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Bengasi. The Commonwealth of Australia had agreed to accept such cards in 1904. Great Britain has intimated its willingness to receive post-cards, pictorial or otherwise, similarly bearing written communications on the front. The recent importation into the colony of post-cards bearing pictures calculated to have an immoral effect on the community is a subject which calls for consideration. Such cards which may be received for transmission by post are at once intercepted. In some instances the senders have been prosecuted for a breach of the provisions of the Offensive Publications Act, and in one case a serious warning was given. A supply of indecent post-cards which had arrived from abroad by parcel post was confiscated by the Customs Department in accordance with section 198 of " The Customs Laws Consolidation Act, 1882." Affixing Stamps to Letters. It is now obligatory that postage-stamps be affixed on the front or address side of a letter, and in the right-hand upper corner of that side. Stamps placed on the back of a letter are no longer recognised, and the letter is charged as insufficiently prepaid. On redirected letters fresh stamps may not be placed over the stamps which have been previously used. This rule has, however, been amended by the late Postal Congress. " Cut-out " Envelopes. "Cut-out" envelopes—namely, covers having an aperture in the front to allow the address of the enclosure to be read—are now prohibited from transmission by post. Receiving-boxes. The posting of matter in receiving-boxes has been restricted to letters, and to newspapers and other articles which do not exceed 13 in. in length and 2 in. in thickness. Not more than six newspapers or other printed articles may, however, be posted in any one receiving-box in one day by the same person or on behalf of any one person. This regulation was found necessary owing to the boxes being frequently blocked by large numbers of newspapers from publishing offices, &c. Early History of the New Zealand Post Office. A brief history of the postal service of the colony from the year 1831 until the passing of the Post Office Act of 1858, compiled by Mr. D. Robertson, Chief Clerk of the Department, from early official documents and information received from old colonists, has been issued. The book makes an interesting addition to the volumes relating to the early colonisation of New Zealand. Departmental Rules. The General and Postal section of the Departmental Rules and Regulations, the revision of which has been completed, is now through the Press, and is being issued to officers. Buildings. During the year brick buildings were erected at Mornington, Otaki, and Palmerston North, and wooden buildings at Half-moon Bay, Kahukura, Lyell Bay (cable hut), Parnell, Pungarehu, Waipiro Bay, Waitotara, and Whakarewarewa. At Puketeraki a contribution was made towards the cost of a building on the Native reserve. At Linwood a property was purchased for the purpose of a post-office building. Buildings in brick are in course of erection at Bull's, Greymouth, * Hutt, Nelson, New Plymouth, Otautau, Taihape, Tauranga, and Winton. Wooden buildings are being erected at Collingwood and Millerton. Sites for buildings were purchased at Devonport and Johnsonville. At Christchurch the growth of the Department's business has necessitated extensive alterations and additions to the chief post and telegraph office, and these are now in hand. Substantial alterations have been made and offices refitted at Napier. The question of extensive additions to the General and Chief Post Office building, Wellington, is being considered. The following general repairs, additions, &c, were carried out during the year: —Amberley: providing accommodation at railway-station for postal purposes; Auckland: supply of fireextinguishers and additional private letter-boxes; Culverden : providing accommodation at rail-way-station for postal purposes; Dannevirke: additions, furniture, fittings; Dunedin: additions to Money-order Office; Dunedin North: repairs and renovations; Eltham: drainage, watersupply, &c.; Fairlie: providing accommodation at railway-station for postal purposes ; Feilding : repairs, &c, necessitated through damage caused by fire in adjoining building; Grey Lynn: alterations; Greymouth: renovations, &c, to Chief Postmaster's residence; Greytown North: additions and alterations; Henderson: providing accommodation at railway-station for postal purposes; Inglewood: installing electric light; Kihikihi: improvements; Longburn : providing accommodation at railway-station for postal purposes; Lumsden: providing accommodation at railway-station for postal purposes; Oamaru: improvements; Pahiatua: additions and alterations; Palmerston: additions; Pembroke: additions; Petone: repairs and renovations put in hand; Ponsonby: repairs, painting &c. ; Reefton: renovations and drainage; St. Albans: alterations to property purchased; Timaru: renovating clock-tower, &c.; Waikaia: alterations ; Waipawa: additions and alterations; Wairoa: erecting bathroom, wash-house, &c.; Waverley: improvements ; Wellington : alterations and renovations, and fitting up parcel office; additions to mechanicians' workshop; Winchester: providing accommodation at railway-station for postal purposes; Woodlands : providing accommodation at railway-station for postal purposes. Inland Telegraphic Code Addresses. The system of code addresses, which had formerly been applicable only to cable messages, was, on the 6th April last, extended to apply to inland telegrams. The concession is of considerable

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