F.—1.

III

in communication with the Christchurch Telephone Exchange. Dp to the 17th instant the following postal and telegraph business had been transacted at the Exhibition building: — Posted. Received. Letters ... ... ... ... ... 2,333 ... 2,691 Post-cards ... ... ... ... ... 352 ... 65 Books ... ... ... ... ... 32 ... 54 Newspapers ... ... ... ... ... 1,164 ... 845 47 money orders issued, for £146 7s. 6d. ; commission, £2 10s. 2d ; 2 money orders paid, for £14; 306 telegrams forwarded, of the value of £16 19s. ; 319 telegrams received. To facilitate the circulation of printed serials through the post at a minimum rate of postage a magazine-post has been established, permitting oonafide magazines to circulate within the colony at a postage rate of fd. per two ounces or fraction thereof. Every magazine must be submitted for approval before it can be forwarded at the reduced rate. Dp to the present time forty-eight publications have been admitted to the privileges of the magazine-post. The introduction of "reply post-cards" has been decided upon. Stamped envelopes and speciallyprepared registered-letter covers are also to be issued. To prevent the purloining of postage-stamps by the employes in large establishments it has been decided that the stamps may be perforated with the initials of the firms, &c , so as to render the improper sale of such stamps a matter of difficulty. The perforation, with initials, of the stamps on postcards and newspaper-wrappers is also allowed. The introduction of cards for the saving of pence by school-children for deposit in the Post Office Savings Banks has been attended with a fair measure of success. Erom Eebrtiary, 1881, to the 31st December last 8,656 accounts were opened by means of the penny-stamp deposit-cards; and the average amount at the credit of each account at the end of May last had increased to 7s. sd. The amount standing to the credit of Savings Bank depositors on the 31st December last had increased from £903,765 16s. lOd. in 1880 to £1,232,787 16s. 9d. This sum was held by 51,008 persons, the average amount to the credit of each being £24 3s. 4d. Every tenth person had an account in one or other of the Post Office Savings Banks. 135,556 money orders were issued for £452,182 7s. Bd., inclusive of 14,241 money orders for £55,516 2s. lOd. transmitted by telegram. A scheme for the interchange of money orders with Germany was introduced on the Ist November, and the exchange of money orders with the United States commenced on the Ist January last. In addition to collecting £136,068 10s. 4d. on account of property-tax, involving the dealing with about 17,000 payments and the issue of a corresponding number of receipts, game and other license fees have also been received by Postmasters. The sheep-tax, rabbit-rate, &c, are henceforth to be paid at post offices. Private boxes are now opened on Sundays from 10.30 a.m. till 5.30 p.m. The post and telegraph offices at Wanganui are to be amalgamated on the Ist July proximo, and those at Greymouth about the Ist September. The letter-carriers' deliveries have been further extended at Auckland, Christchurch, and Invercargill ; and deliveries established at Onehunga, Tauranga, Picton, and Waimate. 3,505,729 letters, 126,540 post-cards, 126,594 books, &c, and 907,994 newspapers were delivered by the letter-carriers during the year. Ten additional receiving boxes and six iron-pillar receivers were erected, and seven receiving boxes removed or closed. The total number of these receivers at the end of the year had increased to 151. 46 new offices were established, 4 re-opened, and 33 closed, as shown hereunder : —• Post Offices Opened and Closed dueing 1881. Opened. Aongatete, Auckland. Limehills, Invercargill. Pungarehu, New Plymouth. Buckland, Auckland. Mallaghan's, Invercargill. Bahotu, New Plymouth. Cracroft, Christchurch. Manaia, Wanganui. St. Omer, Blenheim. Dalmore, Invercargill. Mapourika, Hokitika. Tadmor, Nelson (reopened). Eastown, Wanganui. Matawai, Auckland. Taupaki, Auckland. Egmont Village, New Plymouth. Moonlight, Dunedin. Te Aroha, Thames. Ellerslie, Auckland. Newland's, Christchurch. Te Houka, Dunedin. Plemington, Christchurch. Ngaire, Wanganui. Te Kao, Auckland. Oreen Valley, Dunedin. North Loburn, Christchurch. Te Puke, Auckland. Grove, Blenheim (reopened). Okehu, Wanganui. Trentham, Wellington (reopened). Ileddon Bush, Invercargill. Okoroiri, Auckland. Upper Eerry, Timaru. Ida Valley, Dunedin. Opaheke, Auckland. Upper Waianiwa, Invercargill. Kaituna Valley, Blenheim. Otakelio, Wanganui. Victoria Valley, Auckland. Kauangaroa, Wanganui. Otonga, Auckland. Waikomiti, Auckland. Kenepuru, Blenheim. Pahiatua, Wellington. Waitetuna, Auckland. Kiwitca, Wellington. Parihaka, New Plymouth. Wangaparapara, Auckland. Lake Tekapo, Timaru (reopened). Parua, Auckland. Closed. Ararimu, Auckland. Homewood, Blenheim. St. John's, Wanganui. Ashbourne, Christchurch. Kelly's Creek, Hokitika. Stanton's, Hokitika. Ashburton Gorge, Christchurch. Lake Tekapo, Timaru. Sprcvdon, Cliristcliurch. Arthur's Point, Invercargill. Lowther, Invercargill. Tadmor, Nelson. Big Bay, Hokitika. Morven, Diihedin. The Grove, Blenheim. Eden Creek, Dunedin. Ohonga Perry, Wellington. The Beefs, Dunedin. Goodwood, Dunedin. Periwaka, Auckland. Tiki, Auckland. Gap, Invercargill. Pinebill, Dunedin. Trentham, Wellington. Horseshoe Bay, Invercargill. Pinnacle, Invercargill. Upper Parnell, Auckland. Hakateramea, Timaru. Pukaki Perry, Timaru. Waitapu, Nelson. Harcourt's Perry, Hokitika. Bahotu, New Plymouth. Wharekahiku, Napier.