F.—l

II

£408,478 3s. 2d. as the total value of the Post Office and Telegraph work performed during the year, which, after deducting the expenditure, leaves a balance of £140,135 2s. Id. in favour of the department. The estimated value of the official correspondence and Government telegrams was equal to 2763 per cent, of the combined revenue. 23,745,462 letters were posted, and 23,867,402 delivered—an increase of 2,243,525 and 1,452,139 respectively. 157,465 inland parcels were posted, an increase of 39,852. 1,968,264 telegrams of all codes were forwarded, an increase of 7,103. 195,239 money-orders, for £651,989 19s. 6d., were issued; and 160,279 orders, for £582,661 16s. 7d., were paid. 214,334 postal-notes, representing £78,808 10s. were sold —an increase of 29,735 notes for £9,346 10s. 6!d. Fifty-five post-offices were established, five reopened, and sixteen closed. The total number of post- and telegraph- or telephone-offices open at the end of 1891 was 1,231. The total number of telephone-exchange subscribers on the 31st March last was 3,083, and the subscriptions received for the year amounted to £18,571 7s. Bd. From the Ist October the subscription was reduced to £5 a year. Telephone sub-exchanges were established at Hutt, Balclutha, Milton, and Eiversdale. There were 674 inland mail-services in operation, at a cost to the department of £27,301 15s. 9d. 222 miles of telegraph line were erected; and at the close of the year the total mileage was 5,349 miles of line, and 13,235 miles of wire. The net expenditure out of loan on telegraph extension amounted to £27,772 16s. The sum of £1,842,987 15s. 2d. was deposited in the Post Office Savings Banks during the calendar year, and the sum of £1,693,515 9s. 3d. was withdrawn. The total amount at the credit of depositors on the 31st December, 1891, was £2,695,447 11s. 6d. The following table and return give the number of offices and officers of all classes on the 31st December last:—

Comparative Eetuen of Officees of the Postal and Telegeaph Depaetment for the Years 1891 and 1890. 1891. 1890. : 1891. 1890. Postmaster-General .. .. .. 1 1 j Sorters in Clearing-room .. .. 14 14 Superintendent .. .. .. .. 1 1 j Storekeeper and Assistants .. .. 5 5 Secretary .. .. .. 1 1 ! Chief Postmasters .. .. .. 16 16 Inspector of Post-offices .. .. 1 1 Postmasters and Officers in Charge on PerAssistant Inspector of Post-offices .. 1 1 manent Staff .. .. .. 248 261 Controller of Money-orders and Savings-banks j Clerks and Cadets .. .. .. 242 227 and Accountant .. .. .. 1 1 Operators (including Cadets) .. .. 372 346 Telegraph Inspectors .. .. . • 8 3 Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. 1,012 935 Telegraph Sub-Inspectors .. 2 3 Letter-carriers .. .. .. 119 113 Electrician .. .. .. .. 1 1 Messengers (Post Office) .. •».. 19 17 Mechanicians and Cadet .. .. 4 3 j Linemen .. .. .. .. 51 50 Clerks in General Post Office— j Telegraph Message Boys .. .. 204 195 Secretary's Branch .. .. .. 8 ; Nightwatchmen .. .. 2 2 Dead-letter Branch .. .. .. 4 4 j Money-order and Savings-bank Branch .. 17 17 Totals ~ .. 2,349' 2,225

Postal Districts. Peri 0: CD d> I o I lanei ices. !r3 CO , Is go Jl i r aj PI p o 3 o Com PO! offlc Itry 3t:es. o ft 3 B & O 18 ft l>1 o o> o o CD o CD CO « bo a •3 M H o> o A ft 03 B 1 pq a> a o■a Clerks and Postal Cadets. Operators (including Cadets). .3 u'l |l fe a: II S3 c it Is Lettercarriers. a o 43 CO O Si m <D a 1 p>, Tele; Mes Be Sraph 3 age ys. Cβ o o p-l o o s ? o a -is I § § a b g a o ! o B i Q i i ! o ! o I EH o Auckland Thames Gisborne Napier New Plymouth Wanganui Wellington Blenheim Nelson Westport Greymouth Hokitika Chrisfcchureh Timaru Oamaru Dunedin Invercargill .. 1 1 1 3 "i 1 1 1 26| 8! 3 7 11 6 5 4 4 8 11 4 1 17| 7 16 .. 2 t 10 o 156 20 11 29 17 21 61 19 22 11 24 24 107 27 9 66 79 75 9* 10 16 7 9 22 5 11 11 4 5 14 2 6 50 17 7 i i 1 1 1 1 17 8 9 '2 47 3 19 2 7 51 5 4 •• i * * I • • .. 1 ' * J 24 8 5 25 6 13 46 39 1 9 3 ! 31 9 10 30 8 12 5 7 1 8 18 2 4 46 8J x i 14 22 7 9 5 4 8 43 15 8 34 20 17 2 1 3 2 3 11 2 ! 3 j 1 2 1 17 2 ! 2 I 17 3 I 5 1 ! i ! 'i 4 1 .. 3 1 2 4 1 13 3 3 6 2 4 33 2 5 3 3 2 16 3 3 15 4 16 3 i 2 7 10 2 '3 4 1 1 I •• j 32 ! 11 Iβ I 13 " 3 1 1 4 6 2 2 39 i 2 41 J 10 " i I *8 ; 5 i , , 8 2 '2 1 6 3 • • '2 1 1 2 2 14 2 • .i 1 1 8 5 20 8 * io 7 1 13 4 '' I _| i ■ i I Total on 31st Deo., 1891 .. 5 126 '124 703 273 36 18 65 238 4 283 89 89 30 19 120 84 261