F.—l

V

Dead Letters. The number of unclaimed letters received and disposed of during the under-mentioned years is shown in the following table :—

The unclaimed letters dealt with show a decrease of 2-82 per cent, compared with the number disposed of in the previous year. 9,442 book-packets and circulars were returned to foreign countries, 5,171 were returned to the senders through the Dead Letter Office, and 8,571 were returned by Chief Postmasters : a total of 23,184 book-packets and circulars, against 17,132 in 1884. The under-mentioned articles of value were found enclosed in letters opened in the Dead Lette Office, and returned to the senders where practicable : — £ s. d. 159 money orders .... ... ... ... ... 474 4 7 39 bank drafts ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,560 11 1 108 cheques ... ... ... ... ... ... 644 9 8 5 promissory notes ... ... ... ... ... 346 16 4 Stamps ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 16 2 Banknotes ... ... ... ... ... ... 182 0 0 Gold 25 0 0 Silver and copper ... ... ... ... ... 413 10i Eepresenting a total of ... ... £5,243 11 8J In addition, 5 gold rings, 9 gold rings set with precious stones, 2 sets of gold shirt studs and sleeve-links, 1 sleeve-link, 1 gold scarf pin set with amethyst, 1 gold locket, 1 gilt watch-guard, 1 packet of gold dust, 4 silver hunting watches, 1 silver Geneva watch, 1 silver watch with silver chain and locket attached, 1 silver watch with silver chain, 2 silver brooches, 1 silver bracelet, 1 silver ring, and 1 New Zealand war medal. 4,204 unclaimed registered letters were dealt with. 30 letters detained for postage were received, 20 of which were subsequently forwarded. 558 newspapers and 293 books and other articles without addresses were also received: of these, 50 were delivered, and 83 book-packets forwarded to London and other countries for return to the senders. 98 letters were posted without addresses. 11 letters with libellous addresses were intercepted. 164 letters were imperfectly and wrongly addressed. 2,490 letters were refused by the addressees. 4 letters were posted with previously-used stamps. Eegistered Letters. The number of registered letters dealt with, compared with the numbers in 1882, 1883, and 1884, is shown below : —

Manner of Disposal. 1675. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. Dpened and returned to the writers .. Returned unopened to other countries Reissued Destroyed Returned unopened by Chief Post- | masters 39,051 10,321 78 6,081 60,977 10,503 240 5,135 52,038 9,372 159 3,969 53,507 8,539 54 0,189 69,452 8,143 G7 3,302 68,942 9,134 107 3,986 60,592 8,115 185 2,872 11,160 12,810 14,378 15,833 17,593 19,187 Totals 55,531 88,015 78,348 82,607 90,797 99,762 90,951

1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. Postal Districts. From Places beyond the Colony. Registered in the Colony. Totals. From Places beyond the Colony. Registered in the Colony. Totals. From Places beyond the Colony. Registered in the Colons'. Totals. From Places beyond the Colony. Registered in the Colony. Totals. Auckland Thames .. Now Plymouth Gisborne .. Napier Wanganui Wellington Nelson Westport .. G-reymouth Hokitika .. Blenheim Christchurch Timaru Oamaru .. Dunedin .. Invercargill 4,642 161 507 130 921 439 3,137 805 100 187 220 215 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 1,280 13,677 2,853 1,712 13,344 5,100 20,101 1,297 3,096 875 5,062 5,210 18,284 3,386 915 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 4,250 506 277 4,425 1,230 15,831 3,337 2,738 1,024 4,574 4,845 16,945 2,707 1,014 2,100 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 7,007 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 1,638 12,192 7,649 25,655 3,130 3,826 1,044 5,555 5,214 21,904 4,034 1,351 2,044 1,518 1,509 21,726 3,652 1,866 16,869 9,105 5,890 205 675 108 892 283 4,757 559 45 125 173 181 3,717 440 316 5,645 1,614 22,124 2,879 2,876 922 5,453 4,500 19,218 2,432 1,438 2,835 1,907 1,413 13,678 3,153 1,947 12,737 6,001 28,014 3,084 3,551 1,030 6,345 4,783 23,975 2,991 1,483 2,960 2,080 1,594 17,395 3,593 2,263 18.3S2 8,275 Totals 22,225 89,049 111,274 22,898 94,825 117,723 24,319 1105,683 130,002 125,625 106,173 131,798