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Closed. Addington, Christchurch Kaikorai, Dunedin Phillipstown, Christchurch Adelaide Road (Branch. Office), Wei- Kensington, Dunedin Queen's Redoubt, Auckland lington Kew, Dunedin St. Albans, Christcliuroh Anderson's Bay, Dunedin Knightstown, Christchurch The Glen, Dunedin Bingsland, Christehureh Larry's Creek, Westport The Willows, Napier Caledonian Road, Christchurch Mornington, Dunedin Upper Waikaia, Dunedin Callaghan's G-ully, Hokitika Murrayville, Dunedin Waikari, Dunedin Cashel Street East, Christchuroh. Mahakipawa, Blenheim Waiapu, Napier Forbury, Dunedin Maruia Junction, Westport White's Point, Westport Ferntown, Nelson North-East Valley, Dunedin West Wanganui, Nelson. Five-Mile Beach, Hokitika The number of offices closed was largo, but this is explained by the fact that 18 were "suburban post offices," which, on the extension of the letter-carriers' deliveries at Dunedin, Christchurch Wellington, and Auckland, were no longer required. > The total number of post offices open on the 31st December last was 846. The following table gives the number of offices in the several postal districts, compared with the number open the previous year:— Table showing the Number of Post Offices Open in the several Postal Districts for the Tears 1878 and 1879.

Betbnus and Expenditure. The cash revenue and the expenditure (inclusive of the estimated outstanding liabilities) of the Postal Department for the nine months ended 31st March, 1880, are set forth in the following statement: — Revenue. £ s. d. Ezpendituee. £ s. d Sale of postage stamps ... ... 80,943 14 9 Salaries ... ... ... ... 33,747 1 3 Money order commission ... ... 5,665 5 7 Conveyance of mails by sea ... ... 39,507 17 3 Fees for private boxes and bags ... 3,116 6 0 „ inland mails ... ... 23,482 16 2 Miscellaneous receipts ... ... 7,567 9 5 „ mails by railway ... 5,551 3 0 Imperial postage receipts ... ... 15,887 18 6 Contingencies ... ... ... 3,515 18 6 San Francisco service, payments by non- Liabilities ... ... ... ... 11,900 0 0 contracting colonies ... ... 2,500 0 0 115,680 14 3 Balance of expenditure over revenue ... 2,027 111 £117,707 16 2 £117,707 16 2 The revenue for the nine months was estimated at £101,200; but the receipts exceeded this amount by £14,480 14s. 3d. As an explanation of this very large increase, it should be stated that the Savings Bank profits for the years 1878 and 1879, amounting to £6,982 15s. 5d., were paid over to the Post Office account in March last, and the sum was dealt with as revenue of the financial period. Hitherto these profits have been treated as incidental receipts; but it has been decided that the item shall for the future be regarded as postal revenue. The sum appropriated for postal services for the nine months ended 31st March last was £119,144 10s. Id. ; the expenditure, including liabilities of £11,900, amounted to £117,707 16s. 2d., or £1,436 13s. lid. less than the appropriations. Excluding the item of Savings Bank profits, the ordinary postal revenue collected for the nine months was at the rate of £144,930 per annum. The receipts for the financial year ended 30th June, 1379, amounted to £129,906 13s. sd. The annual increase was, therefore, £14,923 6s. 7d., or 11-49 per cent.

1879. 1878. Postal Districts. Chief Offices. f eco5, d- Sub-Post class Post 0ffi Offices. Totals. Chief Offices. Secondclass Post Offices. Sub-Post Offices. Totals. Auckland Thames New Plymouth Napier Wanganui Wellington Nelson Westporfc Greymou th Hokitika Blenheim Christchu-ck ...' Timar u Oarnaru Dunedin 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 172 13 14 50 21 60 26 16 24 29 14 128 37 17 145 51 2 175 14 15 53 22 61 28 17 25 30 17 131 38 18 147 53 2 1 1 1 1 2 162 10 16 51 165 11 17 54 '"_} 2 "l 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 "l 1 69 27 19 22 28 14 156 71 29 20 23 29 17 160 "2 2 "2 3 " 1 1 1 1 1 O 1 165 46 1 168 48 2 Inrer cargill Chatham Islands Totals lf> 11 §19 816 14 14 786 814