E.—No. 1

PAPEES EELATIVE TO THE

IV

Notwithstanding that twenty-seven new Post Offices have been added to the number which were open last year, by departmental arrangements the Staff of Clerks required to carry on the duties has been decreased by five. The Inland Mail Services have been generally punctually performed at a reduced cost of nearly £5,000 from that of the previous year, although both the number of services and the mileage performed have been increased. Apart from the ordinary inquiries for missing correspondence —and these have materially decreased ■ —no serious complaints affecting the conduct of the Postal Officers have been received, proving that the Department generally is attaining a greater degree of efficiency, which is doubtless to be attributed to the more frequent inspection of the various Offices than formerly. Dead Lettees. During the year 1868, 33,072 letters, including 446 registered letters, were received at the Dead Letter Office. Of these, 30,269, including 405 registered, were despatched from the Office by post, and 99 letters were delivered to personal applicants; 2,732 have been destroyed, as neither the writers nor the persons to whom they were addressed could be found. Of the above dead letters, 17,844, including 135 registered, originating in New Zealand, were opened in the Dead Letter Office and returned to the writers; and 12,365, including 270 registered, originating in places beyond the Colony, were returned unopened to the several Offices from whence they reached this Colony. The following Beturns show the work performed in this branch of the Department: —

Return of Letters Received at the Dead Letter Office in the years 1866, 1867, and 1868, showing the manner in which they were disposed of.

Return of Property found in Dead Letters during the years 1866, 1867, and 1868.

Return of Property found in Dead Letters and Claimed during the years 1866, 1867, and 1868.

18i 16. 1867. 181 18. Ordinary Letters. Registered. Ordinary -n ■ , j T .. J Kegistered. letters. b Ordinary Letters. Registered. Received at the Office Opened in the Office Despatched to places beyond the Colony Despatched to places within the Colony Delivered Destroyed 46,172 22,750 14,367 22,750 100 9,000 521 227 267 227 37,628 16,829 13,170 16,829 79 7,550 518 200 285 200 33,072 17,884 12,365 17,819 90 2,732 446 135 270 135

Description of Peopektt. 1866. 1867. 1868. Bills of Exchange Bank Notes Money Orders ... ... ••• , Coin Postage Stamps ... Cheques Orders ... ... ... Promissory Notes Bank Receipts Letters of Credit Warrants ... Rings, Lockets, Brooches, Chains, &c. £ a. d. 5,642 4 4 168 0 0 177 13 4 4 17 0 1 16 2 190 6 11 56 9 7 1,516 13 4 55 17 6 £ s. d. 4,214 6 2 128 0 0 188 3 6 5 5 6 £ s. d. 3,640 18 0 116 0 0 205 18 0 6 12 4 0 5 0 150 0 0 30 0 0 121 8 10 69 19 0 35 1 0 52 0 2 3 0 0 8 15 0 Five. Ten. Pour. Total 7,822 13 2 4,695 15 4 4,271 2 2

Description oe Peopeety. 1866. 1867. 1868. Bills of Exchange Bank Notes Money Orders Coin Promissory Notes, Acceptances, &c. ... Bank Receipts Orders ... Cheques Postage Stamps ... Warrants Rings, Lockets, &c. £ a. d. 1,460 7 10 56 0 0 126 11 0 3 0 0 1,365 4 3 41 0 0 6 5 7 59 3 10 0 12 0 8 15 0 Two. £ s. d. 2,541 13 10 63 0 0 127 13 6 2 12 6 52 0 2 £ s. d. 546 16 9 61 0 0 144 5 0 5 0 0 24 0 0 30 0 0 32 16 10 s" 0 0 22 0 0 One. Totals 3,126 19 6 2,849 16 10 808 1 9