F.—6

1889. NEW ZEALAND.

EUROPEAN MAILS RECEIVED AND DESPATCHED (NUMBER OF), AND AMOUNT OF POSTAGES COLLECTED, FOR YEAR 1888.

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson, by Leave of the House.

Return showing the Total Number of European Mails (Letters, Books, and Newspapers) received at and despatched from New Zealand during the Year 1888; also the Amount of Postages collected on Correspondence by each Route Homewards, and the Amount Recovered from London by each Route Outwards; also the Estimated Cost of Conveyance of American Mails only to and from San Francisco.

Estimated Cost of Conveyance of American Mails (if paid for at the rates now charged non-contracting colonies for the use of the San Francisco service—viz., letters, Is. 7d. per ounce ; books, Is. 6d. per pound ; and newspapers, 6d. .per pound). £ s. d. To San Francisco .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,180 14 8 From San. Francisco .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,637 0 5 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £5,817 15 1

[Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,200 copies) 17s. 6d.]

Authority: George Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB9.

Mails n iceived from TOurope. Mails despatched to Europe. Eoute. Number of Letters. Number ■ Number ol of Books. Newspapers. Number Number of of NewsBooks, papers. Number of Letters r id San Francisco „ Direct contract steamers „ Direct non-contraot steamers .. , P. and O. and Orient lines „ French packets 305,923 282,035 9,404 35,587 50 278,602 254,819 9,004 : 18,307 5 640,858 590,721 18,008 30,836 12 391,709 107,640 15,549 6,581 36 55,475 353,192 22,007 112,638 3,589 ] 5,522 315 ' 335 3 8 Totals 033,006 560,797 1,280,435 581,575 81,389 471,695

Amount of Pos tages collected. Koute. On Despatched Correspondence in the Colony. On Beceived Correspondence from London. Via San Francisco „ Direct contract steamers „ Direct non-contract steamers „ P. and O. and Orient lines French packets £ s. d. 14,274 13 6 5,894 2 0 805 6 6 373 0 7 13 2 £ s. d. 9,505 12 9 10,994 19 11 103"g 11 Totals 21,348 5 9 20,704 a 7