F.—B

10

When, owing to a great influx of newspapers, the transmission or delivery of letters would be delayed if the whole mail were dealt with without distinction newspapers may be kept back till the next despatch or delivery. Article 11. The following shall bo considered as books, and be allowed to pass as such, viz. :— Printed books, pamphlets, magazines and reviews, and all other periodical publications that do not come' within the definition of newspapers. Printed music (bound or loose), photographs, &c, bound and published in book form. The following shall be considered as packets, and allowed to pass as such, viz: — Acceptances. Accounts receipted or unreceipted (remarks such as " With thanks," ' A cheque will oblige," or printed or written communications in the nature of a letter render them chargeable as letters). Affidavits. Balance-sheets and reports (printed) of public societies and companies. Bankers packets, containing bank-notes, cheques, cheque-books, drafts, or orders sent by or to any bank. Bank passbooks may be sent from or to any bank at packet rates, provided they are enclosed in covers, with the ends sufficiently open to admit of postal officials seeing that " pass-books " only are being transmitted: the packet must be indorsed "Pass-book only." Bills of exchange. Bills of lading and ships' manifests. Bottles containing fluid, &c, very securely corked, so that their contents cannot escape, and packed in boxes sufficiently strong so as to prevent breakage of the bottles and damage to the mails. Briefs. . Cards (other than birthday, Christmas, Easter, or New Year cards), either plain or bearing printed matter, or pictures, or both (the name only of the addressee may be written on the face of such cards) : birthday, Christmas, Easter, or New Year cards may have written on them complimentary, or such like remarks, together with the names and addresses of the senders, and of the person for whom the cards are intended, also the date of sending—for example, "To John Smith, with best wishes, from Mary Smith, Christmas, 1891 "—but cards having messages or other munications written on them, such as " Hoping to see jou shortly," "Be sure to write soon," will be liable to letter rate of postage. Catalogues, printed (prices in figures may be written). Circulars— i.e., letters wholly printed, engraved, lithographed, chromographed, or produced by other mechanical process, bearing internal evidence that they are intended for transmission in identical terms to several persons (the name of the addressee may, however, be added in writing). Deeds, or copies thereof. Depositions. Drafts. Drawings. Engravings. . , Insurance documents, not being in the nature of a letter. Invoices (an invoice may be receipted and may advise when or how goods are forwarded, but may contain no other written matter). Legal documents, not being in the nature of a letter. Manuscript for printing. Maps. Merchandise. Mineral specimens. Music (written). Notices of meetings, of subscriptions or premiums due, printed, engraved, lithographed, or produced by other mechanical process (names, dates, and amounts only to be inserted in writing). Paintings. Paper. Parchments or vellum. Pass-books or cards connected with any society. Patterns (manufacturers' or trade-mark and prices may accompany them). Pay-sheets. Photographs (not on glass, except in cases of leather or other strong material). Pictures. Placards. Plans. Policies of insurance. Powers of attorney. Prices current, printed (prices of articles included therein may be filled in in writing). Printed matter. Printers' proofs. Prints. Prospectuses, printed. Eeceipts (see Accounts). Recognisances. Eeports (printed) of societies or public companies. Eeturns or periodical statements on Government service, if so indorsed on the cover. Samples (manufacturers' or trade-mark and price may accompany them). Scrip. Seeds. Specifications. Stock-sheets. Valentines (printed). Way-bills. Wedding-cake. Other articles similar to above can also bo forwarded as packets. Book and Packet Regulations. All packets containing bank-notes, coin, jewellery, or articles of high value, must be registered, or they will be officially registered, and charged double registration-fee on delivery. None of the articles mentioned in above list will be forwarded as packets beyond the limits of the colony if the law or postal regulations of the colony or country to which they may be addressed prohibit their reception into such colony or country as packets. If any articles, which can only be sent if paid as letters, are posted bearing the packet rate of postage they will be treated as insufficiently-paid letters, and no packet must contain anything of an epistolary character, except as herein provided for. Officers of the Post Office may examine the contents of any package for the purposes of ascertaining whether they are in accordance with these regulations; but such officers must securely refasten any packet so opened. Books and packets may be sent through the post without a cover (but not fastened with anything adhesive, such as gum, sealing-wax, &c), or in a cover entirely open at one end or side, or with the flap left unsealed, or fastened with a binder ; if the cover be slit the opening must be to the full extent of the end or side, and the contents must be easy of withdrawal. For the greater security of contents the packets may be tied with string, but in such cases postal officials are authorised to cut or untie the string; but if they do so they must securely tie up the packets. Officers will, however, if possible, satisfy themselves as to contents without withdrawing them. Samples of seeds, drugs, &c, which cannot be sent as open packets, may be enclosed in bags or boxes (fastened so as to be easily undone and refastened), except where disallowed by the regulations of the foreign countries. [NoU.—li the above conditions be not complied with the packets will be regarded as in-sufficiently-paid letters, and charged accordingly.]