F.—l

9

Two men were sentenced, one to nine months' imprisonment with hard labour and the other to twelve months' imprisonment, at Wellington, for forging telegrams. On a charge against two youths of forging a Savings-bank withdrawal-form for £18. at Wellington one was sentenced to imprisonment for one year, and the other admitted to probation for twelve months. For stealing a letter containing a postal note an officer of the Department was sentenced at Dunedin to three months' imprisonment. A man at Wanganui who made use of the Post Office by sending letters to various persons stating that a parcel would be sent to them on receipt of ss. was convicted of fraud. A man who made a false statement that he had posted a letter containing money on the. 27th November. 1910, was convicted of perjury at Wanganui, and sentenced. On a charge of stealing a postal packet and letter containing a postal note, an officer of the Department was sentenced at Invercargill to six months' imprisonment. A man was arrested at Christchurch on the charge of forging a Savings-bank withdrawal-receipt for £20, but committed suicide while awaiting trial. The Tokarahi Post-office was entered by burglars, and £5 stolen. The Manunui Post-office was entered by burglars, and £134 stolen. Buildings. The following new post-offices were opened by the Postmaster-General : Dominion Road (13/12/10), Oreenmeadows (28/12/10), Te Araroa (9/1/11), St. Kilda (17/1/11), Addington (25/2/11) ; the followin, by the Acting Postmaster-General: Waiau (22/3/11), Ferry Road (Christchurch) (12/4/11), and liaka'ia (13 i 11); Takapau (17/5/11) by the Acting Prime Minister: Waimate (6/1/11), Rahotu (5/6/11), by the Hon. D. Buddo. The following offices were transferred to departmental new buildings : Bull's (22/8/10). Hangaroa (24/8/10), Frankton Junction (26/10/10), Kohukohu (3/6/11), Okato f27/8/10), Patutahi (15 10 10), Waiau (17/10/10), Helensville (1/3/11), Takapau (16/3/11), Bannockburn (21/4/11). Sites have been purchased at Hangaroa, Havelock North, Kaitaia, Kaiwarawara, Kilbirnie, Kohuknhii. Manutuke, Petane, Richmond (Christchurch), Tuatapere, Waikanae. and Woodend. During tin- year buildings were erected at Addington, Dominion Road. Ferry Road. Frankton Junction, Greenmeadows, Hangaroa, Kohukohu, Mangapai. Otaki (lineman's cottage), Patutahi. Rakaia, St. Kilda, Takapau. Te Araroa. Tokatoka (purchased), and Waiau. General repairs, additions. &c, were carried out during the year at the following offices : Bull's, Dannevirke, Pairlie, Hawarden, Kawhia, Levin, Lincoln. Linwood, Mercer, New Plymouth, Okato, Richmond, Thames, Timaru, Tolaga Bay, and Waipawa. Plans have been prepared or are in preparation for buildings at Kawakawa, Little River, Mount Albert, Ohura, Ongarue, Ponsonby, Takapuna, Taradale, Te Aroha, Te Awamutu, and Waiuku. Properties were purchased at Adelaide Road, Avondale, Pleasant Point, Waipiata, and Wanganui. Contracts have been let for buildings at Amberley, Balclutha, Culverden, Ellerslie, Granity, Kaeo, Kaitangata. Kilbirnie. Leeston. Manaia, Matata, Murchison. Rangiwahia, Taupo. Tikokino, and Warkworth. Buildings are in course of erection at Auckland, Bannockburn, Green Island, Hamilton East Rahotu, Riverton, Runanga, Shannon, Taneatua, Waimate, Wairoa, Wellington, and Westport. £A public clock was erected at the Hastings post-office building. The foundation-stone of the Auckland new post-office building was laid by the Postmaster-General on the Ist August, 1910. The foundation-stone of the General Post Office new building was laid on the Bth August, 1910. A copper cylinder containing copies of the local daily papers, an official directory, and coins of the realm was placed under the stone. The clock in the Christchurch Post-office was connected with the City Council's svnchronome system on the 22nd August, 1910. The Opotiki Post-office was destroyed by fire on the Bth February, 1911. Very little postal property was destroyed. Business was not dislocated, temporary quarters being established in the Courthouse. The Tuparoa Post-office was damaged by heavy seas on the 25th April, 1910. Money-orders. During the year there were 32 money-order offices opened and 5 closed, the number remaining open at the end of the year being 664. 569,657 money-orders were issued, for £2,457,522 18s. 5d., as compared with 538,740, for £2,307,592 18s. Id., for the previous year an increase of 30.917 in number and £119,930 os. 4d. in amount. 449,773 money-orders, amounting to £2,126,588 16s. 7d., were paid, as against 418,764, for C 1.984,978 os. lid., during 1909—an increase of 31,009 orders and £141,610 15s. Bd. in amount. 156,343 orders, for £475,645 16s. 3d., were drawn for payment in places beyond New Zealand. 36,126 orders, for £145,698 Is. 5d., were issued at offices abroad for payment in New Zealand. The commission received for money-orders amounted to £14,300 7s. 9d., as against £13,782 14s. tor 1909. an increase of £517 13s. 9d.

2—F. I.