F.—l

XI

Number of Parcels. Despatched to Received from United Kingdom. United Kingdom. 1897 ... ... ... ... 4,197 ... 15,742 1896 ... ... ... ... 3,446 ... 13,730 Actual increase ... ... ... 751 ... 2,012 Increase per cent.... ... ... 2T79 ... 14-65 Parcels are now exchanged with Canada direct; and a reduction in the rates is under consideration. A parcel-post convention has been concluded between France and the Australian Colonies, under which New Zealand will be able to exchange parcels with French possessions. An exchange of parcels with Fiji was established on the Ist ultimo. On the same date exchanges, via Sydney, with the New Hebrides, Banks Group, and Santa Cruz Islands were inaugurated. Parcel exchanges, via London, have been extended to Peru and the .Republic of Honduras. The postage on parcels to the following countries has been reduced : Persia, Cameroons, British Bast Africa, and Zanzibar. A convention for the direct exchange of parcels with South African countries will shortly be signed. Official Cobeespondence. The estimated volume and value of official and other free correspondence posted during the year is given in the statement below :—

Dead Lettbes. The following comparative table shows the number of unclaimed letters, letter-cards, and postcards dealt with during the under-mentioned years :— i Manner of Disposal. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1892. 1894. 1896. j 1807. . Opened and returned to the writers .. 68,942 66,592 66,729 62,847 55,118 62,654 60,540 63,483 61,745 63,112! 66,886 Returned unopened to other countries .. 9,134 8,115 8,359 7,287 6,892 6,220 7,779 7,751 8,941 7,546 7,048 Reissued .. .. 107 185 251 96 88 92 141 1281 130 148 - 132 Destroyed ... .. 3,986 2,872 6,600 5,974 5,246 4,340 2,660 2,092| 4,725 4,069 3,245 Returned unopened by Chief Postmasters .. 17,593 19,187 21,144 20,185 19,963 21,164 21,931 19,909 j 22,042 j 26,414 34,260 Totals .. 99,762 96,951 103,08396,389 87,307 93,363 97,583 1101,289 112,171 I The proportion of dead or unclaimed letters, letter-cards, and post-cards to the total number dealt with in the colony was 033 per cent. 31,325 book-packets and circulars were returned to foreign countries, 52,173 were returned to senders through the Dead-letter Office, 15 were reissued, and 43,032 were returned by Chief Postmasters—a total of 126,535 book-packets and circulars, as compared with 119,103 in 1896. 436 letters were wrongly addressed. 29 letters were discovered to have been posted with previously used stamps. The under-mentioned articles of value were found in letters opened in the Dead-letter Office, and returned to the senders where practicable :—

The proportion of dead or unclaimed letters, letter-cards, and post-cards to the total number dealt with in the colony was 033 per cent. 31,325 book-packets and circulars were returned to foreign countries, 52,173 were returned to senders through the Dead-letter Office, 15 were reissued, and 43,032 were returned by Chief Postmasters—a total of 126,535 book-packets and circulars, as compared with 119,103 in 1896. 436 letters were wrongly addressed. 29 letters were discovered to have been posted with previously used stamps. The under-mentioned articles of value were found in letters opened in the Dead-letter Office, and returned to the senders where practicable : —

District. Letters. Packeta. Registered Articles. Newspapers. Value of Official Correspondence. Auckland .. Thames New Plymouth Gisborne .. Napier Wanganui Wellington Nelson Westport Greymouth Hokitika .. Blenheim .. Christchurch Timaru Oamaru Dunedin .. Invercargill 361,146 47,414 102,019 26,776 119,897 168,148 907,335 76,887 25,100 56,667 19,053 52,004 276,188 61,235 37,999 288,348 122,772 92,511 3,043 10,000 2,840 12,144 9,852 133,075 4,326 116 2,223 1,909 2,200 8,448 2,340 5,724 1,537 1,397 960 2,532 3,495 20,488 4,276 400 1,896 720 550 14,988 756 1,055 8,025 3,555 117,550 21,975 31,422 10,992 30,882 76,900 159,358 30,284 10,920 34,871 9,724 18,000 102,648 23,452 6,906 88,396 63,336 £ 9,530 1,240 2,692 712 3,168 4,435 23,944 2,032 660 1,486 501 1,372 7,286 1,610 1,003 7,603 3,247 38,340 9,732 Totals 2,748,988 333,099 72,354 837,616 72,521

Manner of Disposal. 1884. 1885. 3886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1892. 1894. 1896. ! j 1807. Ipened and returned to the writers teiurned unopened to other countries teissued )estroyed Returned unopened by Chief Postmasters .. 62,654 60,540 63,483 61,745 68,942 66,592 66,729 62,847 55,118 63,112 ! 66,886 9,134 107 3,986 8,115 185 2,872 8,359 251 6,600 7,287 96 5,974 6,892 88 5,246 6,220 7,779 92 141 4,340 2,660 21,164 21,931 94,470| 93,051 7,751; 8,941 1281 130 2,092 4,725 7,546 148 4,069 7,648 132 3,245 17,593 19,187 21,144 20,185 19,963 19,909 J 22,042 93,363 97,583 J 26,414 34,260 Totals 99,762 96,951 103,083 •96,389 87,307 il01,289 112,171