p.—l

VI

Buildings. The new offices at Woodville, Greymouth, Palmerston South, and Bluff have been completed. Additions and alterations have been made to the offices at Katikati, Opotiki, Hawera, Wanganui, Takaka, Christchurch (additional accommodation for letter-carriers), and Akaroa. Minor repairs and alterations have been, or are being, effected at the following offices: Thames, Waiwera, Mercer (residence), Gisborne, Marton, Sanson, Lower Hutt, Blenheim, Westport, Eeefton, Kaiapoi, Ternuka, Oamaru, Invercargill,' Queenstown, Greymouth (residence), and Mataura (residence). New offices are to be built at Mercury Bay (combined with courthouse), Waotu, Ophir, Clyde, Herbertville, Waipawa, and Wangarei; also additions to Eangiora and Dargaville, and a residence for postmaster, Lawrence. Inland Mail Services. The following are the particulars of the several inland mail services for the year : — Performed by coach and mail-cart ... ... ... ... 153 „ on horseback ... ... ... ... ... ... 251 „ on foot ... ... ... ... ... ... 54 „ by water ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 „ by railway ... ... ... ... ... ... 63 Total number of services ... ... ... 553 Aggregate mileage ... ... ... ... ... 8,797 Total number of miles travelled ... ... ... ... 3,601,238 Cost to the department ... ... ... ... ... £27,464 2s. Id. Average cost per mile ... ... ... ... ... l-83d. The total cost in 1884 was ... .. ... ...£25,689 lis. lOd. And the cost per mile ... ... ... ... ... l-87d. There was a net increase of 26 services, and 305,337 in the number of miles travelled. The following new services were established : — Twice weekly between Blackburn and Makeretu. Weekly between Owake and Purekireki. Weekly between Coromandel and Kennedy's Bay. Thrice monthly between Kihikihi and Taumarunui. Thrice weekly between Paeroa and Karangahake. Weekly between Kenepuru and Manaroa. Weekly between Sherry Eiver and Baton. Thrice weekly between Brunnerton and Dobson. Daily between Ashburton and Hampstead. Thrice weekly between North Taieri and Whare Flat. Twice daily between Auckland, Putiki Bay, Te Eori, and Arch Hill. Daily between Green Lane and Eemuera. Weekly between Gisborne and Tiniroto. Weekly between Gisborne and Wairoa. Daily between Waikanae and Walton's. Thrice weekly between Christchurch and Dorie. Weekly between Queenstown and Eee's Gorge. Thrice weekly between Okoroire and Eotorua. Twice daily between Te Aroha Post Office and Eailway Station. Thrice weekly between Wedbury Eailway Station and Hurunui Post Office. The frequency of the following services has been increased:— Between Nelson and Eeefton, from twice to thrice weekly. Between Westport and Inangahua Junction, from thrice weekly to daily. Between Ophir and Tinker's, from once to twice weekly. Between Dunedin and Heriot, from thrice weekly to daily. Between Auckland and Kihikihi, from once to twice daily. Between Thames and Puriri, from four times a week to daily. Between Napier and Taradale, from once to twice daily. Between Waipawa and Ongaonga, from twice to thrice weekly. Between Normanby and Okaiawa, from thrice weekly to daily. Between Masterton and Woodville, from thrice weekly to daily. Between Wellington and Petone (providing for mails from Petone), thrice instead of twice daily. Between Wellington and Hutt; extra mail despatched from the Hutt on Monday morning. Between Bull's and Sanson, from thrice weekly to daily. The following services were discontinued : — Between Colac Bay and Orepuki (in consequence of opening of railway). Between Te Aute Post Office and Eailway Station. Between Cambridge and Eotorua (service rearranged between Eailway Station, Okoroire, and Eotorua). The following services have been extended or rearranged : — Omarama and Ben Ohau, extended to the Wire Eope,