D.—No. 7a,

on their requisition. The Treasury accounts to the Auditor for the stamps received and issued. The value of stamps printed during the year 1865 was nearly £1000 worth per week. Stamp Printer numbers Money Orders by a machine. Keeps stock of books, which he issues on the requisition of the Secretary ; keeps an account of such issues. Is assisted by a lad, at £62 12s. Messenger, ordinary duties, at £109 10s. Amounts of void Money Orders should be paid into the Revenue annually. We recommend that rank and rate of salary should bear proportion to the business done at each Post Office, and that these points should be determined by the classification proposed in our first Report. We strongly recommend close and frequent inspection of Post Offices. Chief Offices should be inspected at least twice, and Branch Offices once in each year. The cost of efficient inspection by an officer of practical experience will bear a very low- proportion to the economy gained in so extended a service, in which the adoption at each office of the best uniform system under the direction of one officer will result in the greatest accuracy and despatch at the lowest cost. The Inspector should be required to report upon and make arrangements to provide for the extension of the services, and should gain such local information as would enable him to suggest the best terms and conditions upon which to obtain contracts, and he should have if possible a knowledge of the contractors. There are throughout the Colony 9 Chief Post Offices, 23 Post Offices, and 288 Branch Offices. From 13 offices, seaward mails are despatched and received. The number of officers is 9 Chief Postmasters and 23 Postmasters, with 288 persons who are paid an allowance for discharging the duty of Postmasters at country Branch Offices. The number of Clerks employed is 58, Letter Carriers 19, and Messengers 6. The cost of the whole Staff of the Postal Department is as follows: —

Classified Return of Officers in Post Offices, and their Salaries.

35

SEEVICE COMMISSIONERS.

Class. No. Rate of Salary. Class. No. Rate op Salaet. £ s. d. Brought forward Clerks— continued. £ s. d. 4,627 7 G Chief Postmaster ... 11 }J 11 JT i 3 8 2 550 0 0 500 0 0 300 0 0 250 0 0 tf • • • '" M '' • 1 1 2 1 4 4 2 2 1 10 4 4 2 7 3 3 2 1 240 0 0 230 0 0 225 0 0 210 0 0 200 0 0 180 0 0 175 0 0 165 0 0 160 0 0 150 0 0 140 0 0 130 0 0 125 0 0 120 0 0 110 0 0 100 0 0 75 0 0 50 0 0 71 31 „ fj 9 300 0 0 250 o 0 225 0 0 200 0 0 175 0 0 165 0 0 150 0 0 80 0 0 75 0 0 50 0 0 n * ■ ■ • • • Postmaster ... 1 3 1 6 1 1 2 1 3 4 ,, H • • • * * * ,, >> ... ... 31 • • • „ 11 H ,, ... ... J» • ■ ■ • ■ - 11 »» ... ... 11 J» M ' "' '' * n ' •' )» ■• ■ ■ ■ • ii n • * • • • ■ j» ... ... 23 40 0 0 30 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 18 5 0 17 0 0 15 0 0 12 0 0 10 0 0 9 2 6 6 0 0 5 0 0 >» ... ... Sub-Postmasters ... 5 5 7 40 2 1 15 23 75 8 27 51 29 58 »» Shipping Officers... Letter Carriers ... 1 5 1 2 :: 8 1 50 0 0 145 0 0 130 0 0 125 0 0 120 0 0 115 0 0 110 0 0 100 0 0 80 0 0 >> ii >> ii )» ... ii ?» • * * ii •>■* „ „ >» " • • ii j, ... Ii) ?» ■ * * 288 Messengers 1 3 2 120 0 0 100 0 0 70 0 0 Clerks 1 1 1 1 325 0 0 300 0 0 275 0 0 250 0 0 ii ii ,, 6 „ „ £8677 7 6 Carried forward £4G27 7 G