I

1898. NEW ZEALAND.

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR 1897.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

My Lobd,— General Post Office, Wellington, 2nd July, 1898. I have the honour to submit to your Excellency the Eeport on the Post and Telegraph Department for the year 1897, with the usual statement of revenue and expenditure to the 31st March last. I have the honour to be Your Lordship's most obedient servant, R. J. Seddon, Postmaster-General and Electric Telegraph Commissioner. His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand.

EEPOET. As has been the case for several years past, the report discloses a very satisfactory expansion in the business of the department in all branches. The volume of postal business has been somewhat abnormal, the increase in the number of letters and other articles handled having been no less than 5,734,356, or 9-93 per cent., over last year; 176,064 more telegrams were forwarded; and the work overtaken for other branches of the public service was considerably greater than it was the previous year—necessitating many additions to the staff. The following statement shows the revenue and expenditure for the financial year ended the 31st March, 1898 :—

The combined revenue increased by £16,266 14s. 3d., or 4-15 per cent. There was an increase in all items excepting miscellaneous postal receipts and paid telegrams, which decreased, the fall in the latter being due to the reduction of the telegraph rates. The expenditure increased by £10,703 Bs. Bd., or 3-03 per cent, i—F. 1.

Revenue. Stamps used for postage (estimated) Money-order and postal-note commission Money-order commission received from foreign offices Private box and bag fees Miscellaneous receipts 3 aid telegrams Celephone exchanges Postal. Telegraph. Total. £ s. d. H s. d. £ s. d. .. 235,000 0 0 .. 235,000 0 0 16,863 0 8 I .. I 16,863 0 8 550 2 5 ! .. 550 2 5 5,486 15 0 J .. 5,486 15 0 14,263 1 8 3,261 2 1 17,524 3 9 I 96,537 6 9 96,537 6 9 36,422 6 8 i 36,422 6 8 i 3alance of expenditure over revenue (Telegraph) 272,162 19 9 136,220 15 6 ! 408,383 15 3 30,827 0 8: £272,162 19 9 £167,047 16 2 ;£408,383 15 3 Expenditure. Salaries Conveyance of mails by sea Conveyance of inland mails Conveyance of mails by railway Money-order commission credited to foreign offices Maintenance of telegraph-lines Miscellaneous Celegraph cable subsidies 85,262 11 S 127,763 9 3 I 213,026 0 8 38,355 14 5 [ .. ' 38,355 14 5 35,307 9 8 .. 35,307 9 8 15,945 7 6 .. 15,945 7 6 1,535 13 0 .. 1,535 13 0 . ]7,181 15 6 I 17,181 15 6 20,948 10 11 20,253 8 8 ; 41,201 19 7 1,849 2 9 1,849 2 9 balance of revenue over expenditure (Postal) „ (combined department) 197,355 6 11 < 167,047 16 2 364,403 3 1 74,807 12 10 i 43,980 12 2 £272,162 19 9 |£167,047 16 2 £408,383 15 3