P.-4

1877. NEW ZEALAND.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. (EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT.)

Presented to both Houses ofi the General Assembly by Command ofi His Excellency. My Loed,— General Post Office, "Wellington, 9th July, 1877. I have the honor to submit to Your Excellency the Eighteenth Annual Eeport on the Postal Service of New Zealand. I have, <fee, Geo. McLean, The Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., Postmaster-General. Governor of New Zealand.

EEPOET. The husiness of the department has been largely extended during the year, and the operations of the several branches have been satisfactory. The Postal revenue collected within tho colony for the financial year ended 30th June ultimo was £86,547 145., against £80,650 Os. 9d. for the previous year—an increase of £5,891 13s. 3d. But the gross revenue may be stated at £102,474 10s. lid., as a sum of £15,926 16s. lid. for postages from the Imperial Post Office and certain of the Australian colonies was due at tho close of the financial year, although not received into the Treasury. This amount has been treated as an asset of revenue. The expenditure for the above period, after making provision for outstanding liabilities, was £140,236 4s. 7d., or £4,710 15s. sd. less than the sum voted for carrying on the several postal services. The saving has been mainly effected under the item of " Conveyance of mails by sea." The total number of letters and newspapers dealt with shows a large increase, as may be seen by the following comparative statement of the number of letters and newspapers received and despatched during the years 1875 and 1876 : — 1876. 1875. Increase. Letters—Received ... ... 5,576,848 5,053,403 Despatched ... ... 6,193,889 5,374,448 11,770,737 10,427,851 1,342,886 Newspapers—Received ... ... 4,861,843 4,026,457 Despatched ... ... 3,100,905 2,784,820 7,962,748 6,811,277 1,151,471 The letters increased 1288 per cent., and newspapers 1690 per cent. 81 Post Offices were established, 3 re-opened, and 8 closed during the year. Money Order and Savings Bank business was extended to 6 Post Offices, and an office of this class was abolished. 48 additional mail services were established, and the aggregate length of the services increased by 449 miles. The staff of the department has been increased by 4 clerks, 61 sub-postmasters, 3 letter carriers, 3 messengers, and 1 shipping officer, making a total of 72 officers. 189 Post Offices have been inspected. The very large number of Post Offices, and the rapid extension of the Money Order and Savings Bank system, render more frequent inspection necessary. There are now 734 Post Offices in the colony, of which 131 are offices for the transaction of Money Order and Savings Bank business; and it is intended that the minor offices shall be inspected at least once a year, while the Chief Offices and Post Offices at which Money Order and Savings Bank business is carried on shall be visited more frequently and at irregular intervals. The arrangements necessary for giving effect to this increased inspection will be carried out without delay. ¥.— l.