F.—l.

4

The number of Post Offices open on the 31st December last was 758, and the total number of officers on the strength of the department, inclusive of 730 Sub-Postmasters, was 915. The following comparative table shows the number of Post Offices open in the several postal districts for the years 1876 and 1877 : —

9 additional receiving offices were opened, viz. : Auckland, 2 ; Napier, 3; Christchurch, 1; Akaroa, 1; Timaru 1; and. Lawrence, 1. 20 iron pillar receivers, and 53 receiving offices, were open at the close of the year. 55 additional stamp licenses were issued in 1877, and 12 cancelled. The total number of licensed stamp vendors on the 31st December last was 251, who received £805 12s. by way of poundage on the sale of stamps. Sub-Postmasters, not on the permanent staff, w rere also paid poundage amounting to £217 15s. Id. Eor the carriage of interprovincial and intercolonial mails by unsubsidized vessels, £2,482 15s. sd. was paid. The number of private boxes occupied was 2,255. These, together with 160 private bags, produced a revenue of £2,243 ss. The following return of officers of the Postal Department for the years 1876 and 1877 shows to what extent the staff was increased during the year:— Officers. 1877. 1876. Officers. 1877. 1876. Postmaster-General ... ... 1 1 Postmasters ... ... ... 14 13 Secretary ... ... ... 1 1 Clerks ... ... ... 91 86 Inspector of Post Offices ... 1 1 Sub-Postmasters ... ... 730 681 Accountant, Money Order and Letter-carriers... ... ... 38 36 Savings Bank Department ... 1 1 Messengers ... ... ... 11 9 Clerks in General Post Office ... 5 4 Mail-cart Drivers ... ... 2 2 Clerks in Money Order and Savings Shipping Officers ... ... 2 2 Bank Department ... ... 4 4 Chief Postmasters ... ... 14 14 Totals ... ... 915 855 A branch Post Office at the Port, Nelson, was opened on the Ist December last, and has been found a great convenience both to the public and the department. The office is connected with the Chief Post Office by wire; and in the matter of the transhipment of mails, the notifying the arrival and departures of steamers, as well as the postponements, the telegraph is of great service. The insurance business at Auckland was separated from that of the Chief Post Office on the 11th December last. So soon as suitable accommodation can be secured, a similar arrangement will be made with respect to the Chief Post Office, Wellington. An additional Letter-carrier has been appointed to the Chief Post Office, Wellington, and the deliveries, more particularly at the Te Aro end of the city, extended. It has been found necessary to extend the Letter-carriers' deliveries in the Christchurch District, over the Borough of Sydenham, which involved the appointing of an extra Carrier. It is contemplated at an early date to establish a free delivery over the entire borough, and possibly over the whole of the suburbs of Christchurch. The Letter-carriers' deliveries at Timaru have also been extended, and a second Letter-carrier appointed, enabling an additional daily delivery being made. Oamaru has also had the free delivery extended, as well as its frequency increased. Letter-carriers' deliveries have been established at New Plymouth, Gisborne, and Kumara. It is also intended to establish deliveries by Letter-carrier at Ashburton and at Eeefton. The removal of the Post Office at the hitter place to the new buildings on the public reserve has rendered the appointment of a Letter-carrier necessary. Postage Stamps. A now issue of postage stamps, of the respective values of 2s. and 55., was made on the Ist July instant. The following are the designs and colours of the postage stamps : —Two shillings: Queen's Head in dotted circle, figure 2 in upper corners, and fern leaf in lower corners, printed in morone lake. Eive shillings : Queen's Head in dotted circle, figure 5 in each corner, printed in silver grey. The cost of preparing and electrotyping the dies for these stamps, &c, is estimated at £13 each forme of 120 stamps. The stamps were produced at the Government Printing Office.

18! "7. is: '6. Postal Districts. Chief Offices. Secondclass Post Offices. Sub-Post Offices. Totals. Chief Offices. Secondclass Post Offices. Sub-Post Offices. Totals. Auckland Thames Taranaki Hawke's Bay ... Wellington Nelson Westport Marlborough ... Canterbury Hokitika Greymouth Otago Southland Chatham Islands 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 3 150 9 13 -46 61 26 18 14 147 28 22 157 38 1 153 10 14 49 63 28 19 17 151 29 23 160 40 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 3 140 9 12 39 60 25 17 12 132 26 19 153 36 1 143 10 13 42 62 26 18 15 136 27 20 156 38 2 *2 1 2 1 Totals 14 14 730 758 14 13 681 708