F.—l

Closed. Awahou, Auckland. Horowhenua, Wellington. Puhipuhi, Auckland. Big Bay, Invercargill. Oaonui, New Plymouth. Rewiti, Auckland. Copper Creek, Hokitika. Ohura, Auckland. Ru Point, Auckland. Eastown, Wanganui. Onepoto, Napier. Sandietown, Timaru. Heatherlea, Wellington. Patoka, Napier. The total number of post-offices open at the close of the year was 1,353. The designations of offices were changed as follows Hellyer's Creek to Birkdale, Maunganui Bluff to Opanake, One to Oue, and Waikiekie to Ruarangi, all in the Auckland district. A Government Insurance agency was established at the Cheviot Post-office. Twenty newspapers were registered for transmission by post. Thirteen ceased publication during the year Twenty-five receiving-boxes were established at Auckland, 2, Carterton, 1, Danevirke, 2; Dunedin, 1, Epsom (Auckland), 1 Feilding, 1 , Greytown North, 1 , Kaikoura, 1, Kaitangata, 1, Karori (Wellington), 1, Maraenui (between Omaio and Opotiki), 1, Marton, 1, Napier, 1, Newmarket (Auckland), 1 Pahiatua, 1, Palmerston North, 5 Parnell (Auckland), 1, Port Chalmers, 1, St. Alban's (Christchurch), 1. Five receiving-boxes were closed at Auckland, 2 , Napier, 1 Eeefton, 1, Wellington, 1 There were 343 pillar wall, and lamp-post receivers at the end of the year. 9,628, 385 letters, 458,157 post-cards, 1,773,479 books, circulars, &c, and 2,563,892 newspapers were delivered by letter-carriers.

Parcel-post. The following table shows the total number and the weight of inland, intercolonial, United Kingdom, and foreign parcels posted during the years 1890, 1892, 1893, and 1894: —

The postage collected amounted to £8,907 13s. 2d., compared with £8,600 3s. lid. collected in 1893. The number of inland parcels posted was 149,150, compared with 148,059 in 1893. The increase in the number of inland parcels posted against the number posted in 1893 was 1,091, or 0-74 per cent., compared with an increase of 4,546, or 3 - 17 per cent., in 1893 over 1892. The parcel-post system has been extended to British Central Africa, British New Guinea, Dutch Guiana, Dutch West Indies, Norfolk Island, and Persia. The postage on parcels to the following countries has been reduced Bechuanaland, Cape Colony, Congo Free State, Luxemburg, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Bulgaria, Egypt, German East Africa, Jeddah, Mauritius, Montenegro, Roumania, Servia, Togo, and Uruguay Negotiations for the direct exchange of parcels with the following countries are now proceeding Ceylon and adjacent countries (this will shorten the routes to a large number of countries the parcels for which have now to be sent via London), France and French colonies (including New Caledonia and Tahiti), by French packets, Uruguay (parcels for South American offices will be conveyed by the direct steamers and landed at Monte Video en route to London), Canada and American countries with which Canada has parcel exchanges , Hongkong and Chinese offices having parcel exchanges with Hongkong, and Hawaiian Islands. Another endeavour has been made to obtain parcel exchanges with the United States, but without success. It is intended to reduce the parcel rates to the United Kingdom from Is. 6d. for the first two pounds and 9d. for each succeeding pound to Is. for the first'pound and 6d. for each succeeding pound. The reduction will probably take effect on the Ist February next.

ii—F. 1.

ix

Postal Districts. 18$ Number. 1890. !90. Weight. 1892. 1893. 1894. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. Auckland Chames Sew Plymouth jisborne Napier Wanganui Wellington STelson *Vestport 3reymouth Hokitika . Blenheim jhristchurch fimaru Damaru Dunedin ;nveroargill 21,882 1 491 1 007 938 6,265 4,035 25 893 4,723 1,077 2,509 1,413 1,846 19,383 2,013 ■ 859 22,500 3,458 lb. oz. 57 912 10 3,661 8 2,674 3 2,570 6 17,075 14 9,563 8 74,544 2 13,370 7 2,332 4 6,243 13 3,924 5 4,357 11 58 708 4 4 774 8 2,123 3 65,329 13 7,477 5 31,699 1 769 1 463 1 103 6 675 4,892 32,677 4 574 1 276 2,634 1 705 2,108 23,804 2,329 872 24,813 3,656 lb. oz. 86,125 10 4,385 11 J 4,903 12 3,310 6 20,779 2 13,352 15 : Illl 365 13 I 14,282 5 3,086 13 ! 6,710 10 4,593 12 5,151 1 ! 1 76,804 0 5,665 6 ! 2,239 0 ; ; I 76,774 3 |j i 9,356 8£' 31 733 1 879 1 795 1 167 7 739 5,074 35,813 4,628 1,286 2,472 1 773 2,0S3 23,976 1 979 971 25,073 3 887 ]b. oz. ; 92,885 11 I 4 614 4 i 4,592 2 3,427 8 22,442 7 14,271 11 1120.554 5 I 14,120 1 3 488 15 6,563 3 5,369 0 : ; 5,534 i 76 976 5 j 4 934 0 : 2,252 4 84,204 9 10,533 12 : 30,900 1,849 2,275 1,186 7 916 4,913 38,519 5,061 1,482 2,310 1,500 1 978 23,755 1 874 862 25 356 3 961 lb. oz. 87 497 1 4,917 6 5,771 2 3 620 11 23 708 6 13,836 10 129 916 11 15,846 10 3 694 8 6,331 12 4,901 10 5,291 0 79 495 9 4,791 8 J 2,134 0 81,667 6 10,620 12 J Totals 121,292 336,643 12 148,049 448,886 15i 153,328 476,764 5 155,697 484,042 7 %