D.—No. 2,

Vide p. 29.

BUILDINGS. The great obstacle in the way of a thorough and complete organisation of the Postal Service in New Zealand is the want of adequate and well arranged buildings. Each settlement has sprung from very small beginnings. In the first instance one or at most two rooms answered the purpose well ; as population increased and Inland Townships were formed the Office accommodation, when it became cramped, was increased by the addition of "another room," and still another, till the Post Offices in the most important Towns, instead of being as they ought to be, large, commodious and well arranged buildings, are nothing but labyrinths of rooms, in which order, arrangement, and complete classification are impossible. This is eminently the case at Auckland and Dunediu. At Lyttelton, Christcliurch, and Kelson, the Post Offices are altogether too small for the business to be done. The time has come for a new order of things. At Dunedin a very carefully considered and well arranged plan of a Post Office has been determined on, and steps have been taken for its immediate erection. At Wellington a new Post Office has been very recently erected by the Provincial Government. It stands on the land lately reclaimed from the sea near Lambton Quay, it is centrally situated, and from its proximity to the new deep-water wharf and Custom House, it affords every facility for the landing and shipment of mails. The building is of wood, it is conveniently arranged and affords all the accommodation that will be required for several years. It contrasts strongly with the collection of small low ill-ventilated rooms called Post Offices elsewhere. In every other Chief Post Town in New Zealand it is most desirable that steps should be taken without delay for the erection of proper Buildings. There is no department under the control of the Government in which accuracy, pi'ecision, punctuality, and despatch are so much required as in the Post Office, and it is clear that these cannot be attained without room and well arranged accommodation. MONEY ORDER SYSTEM. The money order system was commenced between New Zealand and the United Kingdom ... ... ... 1st August, 1862. „ and Victoria 1st November, 1862. „ and South Australia 1st March, 1863. „ and New South Wales ... ... ... 23rd March, 1863. „ and Western Australia ... ... .. 1st May, 1863. „ and Queensland ... ... ... ... 1st June, 1863. This system has been largely used by the public. The amount of orders issued to June 30th of this year was £28,127 17s. Od., and the amount paid £6,041 6s. 3d., the balance of exchange being considerably against the Colony. The following is a statement of the Money Order Offices in New Zealand. Auckland Nelson Dunedin Otahuhu Collingwood Manuherikia, junction Wangarei Dunstan .Russell Picton Arrow River , Blenheim Waitahuna Napier Tuapeka Lyttelton Queenstown Wellington Christchurch Oamaru Wanganui Kaipoi Tokomairiro Timaru Invercargill Riverton The rates of commission charged are given in the following table :—

5

POSTAL COMMUNICATION.