E.—No. 1

Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 7th July, 1868. I have the honor to submit to your Excellency the Ninth Report on the Postal Service of New Zealand, being the Report for the year 1867. I have, &c., To His Excellency Sir George F. Bowcn, K.M.G., John Hall, Governor of New Zealand. Postmaster-General. REPORT. The changes which have been introduced into the Postal Service of New Zealand during the period which has elapsed since the date of my last Annual Report have not been of an important character. They consist chiefly of alterations by which reductions of departmental expenditure rendered necessary by the financial condition of the Colony could most effectually be accomplished. Notwithstanding these reductions, the business of the Post Office has not shared the depression generally prevailing throughout New Zealand during the past year. In the number of letters received and despatched, in the number of Post Office money orders issued and paid, and especially in the aniount of deposits in the Post Office savings banks, a very considerable increase has taken place. The Postal revenue of the Colony is considerably augmented, and its Postal expenditure is considerably diminished. Departmental. With the exception of modifications which have been called for by the development of some of the Gold Fields of the Colony, no changes of importance have been introduced into the organization of the department. The total amount of business transacted through the medium of the Post Office is shown by the following statements : — The letters despatched have been 2,402,909 in 1867, against 2,353,856 in 1866. The letters received have been 2,408,331 in 1867, against 2,404,788 in 1866. The newspapers despatched have been 1,390,368 in 1867, against 2,413,511 in 1866. The newspapers received have been 1,670,520 in 1867, against 1,959,528 in 1866. The Postal Revenue (exclusive of Money Order commission) has been .£55,331 18s. Id. in 1867, against .£47,836 10s. 6d. in 1866. From the Ist January, 1867, to 30th June, 1868, fifty-seven new Post Offices have been opened, and five offices have been closed. The total number of Officers on the Postal Staff is shown by the subjoined Table : —■ Number of Post Offices and Postal Officers at the date of tho Postmaster-General's Reports in the years 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, and 1868. Chiee Post Offices. Post Offices. Sub-Post Offices. OfEICEBS. ; 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1868.11864. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1868. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1868. Postmasters 9 9 9 9 9 10 12 16 17 18 257 274 299 306 358 Clerks, <_c. 78 77 76 68 60 j 7 7 10 12 13 Totals 87 86 85 77 69 jl7 19 26 29 31 257 274 299 306 358 Although the number of additional Post Offices which have been opened is considerable, this additional accommodation to the public has been furnished at slight cost, the office of Postmaster having in most cases been undertaken either without salary at all or for a very trifling remuneration. A further reduction in the staff of some of the chief offices, in addition to that reported last year, has been effected, without impairing the efficiency of the service, or, except in one instance, restricting the accommodation previously afforded to the public. In the instance referred to, that of Auckland, the reduction in the force of the chief office, which it was deemed expedient to make in consideration of the financial condition of the Province, and in compliance with the expressed wish of the Superintendent and Provincial Council, could not be effected without reducing the number of letter-deliveries within the City of Auckland. Care has been taken to render these changes as little inconvenient as possible. The Inland Mail Services have as a rule been efficiently performed, in spite of their diminished cost and of a winter of unusual severity. To judge by the paucity of complaints, the Post Office duty generally has been

NINTH EEPOET ON THE POSTAL SERVICE OE NEW ZEALAND, BY THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL.