BV-1

Letter-carriers' deliveries were extended at: Auckland—Onehunga, the second delivery to limits of borough : hitherto, this delivery has been confined to the principal street; Christchurch— City, central area; Nelson —City, afternoon delivery extended to places served by morning delivery; Thames —Chief Post-office to Mount Pleasant, within the Parawai district; Wellington—Masterton, to include all the more populous portions of the borough. ■■<* Deliveries were increased in frequency at: Dunedin—Lawrence, from once to twice daily; Wanganui—Town, from one full delivery before noon and one partial delivery after noon, daily, to two full deliveries and a third delivery in principal streets after arrival of the south 3.20 p.m. train. Newspapers registered, Eighteen newspapers were registered for transmission by post, and five ceased publication. Eeoeiving-boxes. Twenty-two receiving-boxes were established at: Auckland—City, 2; Dargaville, 1. Christchurch—City, 1; Ashburton, 1; Leeston, 1. Greymouth—Kumara, 1. Napier—Town, 2. Nelson— Town, 1. New Plymouth, 1. Timaru—Town, 1. Wanganui—Patea, 1. Wellington—City, 1; Eketahuna, 1; Levin, 1; Mangatainoka, 1; Masterton, 5. Three receiving-boxes were closed: Auckland—Epsom, 1; Newton Eoad, 1. Oamaru— Town, 1. Designations of Offices. The designations of offices were changed as follows: Blenheim—Dieffenbach to Te Weka; Dunedin—Hamilton to Hamilton South ; Wanganui —Otaihape to Taihape ; Wellington—Wellington Eailway to Thorndon Eailway. Names were corrected as follows: Auckland—Waikomiti to Waikumete; Oamaru—Marowhenua to Maerewhenua; Totara-tahi to Totaratahi; Wellington—Ashurst to Ashhurst. Post-offices established, etc. Fifty-two post-offices were established (of these three were reopened offices) and fifteen closed: — Opened. Akatarawa, Wellington Momona, Dunedin Spar Bush, Inveroargill Anaroa, Napier Motiti, Thames Stoneburn, Dunedin Awahou, Wellington' Mungaroa, Wellington Stronvar, Wellington Cambridge West, Auckland Muritai, Wellington Sutton, Dunedin Clarence River, Blenheim North Taieri (reopened), Dunedin Table Hill, Dunedin Croixelles, Nelson Okuku, Christchuroh Tarara, Dunedin Epsom (R. 0.), Auckland Otaki Railway, Wellington Tataraimaka, New Plymouth Huiakama, New Plymouth Otaua, Auckland Tengawai, Timaru Koriniti, Wanganui Owen Junction (reopened), Nelson Tikitapu, Wellington Mahoenui, New Plymouth Pohonui, Wanganui Umutoi, Wellington Manawaru, Auckland Pukemiro, Auckland Waiho Gorge, Hokitika Mangamaire, Wellington Purerua, Auckland Warea, New Plymouth Mangatiti, Wellington Rakautaua, Wanganui Warrington, Dunedin Maungawera, Dunedin Rapaki, Christchurch Warwick Junction, Westport Mauriceville, Wellington Redcliffs, Christchuroh Whangamoa, Nelson Millerton, Westport Seatoun, Wellington Wharekawa, Auckland Mitimiti, Auckland Sommerville, Wanganui White's Point (reopened), Westport Molesworth Street (R. 0.), Wellington Closed. Cass River, Christchuroh Pukewhau, Thames Umutoi, Wellington Maioro, Auckland Rona, Wellington Waitapu, Auckland Nihoniho, Auckland Tallaburn, Dunedin Wheatstone, Christchurch Oruoru, Auckland Te Whariki, Thames White's Point, Westport Pakihikura, Wellington Tikitapu, Wellington Winchmore, Christchurch The number of post-offices open at the close of the year was 1,561.

Parcel-post. The following table shows the total number and the weight of inland, intercolonial, United Kingdom, and foreign parcels dealt with during the years 1890, 1895, 1897, and 1898:—

VIII

Postal Districts. 1890. Number. Weight. 1895. 1897. 1898. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. « Auckland .. Thames .. New Plymouth Gisborne .. Napier Wanganui Wellington Nelson Westport .. Greymouth Hokitika .. Blenheim.. Ohristchuroh Timaru Oamaru .. Dunedin .. Inveroargill 24,539 1,731 1,132 1,061 7,021 4,537 29,052 5,348 1,201 2,821 1,600 2,090 21,758 2,263 978 25,312 3,883 lb. oz. 65,406 15 4,334 3 3,103 9 2,977 10 19,512 13 10,994 2 85,226 3 15,329 8 2,718 4 7,102 4 4,476 11 5,050 0 67,202 8 5,600 1 2,409 8 74,824 15 8,614 6 35,631 2,235 2,543 1,136 8,865 5,722 43,591 5,771 1,707 2,553 1,816 2,133 27,053 1,908 988 28,132 4,422 lb. oz. 107,729 14 J 6,134 10 6,780 8 3,581 8 J 25,672 1 18,139 5 158,124 1 17,860 6 4,382 13 6,319 13 5,904 8 5,767 13 J 96,386 9 5,060 9 2,563 8 99,186 10 12,598 15 42,287 3,366 2,753 1,979 8,932 6,852 45,195 5,534 1,941 2,773 1,621 1,851 32,298 1,808 1,056 32,504 4,804 lb. oz. 134,523 4 9,945 8 8,001 1 5,862 12 26,526 12 21,508 12 166,995 8 18,168 3 4,977 3 7,777 10 5,583 6 5,441 5 125,764 3 4,554 12 3,436 13 112,672 12 14,314 9 43,147 3,181 2,801 1,975 9,048 7,642 46,208 5,668 1,964 2,950 2,398 1,811 33,072 1,964 1,166 34,641 4,967 lb. oz. 140,528 7 9,179 7 8,554 13 5,619 15 27,216 14 23,997 5 173,884 9 18,254 2 5,038 11 8,384 15 7,606 2 5,736 4 124,895 3 5,147 11 3,796 2 117,065 15 13,394 12 Totals 136,327 384,883 8 176,206 582,193 8 J 197,554 670,054 5 204,603 698,301 3