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counter-space for the parcels, stamps, registered-letter, and delivery branches, and allowed a considerable increase of space to be thrown into the mail-room. The alterations, while affording some relief, can at best be regarded as a temporary measure, which will serve until additions can be made on the Government acquiring the block adjoining that on which the General Post Office building stands. The necessary notice in this direction has been given under the Public Works Act. At Dunedin nothing has been done as yet for enlarging the Chief Post-office, but, as the new law-courts building is now almost completed, it is hoped that the congested state of the office-accommodation will be relieved during the ensuing twelve months. A considerable extension of the telegraph-office at Dunedin is about to be undertaken by building over the triangular space facing Bond Street, on which a small building occupied by the Registrar of Births, &c, at present stands. This will provide for a much-needed enlargement of the instrument-room, and at the same time will give space on the ground-floor for large despatch and messengers' rooms. On the upper floor the additional space obtained will be utilised for the increasing number of telephone-exchange switchboards. New buildings in brick have been erected, or are in course of erection, at the following places : — Ashburton, Auckland, Caversham, Bketahuna," Feilding, Gisborne, Hamilton, Inglewood, Motueka, Opunake, Sumner, Temuka, and Wanganui. In these brick buildings an improved style of architecture has been adopted, and they are built on a scale to meet future requirements. New offices in wood have been erected, or are about to be erected, at Alfredton, Aratapu, Karangahake, Kawhia, Tola.ga Bay, and Toko. The following general repairs, additions, &c, were carried out during the year:— Additions, fitting up private letter-boxes, painting, papering, &c, Alexandra; alterations, additions, private letter-boxes, Auckland; alterations and repairs, Barry's Bay; additions, fittings, asphalting yard, erecting and painting fence, &c, Bluff; alterations and repairs, Ohristchurch; reinstating building destroyed by fire, Clinton; alterations and repairs, Dunedin; rebuilding washhouse, repairs, painting, &c, Kaitangata ; additions to quarters, Katikati; painting, Longford ; laying on water, and general sanitary improvements, Lyttelton; alterations and repairs, Makuri; repairs, &c, Manurewa; drainage, &c, Martinborough; fittings and furniture for new office, Masterton ; repairs, &c, Miller's Flat; additions, Morven ; repairs to roof, &c, Napier ; new private letter-boxes, alterations, refurnishing, &c, New Plymouth; alterations and repairs, Newton; repairs and renovations, Ohaeawai; additions for quarters, Otahuhu; alterations and repairs, Otautau ; repairs, Paeroa ; furnishings and fittings for new office, Petone ; repairs, &c, Pleasant Point; purchase of land and buildings, and alterations, Ponsonby; repairs, &c, Porootarao; repairs, &c, Rakaia ; repairs and painting, Ross; additions, repairs, &c, Eotorua; new private letter-boxes, repairs, and alterations, Roxburgh ; repairs and renovations, Russell; new office, and fencing, Shag Point; fittings, Strand Arcade; repairs, &c, Templeton; repairs, Te Nui; repairs and alterations, Timaru ; repairs, &c, Upper Hutt; alterations and repairs, Waihola; repairs, 4c, Wairoa; alterations and. repairs, Wakapuaka; fittings, furniture, &c, Wereroa; alterations and repairs, Whakataki; repairs and alterations, Woolston. MONEY-OBDEKS. Twenty-four money-order offices were opened during the year—namely, Addington, Awahuri, Awhitu, Cheltenham, Clive, Colyton, Prasertown, Gimmerburn, Havelock North, Kawhia, Morven, North-east Valley, Opoutama, Otira, Pongaroa, Porootarao, Port Awanui, Roslyn, Strand Arcade, Tadinor, Templeton, Tokatoka, Utiku, and Whangapara. Pour offices were closed—namely, Nenthorne, Okupu, Tauhoa, and Jackson's. The number of offices open at the end of the year was 454, as against 434 twelve months previously. 369,834 money-orders were issued for £1,214,852 16s. 5d., as compared with 344,664 for £1,118,808 ss. 7d. in 1899—an increase of 25,170 in number and £96,044 10s. 10d. in amount. 264,018 money-orders, amounting to £1,042,348 4s. 5d., were paid, as against 244,917 for £948,013 3s. 4d. during 1899—an increase of 19,101 orders and £94,335 Is. Id. There were 39,311 telegraph money-orders issued for £127,551 12s. 6d., as compared with 36,933 for £120,034 3s. 2d. in 1899—an increase of 2,378 in number and £7,517 9s. 4d. in amount. 130,269 orders for £262,992 9s. Id. were issued on places beyond New Zealand, as against 123,310 orders for £254,295 os. 10d. during 1899. 25,613 orders for £95,318 15s. 9d. were issued at places beyond New Zealand for payment in the colony, as compared with 24,023 orders for £85,824 4s. 6d. during the previous year. The commission received for money-orders amounted to £16,512 12s. 9d., as against £15,533 4s. 6d. received during 1899. Direct exchanges of orders between New Zealand and Cook Islands and Samoa were established during the year. Postal Notes. On Ist January, 1901, a new series of postal notes of the following denominations was issued : Is., Is. 6d., 25., 2s. 6d., 35., 55., 10s., 155., 20s. The design is new, and each denomination is printed in ink of distinctive colour. The following offices were created postal-note offices during the year ended 31st March, 1901 : — Addington.' Kilbirnie. Okaiawa. Sumner. Awahuri. Kokonga. Opoutama. Tβ Karaka. Bainham. Makapora. Otakeho. Templeton. Brooklyn. Matamau. Otira. Tokatoka. Elaine Bay. Matau. Pongaroa. Upper Waiwera. Gimmerburn. Morven. Purekireki. Weraroa. Havelook North. Ngaire. Roslyn. Whangapara. Karori. Nireaha. Seddon. Wimbledon. Kerikeri. North-east Valley. Strand Arcade. Winelow.