F.—l

5

In addition, 1 gold locket with blackstone and pearl, 1 greenstone cross and pendant, goldmounted, 1 wedding ring, 1 gold hunting watch and case, 1 silver brooch and 1 pair of silver earrings, 2 pairs of gold earrings, 1 silver ring with emerald and pearl, 1 silver chronograph watch, 1 gold ring and 2 pairs of earrings set with stones, 1 pair of greenstone earrings, gold-mounted, 1 silver locket and chain, 1 gold ring set with jewels, 1 silver lever hunting watch and Canadian gold chain, 1 silver ring, 3 diamond studs, 1 New Zealand gold-plated railway-pass, 1 piece of polished greenstone, 1 gold nugget in quartz, 1 piece of velvet, 1 silk handkerchief, 1 leather purse with steel clasp and chain, 1 flute, and 2 Crimean shirts, wore received at the Dead Letter Office. 5,15i unclaimed registered letters were dealt with, including 4,309 returned notices originally issued from Registrars of Electors. 22 letters detained for postage were received, 2 of which were subsequently forwarded. 649 newspapers and 431 books and other articles without addresses were also received: of these, 66 were delivered, and 91 book-packets forwarded to London for return to the senders. 94 letters were posted without addresses. 8 letters with libellous addresses were intercepted. 128 letters were imperfectly and wrongly addressed. 2,812 letters were refused. 9 letters were posted with previously-used stamps.

Registered Letters. The number of registered letters dealt with, compared with the numbers in 1881, 1882, and 1883, is shown below: —

Buildings. Extensive alterations are being carried out at the Auckland office. That part of the building formerly occupied by the Customs has been given up to the Post Office; and the accommodation for both public and officials is being improved and enlarged. This was much needed. New offices at The Port (Nelson), Picton, and Oamaru have been completed. Offices have also been erected at Petone (railway station) and Chatham Islands. Eepairs and alterations have been effected to the buildings at Onehunga, Te Awamutu, Opotiki, New Plymouth, Napier, Otaki, Blenheim, Nelson, Timaru, and Invercargill. Additions have been made to the buildings at Wairoa, Waipawa, Cable Bay, Naseby, Lawrence (Postmaster's residence), Wyndham, Waikaia, and Eiversdale. The new office at Greymouth is nearly completed; and offices are to be built at Te Awamutu, Katikati, Woodville, Opotiki, Lawrence (Postmaster's quarters only), Palrnerston South, and Bluff. Additions or alterations are being made, or to be made, to the buildings at Onehunga, Mercer, Maketu, Wairoa, Cambridge, Kihikihi, Hawera, Wanganui, Takaka, Sheffield, Kaiapoi, Christchurch, Cromwell, and Ophir.

Inland Mail Sebvices. The following are the particulars of the several inland mail services for the year:— Performed by coach and mail-cart... ... ... ... ... 140 „ on horseback ... ... ... ... ... ... 247 , on foot ... ... ... ... ... ... 46 „ by water ... ... ... ... ... ... 34 „ by railway ... ... ... ... ... ... 60 Total number of services ... ... ~ t 527

1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. Postal Districts. From Places beyond the Colony. Regist6rthe in TotalsColony. From Places beyond the Colony. Registered in the Colony. Totals. Prom Places beyond the Colony. Registered in the Colony. Totals. From Places beyond the Colony. Registered in the Colony. Totals. Auckland Fhames .. STew Plymouth 3-isborne .. STapier VVanganui Wellington kelson iVestport.. 3-reymouth Hokitika .. Blenheim Jhristchurch Kmaru .. Damaru .. Dunedin .. [irvercargill 4,010 135 356 09 770 481 2,824 797 75 175 188 166 4,150 550 315 4,190 1,471 15,385 1,167 2,413 757 3,926 5,081 13,630 2,629 906 1,881 1,823 1,400 15,274 3,783 1,886 13,328 4,492 19,395 1,302 2,709 826 4,696 5,562 16,454 3,426 1,041 2,056 2,011 1,506 19,430 4,333 2,201 17,518 5,903 4,642 161 507 130 921 439 3,137 805 106 187 220 215 4,271 512 271 4,217 1,484 15,459 1,136 2,589 745 4,141 4,771 15,147 2,581 809 1,999 1,700 1,286 13,677 2,853 1,712 13,344 5,100 20,101 1,297 3,096 875 5,062 5,210 18,284 3,380 915 2,186 1,920 1,501 17,948 3,305 1,983 17,501 6,584 4,964 292 401 155 973 522 3,252 988 80 194 174 209 4,256 506 277 4,425 1,230 15,831 3,337' 2,738 1,024 4,574 4,845 16,945 2,707 1,014 2,106 1,662 1,319 13,678 2,865 1,985 12,358 5,837 20,795 3,629 3,139 1,179 5,547 5,367 20,197 3,695 1,094 2,300 1,836 1,528 17,934 3,371 2,262 16,783 7,067 5,803 217 560 141 1,037 316 3,654 969 61 133 185 112 4,429 341 228 4,677 1,456 19,852 2,913 3,266 903 4,518 4,898 18,250 3,065 1,290 1,911 1,333 1,397 17,297 3,311 l,638j 12,192 7,649 25,651 3,131 3,821 l,04i 5,55! 5,21. 21,90f 4,03! 1,35: 2,04! 1,511 1,50! 21,721 3,05! 1,801 16,86! 9,101 Totals 20,728 89,821 110,549 22,225 89,049 111,274 22,898 94,825 117,723] 24,319 105,683 130,00!