3

P.—l

The newspapers show a decrease of over 5-j per cent., owing principally, it is believed, to the publication of the late Otago Provincial Government Gazette having been discontinued, over 260,000 copies of which, it is stated, passed through the post annually. 63 new offices have been opened, three re-opened, and 19 closed. 13 offices have been constituted offices for the transaction of Money Order and Savings Bank business. The number of post cards posted during the year was 81,274. Judging from results, the circulation of post cards has not diminished the revenue. The receipts on account of local collections for the past year show a larger increase than in any former year. Treating post cards as letters, for the purpose of comparison, it is found that the increase of local letters for 1877 was 22,521 over the increase for the previous year. Although the post cards are not extensively used, it may be accepted as a fact that they are regarded by the public with favour as a ready and cheap medium of communication.

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

The revenue collected within the colony increased by the sum of £10,117 4s. Bd., or 11*68 per cent., while the gross collections show an increase of £11,717, or 11*43 per cent, above the revenue for the preceding year. The excess of expenditure over revenue is put down at £21,927 Is. Eor the previous year £37,236 4s. 7d. represented the actual difference of expenditure over revenue. To arrive at a correct estimate of the value of the actual work performed by the department, £52,848 9s. 4d., the sum set against official postage, should be taken credit for. This would show that the possible earnings of the department exceeded its gross expenditure by a sum no less than £30,921 Bs. 4d.

OFFICIAL POSTAGE.

Departmental. 63 new Post Offices were established, and 3 re-opened during the year, at the following places: — Albury, Canterbury Karitane, Otago Pukaki Ferry, Canterbury Albury (reopened)" Canterbury Kamo, Auckland Russell's Flat, Canterbury Akuaku, Auckland Kekcrangu,Marlborough Scott's Ferry, Wellington Annandale, Otago Kirtleburn, Otago Silverstream, Canterbury Ashton, Canterbury Kirwee, Canterbury Takaka East, Nelson Bealey Road, Canterbury Kohu Kohu, Auckland Takapau, Hawke's Bay Blackburn, Hawke's Bay Lake Tarawera, Auckland Teaneraki, Otago Blackmount, Otago Makaraka, Hawke's Bay Te Kopuru, Auckland Blue Cliffs, Canterbury Marina Junction, Nelson The Port, Nelson Caledonian Road, Canterbury Methven, Canterbury Tologa Bay, Auckland Canoe Creek, Westland Mititai, Auckland Tua Marina, Marlborough Carnarvon, Wellington Motuotaria, Hawke's Bay Upper Matakitaki, Nelson Cave, Canterbury Mount Stuart, Otago tTrenui, Taranaki Chertsey, Canterbury Mullet Point, Auckland Waerangahika, Hawke's Bay Dillman's Town, Westland Ngapara, Otago Waihaha, Auckland Eketahuna (reopened), Wellington Ohiwa, Auckland Waimate Junction, Canterbury Ellesmere, Canterbury Orwell Creek, Westland Wangaruru, Auckland Giles' Terrace (reopened), Nelson Otaio, Canterbury Waterton, Canterbury Gladstone, Wellington Paihia, Auckland Westbrook, Westland Goodfellow's, Westland Pakuranga, Auckland Weston, Otago Green Street, Canterbury Pliillipstown, Canterbury West Wanganui, Nelson Horseshoe Bay, Otago Pollock Settlement, Auckland Wharekahika, Auckland. The under-mentioned 19 Post Offices have been closed : — Albury, Canterbury Kerikeri, Auckland Slateford, Nelson Arowhenua, Canterbury Mount Stuart, Otago Taylor's Creek, Nelson Bellemont, Otago Oroua, Wellington Westerfleld, Canterbury Carrickton, Otago Ohiwa, Auckland Welshman's Gully, Otago Drayton, Canterbury Pekapeka, Hawke's Bay Woodthorpe, Hawke's Bay. Eketahuna, Wellington Pakuratahi, Wellington German Terrace, Nelson Saltwater Beach, Westland

The gross revenue collections for the financial sxpenditure for the same period, are given in the st; year ended 30th June ultimo, and 1 ttement underneath: — the estimated Keventje. £ s. d. I Jollected within the colony ... ... 96,664 18 8 )n account of Imperial postages ... 15,000 0 0 !an Francisco Service, payments by noncontracting colonies ... ... 2,526 14 1 3alance of expenditure over revenue ... 21,927 1 0 EXPENDITURE. Salaries Conveyance of Mails by Sea... ,, Inland Mails... Contingencies Estimated liabilities £ s. d. 38,010 8 8 57,184 15 3 27,612 19 9 4,310 10 1 9,000 0 0 £136,118 13 9 £136,118 13 9

The extent to which the Post Office has been the medium for the transmission of "free" ifficially-franked correspondence, may be gathered from the following statement: — £ s. d. £ s. d. Auckland ... ... ... 2,141 17 9 ChriBtchurch ... ... 2,301 17 6 Thames ... ... ... 311 17 0 Hokitika ... ... 640 17 8 New Plymouth. ... ... 930 1 3 Greymouth ... ... 378 8 0 Napier ... ... ... 347 2 5 Dunedin ... ... 4,320 1 8 Wellington ... ... ... 40,143 15 8 Invercargill ... ... 636 17 8 Nelson ... ... ... 351 0 4 Westport ... ... ... 153 5 10 Total ... £52,848 9 4, Blenheim ... ... ... 192 6 8 j ' ' o: