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The cash revenue from all sources amounted to £60,535 18s. 2d., as against £50,586 6s. 4d. collected for the previous year; an increase of £9,949 11s. lOd. in favour of the year just ended. The following statement shows the sums collected as Postal Revenue, and the amount of increase or decrease, year by vear, during the last six years:—

For the above period the revenue has increased at the rate of 3286 per cent.; while last year's receipts exceeded those of the previous year by 19"66 per cent. The expenditure on Salaries and Inland Mail Services has been within the authorized limits. But in consequence of large payments having been made to the Imperial Post Office on account of the late Suez Mail Service, the vote for Conveyance of Mails by Sea has been exceeded. Registered Lettees. The number of letters registered during the year 1873 is slightly under the number registered in 1872. This class of correspondence is the only one which does not show an increase. The total number of letters registered in 1873 was 39,304, against 39,707 in 1872. The decrease is in the= number of letters for delivery within the colony. Dead Letters. The number of unclaimed, or dead letters, dealt with in the Dead Letter Office during 1873, is given in the following table, which also shows the number disposed of, year by year, since 1869:—

Postage Stamps. The new issue of Postage Stamps was made in January last. The denominations have not been changed, but the designs are entirely new. The following is the description of the designs and colours of the postage stamps of the issue now in use : — One permy —Queen's head, on an oval ground, printed in mauve. Twopence —Queen's head, in dotted circle, printed in crimson lake. Threepence—Queen's head, in circle, printed in sepia brown. Fourpence—Queen's head, on a square ground, printed in Indian red. Sixpence—Queen's head, in circle and hexagon, printed in blue. One shilling—Queen's head, on an oval ground, printed in green. The halfpenny newspaper postage stamp has not been changed. English postage stamps can now be obtained at all Chief and Head Post Offices, as well as at the principal Aloney Order Offices. The department procured these stamps with the view of supplying a long-felt want, and to afford the public the opportunity, when desired, for forwarding a stamp or stamped envelope to their relatives or friends in the United Kingdom, so as to relieve them of the postage when sending replies. It w ras also believed that the convenience would tend to encourage the middle classes in the United Kingdom corresponding with their friends or relatives in the colony. The postage stamps are not permitted to be used as remittances. Inteecolonial Lettees. The resolution of the late Intercolonial Conference, that there should be one uniform rate of postage on all letters addressed from one colony to another, has been given effect to. On the Ist of January last, the postage on letters for Australia and Tasmania was reduced from threepence to twopence per half-ounce. It was not anticipated that this reduction would cause a corresponding increase in the number of letters ; and the alteration has entailed a loss to the revenue of about £400 for the six months ended in June last. Buildings. In order to provide more adequate accommodation, it has been necessary to procure new offices for the General Post Office Department.

Financial Year. Revenue Collected. Increase. Decrease. £ s. d. 45,561 0 2 47,433 1 6 43,086 15 0 47,054 18 3 50,586 6 4 60,535 18 2 £ a. d. £ s. d. 593 4 1 1868-69 ... 1869-70 ... 1870-71 ... 1871-72 ... 1872-73 ... 1873-74 ... 1,872 1 4 3,968 3 3 3,531 8 1 9,949 11 10 4,346" 6 6

Manner of Disposal. 1869. 1870. 1871. 1872. 1873. Ipened and returned to the writers Returned unopened to other countries ie-issued •eatroyed 1(5,453 10,074 87 2,717 17,516 6,688 63 2,960 17,106 6,192 97 2,173 17,707 5,512 85 2,884 20,602 5,393 75 3,801 Totals 29,331 27,227 25,568 26,188 29,871