F.—l

X

2,669 newspapers and 927 books and other articles without addresses were received, a considerable number of which were subsequently applied for and delivered. Of these 1,075 newspapers and 249 book-packets, &c, had been damaged by sea-water on the s.s. '-'Majestic" on the Atlantic. 174 letters were posted without addresses. 8 letters with libellous addresses were intercepted. 296 letters were wrongly addressed. 2,807 letters were refused by the addressees. 6 letters were discovered to have been posted with previously-used stamps. Buildings. The new offices at Invercargill will be occupied next month. The clock-tower has been finished, and a tender for the manufacture and erection of the four-dial clock accepted. The clock should be in position about the end of the year. The new offices at Waimate and Fortrose have been finished. The extensive additions and alterations to the Chief Post-office, Christchurch, have also been completed, and have materially improved the public and office accommodation. Offices are being erected at Danevirke and Kaikoura; and it has been decided to build at Pahiatua. The Wellington Telephone Exchange has been enlarged, and the exchanges at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin altered and improved. Of the more principal works carried out during the year the following may be mentioned : Auckland —altering public lobby, Chief Post-office; drainage and gas services, and erecting fumi-gating-shed, Mechanics' Bay : Lyttelton, repairs; Mataura, raising building; Temuka, repairs and painting; Opunake, additions; Hokitika, repairs and painting; bluntly, additions; Cambridge, repairs; Te Puke, additions ; Manaia, repairs and painting; Blenheim, alterations; Duvauchelle, additions; Gore, alterations and repairs; Longburn, additions; Masterton, repairs; Mount Somers, additions; New Plymouth, alterations; Eeefton, repairs; Shag Point, additions; Sydenham, repairs. The accommodation at Napier has been rearranged, and a public lobby for receipt of telegrams provided on ground-floor. Additions and alterations to the Ashburton office are in hand. The accommodation at the circulation branch, Wellington, is to be improved. The Wanganui office is to be enlarged. Inland Mail-services. The following are the particulars of the several inland mail-services in operation during the year :— Performed by coach and mail-cart ... ... ... ... 207 Performed on horseback ... ... ... ... ... 306 Performed on foot ... ... ... ... ... 50 Performed by water ... ... ... ... ... 40 Performed by railway ... ... ... ... ... 80 Total number of services ... ... ... 683 Aggregate mileage ... ... ... .... ... 10,296 Total number of miles travelled ... ... ... 3,689,946 Cost to the department ... ... ... ... £25,341 18s. 2d. Average cost per mile ... ... ... ... ... l-65d. The total cost in 1891 was ... ... ... £27,301 15s. 9d. And the cost per mile ... ... ... ... ... L66d. The following services were established during the year:— Auckland — Weekly : Paparoa and Mareretu, Tuakau and Onewhero, Helena Bay and Wangaruru, Lichfield and Taupo (re-established), Eawene and Motukaraka, Takahue and Broaclwood. New Plymouth— Weekly : Stratford and Toko, Tarata and Purangi. Wanganui— Twice weekly: Eltham and Kaponga, Manaia and Kapuni. Weekly: Hunterville, Mangamako, Ohingaite and Sandon Block, Waitotara and Kaimanuka. A weekly steam-service between Wanganui and Pipiriki was established in May, 1892. Although controlled by the Post Office, it is maintained by the Lands and Survey Department primarily for settlement purposes. It promises to develop a large passenger and cargo traffic ; and when coaches can run through between Pipiriki and Tokaanu the route via the Wanganui Eiver will no doubt become a favourite one with tourists travelling to and from the Hot Lakes. Wellington— Twice weekly : Pahiatua and Makuri. Christchurch — Thrice weekly : Hackthorne and Eiverside. Twice weekly to The Peaks.