 4846 56'4^_ Nov. 2 2 Dec. 20 1879. January 17 February 14 March 14 March 14 April 7 May S 52 52 56 52 .52 56 46 59'6i 43 40 39 45 42 41 45 39 42 5° Maximum Miniumum Average Average vid Southampton 43 37 39-92 47-92 •• HOMEWARD VIA OALLE AND SUEZ—BRINDISI ROUTE. Auckland. Wellington. Dunedin. Bluff. Sydney. xcournb. Date of Despatch from Auckland. Date of Arrival in London. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from Wellington. 1878. March 1 o April s May 4 May 31 June 28 July 26 August ' 23 Sept. 23 October 21 Date of Arrival in London. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from Dunedin. Date of Arrival in London. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from Bluff. Date of Arrival in London. No. of Days. Date of Despatch from Sydney. 1 Date of Arrival in London. No. of Davs. Date of Despatch from Melbourne. Date of Arrival in London. No. of Days. 1878. March 7 April 4 May 3 May 28 June 25 July 23 August 20 Sept. 17 October 18 1878. May 4 May 3 1 June 30 July 27 August 26 Sept. 19 October 20 Nov. 17 Dec. 15 1879. January 1 1 Feb. 8 58 57 58 60 62 58 61 61 58 1878. May 4 May 31 June 30 July 27 August 26 Sept. 19 October 20 Nov. 17 Dec. 15 1879. January 11 Feb. 8 55 57 57 59 55 58 55 55 1878. March 13 April 8 May 6 June 3 July 1 July 29 August 26 Sept. 25 October 24 1878. May 4 May 3 1 June 30 July 27 Augnst 26 Sept. 19 October 20 Nov. 17 Dec. 15 1879. January 11 Feb. 8 52 53 55 54 56 52 55 53 52 1878. March 14 April 9 May 7 June 4 July 2 July 30 August 27 Sept. 26 October 25 1878. May 4 May 3 1 June 30 July 27 August 26 Sept. 19 October 20 Nov. 17 Dec. 1 s 1879. January 11 February 8 SI 52 54 53 55 5i 54 52 5i 1878. March 18 April 13 May 1 1 June 8 July 6 August 3 August 31 October 1 October 29 1878. May 4 May 3 1 June 30 July 27 August 26 Sept. 19 October 20 Nov. 17 Dec. 15 1879. January 11 February 8 47 48 5° 49 51 47 5° 47 47 : 1878." March 2 1 April 16 May 14 June 1 1 July 9 August 6 Sept. 3 Oct. 4 Nov. 1 1878. May 4 May 31 June 30 July 27 August 26 Sept. 19 October 20 Nov. 17 Dec. 15 1879. January 11 February 8 44 45 47 46 48 44 47 44 44 Nov. 15 Dec. 1 1 1879. January 11 February 7 57 59 Nov.- 18 Dec. 17 1879. January 14 February 1 1 54 S3 Nov. 2 1 Dec. 20 1879. January 17 February 14 5i 5° Nov. 2 2 Dec. 2 1 1879. January 18 February 15 5° 49 Nov. 26 Dec. 24 1879. January 22 February 19 46 46 Nov. 29 Dec. 28 1879. January 25 February 22 43 42 March 8 ! April 6 56 58 62 56 5869 6569 March 8 I April 6 53 54 59 53 55'46 6246 March 8 April 6 50 5i 56 50 5261 59'6i March 8 April 6 49 5° 55 49 586' March 8 April 6 45 46 5 1 45 47'6i S4'6i March 8 April 6 42 43 48 42 44-54 5i'54 Maximum Minimum Average Average vid Southampton

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Table No. 9. Number and Value of Postage Stamps printed during tbe Years 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878.

Table No. 10. Return of Intercolonial and Interprovincial Mail Steam Services, 1878.

Table No. 11. Table showing the Number of Officers employed in the several Chief Post Offices and Second-class Post Offices in the Colony during the Years 1877 and 1878.

17

i.. > S7. 1876. 1877. i8;8. Denomination. Number. Value. Number. Value. Number. Value. Number. Value. Number. Value. £ £ £ s. a: £ «• d. £ •• d. 11,880 o o 4,680 o o it Five Shillings it Two Shillings It One Shilling it Sixpence ... 1 it Fourpence ... it Threepence ... j it Twopence ... 1 it One Penny it One Halfpenny! 5ost Cards ... ! Newspaper Wrappers at One Halfpenny ... 6,456 25,020 3,740 4,479 36,754 12,979 3,434 323,520 299,520 4,155,840 2,421,360 1,224,000 ... 47,52o 46,800 129,120 1,000,800 224,400 358,320 4,410,480 3,114,960! 1,648,320 16,176 7,488 1,368,000 317,520 61,200 34,200 o o 5,292 o o 1,530 o o ... 34,632 10,089 2,55° 4,737,36o 3,949,440 2,099,760 1,002,500 39,478 o o 16,456 o o 4,374 10 ol 4,177 1 8; 7,529,040 4,583,280 2,037,120 4,250 ... 62,742 o o 19,097 o ol 4,244 o o 17 14 2, 6,416,880 1,835,040 1,077,120 53,474 o o 7,646 o o 2,244 ° ° ... 509,238 *i,o6o 18 3 Totals ... 10,886,400 92,862 I 8,424,240, 7o,935 13,474,580 103,977 11 8 14,214,890 87,630 14 2 9,932,598 80,984 18 3 * Exclusive of 1 1 s. d., cost of ier and workin: expenses.

Duration of Service. Service. Annual Subsidy. When Established. When Terminated. or when Terminable. Number of Voyages per Annum. Mileage for Complete Voyage. Cost per Mile. lelbourne and New Zealand .uckland and Warkworth ... mckland and Matakana ... ) lelensville and Dargaville ... ~i lelensville and Matakohe ... r lelensville and Port Albert... J 'auranga and Opotiki £ 5>oo° Sept., 1876 Feb., 1880 £ s- d. o 2 25 360 500 Aug., 1878 Aug., 1878 July, 1881 July, 1881 13 ( 104 I 52 (104 C 52 52 3,440 150 300 o o $\ 002 400 July, 1877 On month's notice On month's notice. On month's notice. Oct., 1879On month's notice. 120 o 1 3\ Vellington, Kaikoura, and Lyttelton ... 360 July, 1877 26 380 0085 .eison and Hokitika 1,300 July, 1877 13 480 042 Vestport and Karamea liddle Island Service 200 4,000 Nov., 1877 July, 1877 12 12 102 1,213 o 3 3< 056 'ort Chalmers and Auckland danukau and Port Chalmers ) 5,000 May, 1877 1883 13 1,742 0 4 5

1878. 1877. Post Offices. H _» rt g o P-w _) U u -5 ri § o .__ rt o ej __ M C 0 p. D rt u u i o bD C "c. _0 4, en ri § o St 8 0 ■ 4, _ I o p_ i ej B A _ M 3 6 Q _ V B I O to 9 "5. S __ 03 ui -^ 0 ri o H ji ej u __> a o H Auckland Thames Onehunga Tauranga Gisborne New Plymouth .., Napier Port Ahuriri Wellington Wanganui Nelson The Port Westport Blenheim Picton Kaikoura Christchurch Lyttelton Timaru Akaroa Dunedin Port Chalmers ... Oamaru Invercargill Campbelltown ... Hokitika Greymouth Chatham Islands 18 2 5 2 2 26 6 I I 16 5 2 2 24 6 2 1 I 1 1 I 2 I 1 I 2 I 1 I I 1 2 I 1 I I 2 I 3 4 6 I I I 2 3 2 3 2 3 6 1 18 .. 6 I 1 13 2 4 2 2 I 1 19 5 7 1 I I I 12 4 2 2 I I I 1 I I 2 2 1 1 3 I I I I 1 3 3 2 1 22 3 i i 27 3 5 8 1 1 2 1 3 4 2 I I I 1 1 1 I I I I 1 1 16 "i I I 1 25 3 6 I I 14 I 3 5 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 3 1 2 I I I 1 19 1 2 '. 2 I 2 29 3 6 I I 17 1 2 "6 1 1 2 I 1 I I I I 1 1 1 1 2 2 9 1 5 \ ' 3 I I 4 1 2 5 1 1 1 I I I 5 5 2 2 2 1 1 I 2 2 1 I 1 I I 1 1 ■ 1 1 j Totals 14 14 I 101 42 12 2 2 I 187 14 14 9i 38 11 2 2 172 1—P. 1.

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Table No. 12. Comparative Table showing the Postal Revenue, and Number of Letters, Post Cards, Books, and Newspapers received at and despatched from the several Postal Districts, from 1872 to 1878, both Years inclusive.

Letters. Post Cards. Books. Newspapers. Postal Districts. Revenue. Received. Despatched. Received. Despatched. Received. j Despatched. Received. Despatched. .uckland — 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 £ s. d. 10,950 12 II II,I08 4 2 12,523 2 4 13,133 " o 13445 I 3 15,572 10 2 18,157 10 6 627,212 691,154 740,502 782,329 851,721 1,023,373 1,119,872 584,915 626,188 786,279 779,617 886,452 937,330 1,018,879 524,094 575,954 626,164 647,325 768,214 831,353 901,614 243,543 259,285 352,197 326,248 372,799 369,316 386,885 6,353 16,927 6,490 12,791 79,266 86,599 35,574 39,608 'names— 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1,787 19 4 1,618 o 1 1,664 o 6 1,601 6 2 1,633 5 10 1,671 13 11 118,904 110,131 119,418 114,205 121,816 120,052 95,398 97,859 109,954 106,605 92.387 88,532 45-532 52,244 52,323 54,857 55,404 67,777 40,670 44,382 52,886 49,519 43.680 49,646 2,595 3,688 "783 946 5,543 5,986 1,516 i,377 "aranaki — 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 982 o 5 1,068 3 s 1,336 1 3 1,815 9 5 2,520 19 6 2,419 18 6 2,862 4 7 57,029 66,572 80,112 97,040 121,734 132,616 153,553 50,739 58,889 71,108 89,469 106,207 115,462 124,111 38,105 44,354 56,384 72,462 91,482 99,425 105,982 18,275 25,545 30,217 49,632 52,777 S3,24i 60,358 424 1,883 2,160 i,679 7,421 9.576 1,649 2,035 iawke's Bay— 1872 1873 1874 i87S 1876 1877 1878 1,789 14 4 2,000 2 3 2,972 17 11 4,076 ig 8 4,421 6 9 5,ii4 17 o 5,916 13 g_ 99,046 139,189 148,837 186,993 283,430 360,416 381,696 109,083 150,948 i*79,7o3 230,973 277,512 270,552 367,180 64,315 88,172 109,157 128,480 282,668 329,062 235,713 72,628 93,090 136,825 150,750 118,220 111,834 292,449 4,671 4,981 1,501 4,860 30,292 22,872 9.552 25.812 'ellington — 1872 1873 18/4 1875 1876 1877 1878 41,883 4 o 38,274 5 o 40,588 16 2 51,05° 5 8 5i,837 10 9 53,7io 19 2 56,755 5 1 458,702 675,258 691,956 802,950 95i,7i7 1,181,160 1,389,349 472,016 564,991 743,776 922,177 1,040,510 1,076,870 1,290,735 3i5,3i4 370,149 506,428 596,768 732,782 755.709 749.726 236,486 313,347 390,085 470,650 516,060 504,529 763,997 7,674 16,076 1,521 18,077 83,661 87,256 89,214 107,612 [eison — 1872 1873 1874* 1875 1876 1877 1878 3,004 17 6 3,030 6 8 2,262 14 7 2,399 11 10 2,367 IS 1 3,041 1 9 3,328 o 8 266,774 256,566 176,606 205,716 209,951 225,843 232,647 263,147 249,349 172,461 180,707 197,122 191,014 225,506 190,304 210,467 162,202 145,47° 171,325 164,303 138,010 157,988 187,005 89,568 111,769 109,297 99,478 '27,979 i,398 3,377 154 2,592 19,441 20,527 5,202 10,807 'estport — 1875 1876 1877 1878 1,053 6 2 828 17 11 898 1 8 895 13 4 73,527 72,984 77,775 73.6.S6 57,447 68,394 62,806 73,879 699 603 251 1,148 5,259 4,740 i,432 3,873 95,237 91,581 102,499 73.978 51,258 49,445 38,486 64,846 [arlborough 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1,317 o 4 1,417 17 11 1,368 7 3 1,719 9 o 1,740 o o 1,628 8 1 1,870 6 6 75,o67 107,658 125,314 153,723 154,091 175,335 198,725 67,928 96,920 128,954 131,624 H9,o33 151,961 173,872 55,264 91,968 128,956 153,124 138,035 161,346 113,460 36,585 53,764 76,205 60,787 68,929 54,509 128,134 "576 927 277 1,363 11,626 IQ.497 3,899 "■205 'anterbury— 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 10,324 5 1 12,191 14 8 13,382 13 11 17,582 19 8 20,136 3 1 22,497 5 7 26,352 14 11 876,786 951,020 844,32 7 1,052,071 1,140,180 1,566,401 1.911,105 497,326 54i,34i 858,393 1,000,864 1,285,833 1,275,615 1,674,465 373,763 5",I09 476,098 529,554 738,218 774,852 949,993 195,34' 238,411 231,71! 295,42' 410,291 419,78. 662,97 25,165 36,152 16,181 60,679 99,092 106,462 45,383 89,132 iokitika — 1872 1873 i8 74 t 1875 1876 1877 1878 3,386 18 1 3,393 3 7 1,996 8 3 1,816 o 9 1,839 1 i° 2,834 S 7 3,616 18 o 220,470 230,294 116,644 121,517 i35>423 162,042 iS7,8o7 208,028 201,940 125,049 121,743 127,518 139,867 143,083 241,495 282,207 149,035 151,832 147,620 168,290 174,447 156,721 178,25: 62,18: 68,69, 80,281 94,321 127,81, 529 2,959 73 i,537 10,388 8,963 4,168 5,992 ircymouth— 187S 1876 1877 1878 2,171 '3 7 2,359 3 1° 2,611 2 6 2,639 7 8 146,702 158,240 196,849 216,341 167,980 181,678 182,247 177,549 2,841 3.59° 9,666 12,168 9,805 7,453 130,734 132,898 150,200 204,887 i53,iol 151,15. 172,93: 116,63! 2,109 1,160 Otago— 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 17,339 7 2 18,418 7 1 18,262 18 8 20,891 5 9 22,054 18 4 27,415 2 10 29,997 ° 8 653,141 824,495 923,165 1,106,168 1,140,440 1,639,434 1,958,318 873,132 959,219 i,i45,452 1,343,748 i,5oo,7S4 1,200,081 i,577,63i 828,490 672,038 1,197,172 1,142,015 1,286,271 1,033,346 1,182,040 414,275 821,988 746,427 872,706 917,994 1,116,926 1,237,883 22,643 17,200 7,804 26,318 82,998 110,633 61,961 84,373 iouthland — 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 ■877 1878 1,691 19 3 1,962 11 11 2,368 14 4 3,121 5 9 4,111 2 o 4,223 2 9 4,934 19 4i 118,941 160,867 173,3" 205,249 242,732 256,705 322,941 131,687 148,825 181,248 238,145 266,271 238,913 353,277 74,877 71,220 186,758 181,133 225,892 179,996 200,280 68,888 94,658 70,419 120,913 204,135 181,484 292,852 S,?o6 8,311 1,726 4,359 16,869 19,015 11,302 24,576 'otals— 1872 1873 1874 i875 1876 i877 1878 94,733 14 8 94,706 16 o 104,361 2 11 122,495 18 9 129,263 6 6 143,600 1 5 158,998 9 o 3,588,073 4,221,977 4,339,i65 S,053,403 5,576,848 7,119,765 8,236,062 3,37o,47o 3,694,008 4,719,291 5,374,448 6,193,889 5,935,105 7,288,699 2,767,682 2,963,170 3,872,668 4,026,457 4,861,843 4,805,783 5,097,907 1,643,409 2,306,025 2,434,024 2,784,820 3,100,905 3,260,526 4,312,459 81,274 116,674 41,030 I37,5 09 461,522 5Q5.294 280,657 413,855 The Wes: iort return-: sq larated from those of Nelson. fThi Greymoi ith returns larated from those )f Nelson and Hokitika,

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Table No. 13. Table showing the Number of Letters received for delivery in New Zealand during the Year ended 31st December, 1878.

Table No. 14. Table showing the Number of Letters despatched by New Zealand during the Year ended 31st December, 1878.

rom Places witl iout the Coloi >y. From PI laces within tin Colony. Postal Districts. Other Districts in New Zealand. Totals without and within the Colony. United Kingdom. Australian Colonies. Other Places. Totals without the Colony. Places within the District. Totals within the Colony. -.uckland 77,876 50,649 I3,l68 141,693 248,274 729,905 978,179 1,119,872 .hames 4,768 524 5,292 86,781 27,979 114,760 120,052 _aranaki 7,011 4,858 297 i2,i66 53,229 88,I S 8 141,387 '53,553 lawke's Bay ... 21,446 2,928 1,266 25,640 126,626 229,430 356,056 381,696 Vellington 66,171 50,757 4,592 121.520 603,367 664,462 1,267,829 1,389,349 kelson 14,178 9-503 163 23,844 112,782 96,021 208,803 232,647 Westport 2,698 2,697 5,395 34,954 33,307 68,261 73,6S6 .larlborough ... 5>8i° I,88l 76 7,767 76,810 114,148 190,958 198,725 Canterbury 116,764 5I,o6S 5,620 173,449 387,240 I,350>4l6 i,737>656 I,9II,IOS lokitika 5,766 13,51° 19,276 63,147 75,384 138,531 157,807 Jrey mouth 5,888 12,107 17,995 79,000 119,346 198,346 216,341 )tago 101,684 80,069 20,336 202,089 470,107 1,286,122 1,756,229 1,958,318 louthland i5>643 16,747 6,567 38,957 95,799 188,185 283,984 322,941 Totals 445,7°3 7,440,979 8,236,062 296,771 52,609 795,083 2,4..8,Il6 5,002,863

'0 Places withi mt the Colony. To Plai :es within the Colony. Postal Districts. Totals without the Colony. Other Districts in New Zealand. Places within tire District. Totals within the Colony. Totals without and within the Colony. United Kingdom Australian Colonies. Other Places. Luckland 71,996 50,712 13,212 135,920 282,295 600,664 882,959 1,018,879 .hames 5,297 596 5,893 74,462 8,i77 82,639 88,532 ?aranaki 5,3H 28l 5,595 46,360 72,156 118,516 124,111 lawke's Bay ... 17,929 799 18,728 114,569 233,883 348,452 367,180 Vellington 73,953 59,136 4,687 137,776 599,139 553,820 i,i52,959 i>29°,735 Jelson 10,770 8,099 1,057 19,926 "3,959 91,621 205,580 225,506 Vestport 2,352 1,525 168 4,045 28,686 41,148 69,834 73,879 larlborough ... 4>5i3 210 4,723 50,625 "8,524 169,149 173,872 Canterbury 106,159 51,619 5.737 163,515 344,88i 1,166,069 1,510,950 1,674,465 lokitika 2,959 8,600 220 ii,779 64,109 67,195 131,304 143,083 Jreymouth 6,930 7,924 14,854 76,577 86,118 162,695 177,549 )tago 102,712 67,648 14,967 185,327 408,549 983,755 1,392,304 i,577>63i louthland 16,514 19,248 1,148 36,910 i37>532 178,835 316,367 353,277 Totals 427,398 274,5" 43,082 744,99i 2,341,743 4,201,965 6,543,708 7,288,699

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Table No. 15. Table showing the Number of Newspapers received for delivery in New Zealand during the Year ended 31st December, 1878.

Table No. 16. Table showing the Number of Newspapers despatched by New Zealand during the Year ended 31st December, 1878.

From Places wit :hout the Coloi '>'• From Pli ices within the Colony. Postal Districts. Other Districts in Is'ew Zealand. Totals without and within the Colony. United Kingdom. Australian Colonies. Other Places. Totals without the Colony. Places within the District. Totals within the Colony. iuckland 203,408 52,344 16,905 272,657 144,762 484,195 628,957 901,614 rhames 14,080 1,042 15,122 44,912 7,743 52,655 67,777 faranaki 22,405 2,634 3,695 28,734 37.035 40,213 77,248 105,982 -lawke's Bay ... 7°,873 24,003 2,336 97,212 104,975 33,526 138,501 23S>7I3 AVellington 174,499 66,327 9,657 250,483 296,440 202,803 499,2.3 749,726 Nelson 46,397 12,607 632 59,636 56,398 21,976 78,374 138,010 /Vestport 8,600 6,600 15,200 37.804 20,974 58,778 73,978 rfarlborough ... 17,699 5,299 806 23,804 60,559 29,097 89,656 "3,46o Canterbury 235,833 72,966 8,479 317,278 267,553 365,162 632,715 949,993 -lokitika 22,987 30,591 53,578 69,486 51,383 120,869 174,447 Jreymouth i8,543 23,183 41,726 74,567 88,594 163,161 204,887 )tago 392,752 104,155 13,124 510,031 267,264 404,745 672,009 1,182,040 iouthland 39,403 2i,397 9,419 70,219 93,694 36,367 130,061 200,280 Totals 1,267,479 422,106 5,097,907 66,095 i,755,68o 1,555,449 1,786,778 3,342,227

'0 Places without the Colony. To Pla. :es within the Colony. Postal Districts. Totals without the Colony. Other Districts in New Zealand. Places within the District. Totals within the Colony. Totals without and within the Colony. United Kingdom. Australian Colonies. Other Places. Auckland 51,407 33,804 13,913 99,124 162,050 125,711 287,761 386,885 Thames 4,774 534 5,308 43,778 560 44,338 49,646 Taranaki 4,928 117 .5,045 3°>372 24,941 55,313 60,358 Hawke's Bay ... 16,719 495 17,214 74,°I5 201,220 275,235 292,449 Wellington 53,090 33,228 3,993 90,3" 365,062 308,624 673,686 763,997 Nelson 10,166 2,831 659 13,656 6l,347 52,976 "4,323 127,979 Westport 2,224 842 182 3,248 19,188 42,410 6l,598 64,846 Marlborough ... 4,065 181 4,246 16,696 107,192 123,888 128,134 Canterbury 65,803 23,749 3,753 93,305 189,885 379,787 569,672 662,977 Hokitika 4,701 3,357 229 8,287 50,474 69,054 "9,528 127,815 Greymouth 6,550 6,193 12,743 70,286 33,609 103,895 116,638 Otago 95,628 53,194 ",549 160,371 368,197 709,315 I,°77,SI2 1,237,883 Southland 11,867 7,576 484 19,927 124,849 148,076 272,925 292,852 Totals 331,922 164,774 I 36,089 S.32,785 1,576,199 2,203,475 I 3,779,674 4,312,459

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Table No. 17. Table showing the Number of Post Cards Posted, and the Number of Book Packets received for delivery in New Zealand, during the Year ended 31st December, 1878.

Table No. 18. Table showing the Number of Post Cards and Book Packets despatched by New Zealand during the Year ended 31st December, 1878.

Book 'aekets. Postal Districts. Post Cards within the Colony. I'm) Places wil thout the Coii my. From Pi! ices within tl ie Colony. Totals without and within the Colony. United Kingdom. Australian Colonies. Other Places. Totals without the Colony. Other Districts in New Zealand. Places within the District. Totals within the Colony. Auckland 16,927 29,219 5-570 3,109 37,898 14,328 34,373 48,701 86,599 "hames 3,688 827 54 881 4,605 500 5> loS 5,986 "aranaki 1,883 2,l82 581 322 3,°85 4,7i6 1,775 6,491 9.576 lawke's Bay ... 4,981 6,132 1.759 280 8,171 11,122 3,579 14,701 22,872 Vellington 16,076 17.47° 5-847 i»547 24,864 36,999 25.393 62,392 87,256 I eison 3,377 9,o63 1,721 157 10,941 7,i78 2,408 9,586 20,527 Vestport 603 495 496 99i 2,903 846 3.749 4,740 larlborough ... 927 1,361 445 8 1,814 5,784 2,899 8,683 io,497 'anterbury 36,iS2 23,724 6,498 1,020 31,242 32,710 42,510 75,220 106,462 lokitika 2,959 2.323 1,480 3.803 3.97o 1,190 5.160 8,963 Ireymouth 3,59° 871 i,559 2,43° 6,232 3,5°6 9.738 12,168 Itago 17, 200 27.765 9,120 369 37.254 31,811 41,568 73.379 "0,633 outhland 8,3" 5.352 2,582 752 8,686 7.477 2,852 10,329 19.015 Totals 116,674 126,784 37,658 7,6l8 172,060 169,835 163,399 333,234 505,294

Book 'ackets. Postal Districts. Post Cards within the Colony. Places witl lout the Coloi >yTo Places within the Colony. Totals without and within the Colony. United Kingdom. Australian Colonies. Other Places. Totals without the Colony. Other Districts in New Zealand. Places within the District. Totals within the Colony. iuckland 12,791 2,786 2,518 978 6,282 19,623 13.703 33,326 39,608 fhames 946 106 14 120 1,221 36 1.257 1.377 raranaki 1.679 164 15 ■79 1.225 631 1,856 2,035 lawke's Bay ... 4,860 639 33 672 4.192 20,948 25.140 25,812 Wellington 18,077 4,591 2,465 517 7,573 64.°55 35.984 100,039 107,612 kelson 2,592 382 202 21 605 5.801 4.401 10,202 10,807 Westport 1,148 48 18 2 68 1.257 2,548 3.805 3,873 darlborough ... 1.363 "3 3 116 2,071 9,018 11 ,089 11,205 Canterbury 60,679 4, 209 2,47i 3i8 6,998 18,288 63.846 82,134 89,132 lokitika 1.537 114 122 6 242 2.759 2,991 5.750 5.992 Jreymouth 1,160 95 ■35 230 5.49 1 1.732 7.223 7.453 )tago 26,318 2,604 1,664 686 4.954 33.853 45,566 79.419 84.373 iouthland 4,359 307 317 20 644 11,941 11,991 23.932 24,576 Totals 137,509 16,158 9,912 2,613 28,683 171,777 213.395 385,172 413,855 Note. —The difference between msted for local delivery— i.e., those :he number lelivered froi if post cards posted, and the number despatched, is represented by the numbei 1 offices at which posted.

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Table No. 19. Return of the Number of Letters registered at the Post Offices in the several Postal Districts during the Years 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878.

Table No. 20. Statement of Correspondence received from the United Kingdom via San Francisco and via Suez, during the Year ended 31st December, 1878.

Table No. 21. Statement of Correspondence despatched to the United Kingdom via San Francisco and via Suez during the Year ended 31st December, 1878.

1 .51876. 1877. 18J8. To Places To Places To Places To 'laces Postal Districts. Without Within the the Colony. Colony. Totals. Totals. Totals. Totals. Without the Colony. Within the Colony. Without the Colony. Within » ,.he Colony. Without the Colony. Within the Colony. Auckland rhames raranaki Bay Wellington •Telson Westport larlborough Canterbury -Iokitika Jreymouth )tago louthland 1,669 334 217 345 1,674 256 164 175 2,648 460 778 4,656 605 6,640 657 652 i,338 6,893 981 629 848 4,988 959 1,415 S.617 2,532 8,309 991 869 1,683 8,567 1.237 793 1.023 7.636 1,419 2.193 10,273 3.137 1.799 290 230 483 2,134 320 146 175 3.139 394 602 5.270 681 6,468 887 517 2,286 7,946 685 409 665 5.846 i,i95 1,451 6,024 2,824 8,267 i,i77 747 2,769 10,080 1,005 555 840 8,985 1,589 2,053 11,294 3.505 1,818 123 186 483 i,79i 381 52 88 1,542 257 181 2.591 234 8,405 1,051 95i 2,862 10,358 1,273 485 767 8, 242 i,495 1,685 11,086 2, 200 10,223 1.174 1.137 3,345 12,149 1,654 537 855 9,784 i,752 1,866 13,677 2,434 2,055! 145 197 591 2,121 362 84 127 2,28l 214 230 2,819 444 10,374 919 992 3,095 12,510 1,407 697 740 10,786 1,636 1,420 9,6l3 3,"9 12,429 1,064 1,189 3.686 H.631 1,769 781 867 13,067 1,850 1,650 12,432 3-563 Totals 13.981 34,149 48,130 15.663 52,866 50,86o 60,587 11,670 57,308 68,978 37,203 9,727

ria San Francisci Via Suez and Melboi irne. Date of Receipt. Letters. Books. Newspapers. Letters. Books. Newspapers. January February March April 24,947 14,632 31,924 28,882 5,190 4, 30.3 7,860 7.5H 76,259 53,674 83,031 80,330 6.159 6,050 8,029 7.294 5.956 5.989 5,027 6,548 1,852 1,9" 2,448 2,835 4,168 2,688 2,268 2,060 7,677 7.418 11,717 10,998 ".338 12,215 9,862 ".035 May June July 27,030 25,894 26,666 26,710 26,394 ' 27,433 29,086 30,450 30,899 7,056 5,954 6,707 10,507 7,856 6,598 6,534 9,313 7,008 70,640 61,213 78,777 6l,570 67,020 79,824 79,835 88,089 88,189 August September October November December 6,355 5,938 6,160 6,750 6,657 2,265 2,374 2,75° 2,859 2,184 32,662 ".537 ".520 12,439 11,279 11,213 140,248 Totals 968,451 82,912 350,947 92,400

'ia San Franciso ria [elbourne and Si lez. Date of Despatch. Letters. Books. Newspapers. Letters. Books. Newspapers. January ■'ebruary Jarch ipril Jay une July iugUSt September October November December 16,151 24,685 24,167 28,016 27.673 26,643 28,464 28,771 27,452 28,076 26,088 27,032 26,755 835 897 817 892 808 1,314 891 i,57i 1-159 999 967 939 1,090 12,860 18,875 17,507 18,778 17,123 17,799 22,328 22,938 23,751 24, 121 20,414 23,510 24,583 9.728 8,876 7,690 6,627 5.884 7,5io 9.239 6,087 5,675 6,407 6,344 S,4i6 268 2-57 234 205 150 255 272 125 147 213 151 no 7,i49 5,71° 5.190 4.029 4,186 4,660 8,915 4,775 5>i6i 6,277 5,745 5,097 Totals 264,587 85,483 2.387 66,894 339.973 13.179

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By Authority : Geoegb Dibsbfbt, Govrenment Printer, Wellington.—1879.

Price Is.

Table No. 22. Table showing the Revenue, Expenditure, &c, of the Post Office in the several Postal Districts of New Zealand for the Year 1878.

Total Correspondence received and despatched. Expenditure. Totals. Postal Districts. No. of Offices. Cost of Conveyance of Mails. Letters. Post Cards. Books. Newspapers. Salaries. Contingencies. Expenditure. Revenue. £ s d. 4.275 ifi 5 £ s. d. 5,733 l9 • £ s. d. 1,065 9 IO ii .075 5 4 18,157 i° » Auckland ... 16S I 2.138,751 29.718 126, 207 1,288,499 Thames ... ... ... 11 208,584 4.634 7.363 "7.423 297 o o 943 6 8 179 16 o 1,420 2 8 1,671 13 11 Tauanaki .,, ... '7 277.664 3.562 II,611 166,340 912 10 o 768 14 7 103 12 3 1,784 16 10 2,862 4 7 Hawke's Bay 54 748,876 9,841 48,684 528,162 2,709 2 6 1,767 16 8 457 1 8 4.934 o 10 5,916 13 i)i Wellington ... ... 7i 2,680,084 34.153 194,868 I !,513. 723 3.553 12 O 5,016 16 o 1,11211 7 9,682 19 7 56,755 5 1 Totals for Nohth Island I I I I i i 318 6>°53.959 81,908 388,733 3.614.147 11,748 o 11 14,230 13 o 2,918 11 4 28,897 5 3 85.363 7 1°; Nelson 29 458,153 5.969 265,989 698 8 o 1,554 17 9 269 16 1 2,523 1 10 3,328 o 8 3!.334 Westport 20 147.535 1.75i 8,613 138,824 944 o o 654 3 4 103 7 9 1,701 11 1 895 13 4 Maklborough ... 17 372.597 2,290 21,702 241,594 809 o o 904 18 8 72 13 11 1,786 12 7 1,870 6 6 Canterbury 160 3.585.57O 96,831 195.594 1,612,970 4,953 3 6 6,313 o 1 1,342 16 9 12,609 o 4 26,352 14 11 HoKITIKA 29 300,890 4,496 14,955 302,262 1,342 10 o 1,225 o 4 193 10 7 2,761 o 11 3,616 18 o Greymouth 23 393.890 - 4.75° 19,621 321,525 523 16 8 1,334 13 4 289 12 9 2,148 2 9 2,639 7 8 Otago 168 3.535.949 J 43.5i8 195,006 2,419.923 6,315 8 10 8,434 2. 11 1,797 7 6 16,546 19 3 29,997 o 8 Southland .., ... ... 48 676,218 I 12,670 43,591 493.132 1,101 2 9 1,528 7 6 231 17 8 2,861 7 11 4.934 19 4: Totals for Middle Island 1 ■ ' I J I I I 494 9,470,802 172,275 53 0.4i6 5.796,219 16,687 9 9 21.949 3 " 4,301 3 o 42,937 16 8 73.635 1 »i I I Totals for the Colony 812 15.524.761 254. J83 919,149 9,410,366 28,435 !O 8 36,179 16 II 7.219 «4 4 71,835 1 " 158,998 9 o Totals for Previous Year I 1 756 13.054.870 122,304 742,179 8,066,311 28,797 8 6 32,825 II I 6,234 19 3 67,857 18 10 143,600 1 5 Note. —The revenue includes the postage on franked correspondence, which has been estimated at £56,176 os. iod., the particulars of which may be found on page 3.