F.—l

XVIII

The maximum, minimum, and average number of days within which the mails were delivered at and from London and Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, and Bluff during 1899 by the San Francisco service and by the Peninsular and Oriental and Orient lines, was :— San Francisco Service. P. and O. Line. Orient Line. Max. Mm. Average. Max. Mm. Average. Max. Mm. Average. London to Auckland.. .. 33 31 31-54 .. 39 37 38-08 .. 43 37 3885 Auckland to London.. .. 35 30 30-85 .. 42 39 40-46 .. 43 37 40-12 London to Wellington .. 34 32 32-77 .. 42 36 39-15 .. 45 38 39-38 Wellington to London .. 36 32 32-69 .. 45 37 41-73 .. 45 37 42-22 London to Dunedin .. .. 35 33 33-92 .. 46 38 4040 .. 46 38 40-48 Dunedin to London .. .. 38 33 33-85 .. 46 39 40-34 .. 45 38 40-66 London to Bluff .. .. 36 34 34-67 .. 45 37 39-65 .. 45 37 39-73 Bluff to London .. .. 39 34 34-60 .. 45 38 39-59 .. 44 37 3991 The several subsidised mail sea-services, the subsidy-payments for the year 1899, the dates when established, and the date on which each terminates are shown as follows : —

a Only proportion due for quarter to 31st March, 1899, expended. b Represents £10 a trip for a temporary service. c Plus one-thirteenth of £500 for each trip on which steamer with inward mails leaves. Onehunga on a Tuesday. Buildings. The altogether insufficient accommodation at the chief post-offices at Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin is seriously interfering with the efficient performance of the work of the department at those places, and the expansion of business during the year has rendered it necessary that additional floor-space should be provided without further delay. The difficulty at Auckland is now being met by structural alterations and additions to the post-office building at a cost of about £4,000, which should suffice to meet requirements for some time to come. The substitution of steel pillars and girders for the massive brick arches on the main floor of the building will result in largely increased space being obtained for the mail-room, and admit of the counters and public lobby being extended and enlarged. The wants of the money-order and savings-bank branch and the letter-carriers will be met by building over the present area to the eastern side of the building. On the completion of the new Supreme Court at Dunedin the proposed rearrangement of the accommodation in the building in which the chief post-office is situated, providing much needed additional space for the postal business, will be put in hand. While Auckland and Dunedin are to be provided for, nothing as yet has been decided upon for Wellington, where the need for additional accommodation for staff and public is far more pressing. It is imperative that additional office-space be secured without further delay. New offices were erected at Cronadon, Mangaweka, Masterton, Mosgiel, Petone, Renwicktown, and Wellington South (Newtown), and buildings were purchased for the post-offices at New Brighton, Parnell, and Pouto. Land for the erection of post-office buildings was purchased at Caversham, Levin, Newtown, and Takaka. The following general repairs, additions, &c, were carried out during the year: Painting, Ahaura; repairs and painting, Annat; new fence and verandah, painting and repairs, Ashburton ; repairs, alterations, cleaning, and painting, Auckland; fittings, Balfour; additions, Chatham Islands; additions to accommodate new telephone switchboard, &c, Christchurch;

Duration of Service. Service. Subsidy or Payment. When When terminated established, termm a We . Number of Voyages per Annum. Mileage for Complete Voyage. Cost per Mile. Auckland and San Francisco ■Vellington and Vancouver Auckland and Fiji Auckland and South Pacific Islands Auckland and Devonport Auckland and Great Barrier Dargaville and Tangihua (Tangiteroria) Elelensville and Matakohe Elelensville and Dargaville Horeke, Kohukohu, Rawene, Waitapu, and Opononi .. .. rtussell and Opua SVhangaroa and Totara North Wellington, Ketu Bay, Homewood, Maori Bay (and other offices), and Havelock kelson, Mofcueka, Totaranui, Takaka, and Collingwood iVestport and Karamea .. tVestport and Little Wanganui .. hokitika, Okarito, Bruce Bay, Paringa, Haast, Okura, and Jackson's Bay dyttelton and Chatham Islands .. Bluff and Half-moon Bay Sluff, Te Oneroa, and Cromarty .. Interprovincial service in connection with San Francisco line .. Interprovincial service in connection with Vancouver line £ s. d. 12,145 8 11 7,500 0 0* 1,690 0 0 1,200 0 0 60 0 0 250 0 0 75 0 0 April, 1871 Dec, 1897 June, 1880 June, 1885 Aug., 1863 Oct., 1891 Nov., 1893 Mar., 1901 Mar., 1899 Dec, 1902 Dec, 1902 Dec, 1902 13 13 13 12 939 52 52 11,850 13,320 2,334 6,992 6 120 46 s. d. 1 6-92 0 10-40 1 1-37 0 3-43 0 2-56 0 9-62 0 7-53 j 500 0 0 | 148 10 0 Jan., 1881 Dec, 1902 f 52 \ 104 118 ) 170 J 0 5-04 Jan., 1889 Dec, 1902 52 48 1 2-28 90 0 0 25 0 0 Jan., 1889 Jan., 1891 Dec, 1902 Dec, 1902 104 52 16 2 1 0-98 4 9-69 ) 170 0 0" f 350 0 0 | 125 0 0 I 200 0 0 1 600 0 0 Dec, 1891 Sept., 1899 f June, 1886 I Jan., 1895 Aug., 1899 Dec, 1902 Dec, 1902 Dec, 1902 Dec, 1902 13 13 52 26 12 ) 183 | 130 102 ) 82 f 1 5-15 2 11-30 0 4-44 1 1-20 Jan., 1886 Dec, 1902 6 384 5 2-50 300 0 0 300 0 0 360 0 0 ) 3,000 0 0 f 3,500 0 0« 13,000 0 0 a July, 1886 April, 1893 Nov., 1886 April, 1899 Mar., 1902 Dec, 1902 6 52 12 1,050 48 208 0 11-43 2 4-85 2 10-62 Mar.," 1899 Mar., 1901 1 » Dec, 1897 Mar., 1899