F.—l.

An exchange of penny post-cards with the Australian Colonies was established in November last. Pakcel-post. The following table shows the number and weight of parcels posted and the number delivered during the years 1888 and 1889 : —

The table includes both'inland and United Kingdom parcels. The number of inland parcels posted and delivered was—posted, 102,134 ; delivered, 78,209. The increase in the number of inland parcels posted over the number posted in 1888 was 22,356, or 2802 per cent. The postage collected amounted to £5,143 lls. sd. Of the parcels exchanged with the United Kingdom the numbers were —received, 13,335 ; despatched, 2,452. The received parcels were about five and a half times as many as the despatched. The declared value of the 13,335 parcels received from the United Kingdom was £12,644 15s. 7dThe Customs duty collected amounted to £1,883 4s. 6d., of which £1,751 3s. lid. was paid to Public Account during the year. The foreign parcel-post, through the intermediary of the London Post Office, was extended to nearly all parts of the world on the 2nd January last. Negotiations are in progress for a more direct exchange of parcels through the intermediary of the Melbourne Post Office with India, China, the Straits Settlements, &c. A parcel-post with Australia, except to New South Wales and Queensland, was established at the beginning of this year. The postage is—to South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria, not exceeding 21b. in weight, Is. 2d., and 7d. for every additional pound or fraction of a pound; to Western Australia, Is. 6d. for a 21b. parcel, and 9d. for each additional pound or fraction of a pound. The maximum weight for a parcel is 111b. The rate for sea-conveyance between Australia and New Zealand is 2d. per pound. Feee Official Coebbspondence. The estimated value of the official or free correspondence for the year is given in the statement underneath:—

The'estimated weight was over 269 tons. "The estimated value of the free correspondence for 1888 was £75.087 Bs. 7d.

X

1889. 1888. Postal Districts. Posted. 1 — Delivered. Number. Weight. Pc Number. Dsted. i weight. Delivered. Auckland Thames New Plymouth Gisborne Napier VVanganui Wellington Nelson Westport jreymouth .. tiokitika Blenheim Jhristchurch rimaru Damaru Dunedin [nvercargill lb. oz. 19,468 53,351 11 1,199 3,053 1,1 878 j 2,341 14" 770 i 1,969 0 5,354 | 13,802 2 3,344 ! 7,862 8 20,856 ! 55,910 9 3,767 11,013 18J 868 ; 1,859 14 1,630 I 1,024 11| 1,182 ' 3,394 5 1,785 4,008 15 17,370 | 48,403 14 1,760 3,807 1 854 j 1,873 14 20,363 ' 57,366 11 3,138 | 7,722 12$ 13,186 2,651 2,131 1,991 6,747 7,111 14,088 3,295 2,091 3,449 2,007 3,903 8,524 2,899 2,100 11,439 3,932 15,267 8S6 722 694 3,810 2,794 16,591 3,058 674 1,496 922 1,165 10,893 1,267 650 16,594 2,295 lb. oz. 39,276 0 2,091 11 1,744 0 1,731 11 9,787 6 6,044 0 42,627 8 8,405 14 1,497 2 3,840 13 2,517 12 2,603 10 29,534 3 2,740 8 1,417 7 44,115 4i 4,748 0" 8,343 1,776 1,644 1,508 5,060 5,229 10,500 2,286 1,474 2,699 1,698 2,711 5,692 2,049 1,434 9,709 2,911 Totals .. 104,586 281,766 13 91,544 79,778 204,722 13J 66,723

Postal Districts. Letters. Books. Value. Postal Districts. Letters. Books. Value. Auckland Phames Jew Plymouth .. jisbome Napier vVanganui iVellington kelson JVestport jreymouth lb. oz. 24,979 13 2,219 11 2,087 11 1,097 0 4,116 2 7,311 10 153,541 2 3,128 4 1,340 0 1,507 1 lb. oz. 16,297 1 1,995 0 1,200 0 3,549 0 7,527 0 6,271 0 276,424 0 1,150 0 912 0 .$,672 14 £ s. d. 7,661 12 6 660 17 1 609 8 1 410 16 8 1,348 10 8 2,165 8 6 56,241 14 6 877 15 8 401 11 4 590 19 7 Hokitika Blenheim Christehurch .. Timaru Oamara Dunedin Invercargill 1b. oz. 2,068 14 3,274 5 10,367 8 5,143 10 1,889 14 11,454 101 3,237 0 lb. oz. 820 0 6,550 0 14,088 6 1,680 0 2,000 0 16,011 8 1,713 5 £ s. a. 570 0 8 1,103 9 8 3,234 5 7 1,431 5 2 570 12 8 3,618 18 11 856 3 6 Totals 238,764 3£ 364,761 2 82,353 10 9