F.-1

Dead Letters. The following comparative table shows the number of unclaimed letters, letter-cards, and post-cards dealt with during the under-mentioned years:—

The proportion of dead or unclaimed letters, letter-cards, and post-cards to the total number dealt with in the colony was 0-31 per cent., as against 0-33 per cent, in 1897. 22,734 book-packets and circulars were returned to foreign countries, 60,309 were returned to senders through the Dead-letter Office, 45 were reissued, and. 47,232 were returned by Chief Postmasters—a total of 130,320 book-packets and circulars, as compared with 126,535 in 1897. 427 letters were wrongly addressed. 51 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 : — £ s. d. 255 Post-office orders ... ... ... ... ... 576 8 1 25 bank drafts ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,008 9 4 203 cheques ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,991 911 19 dividend warrants ... ... ... ... ... 602 6 promissory notes ... ... ... ... ... 155 3 9 Postal notes ... .. ... ... ... ... 51 13 4 Stamps ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 13 11 Bank-notes ... ... ... ... ... ... 143 0 0 Gold 40 10 0 Silver and copper ... ... ... ... ... ... 316 Kepresenting a total of ... ... ...£5,000 10 0 In addition, 1- ladies' gold watch, 3 silver watches, 1 silver watch and chain, 1 silver watch, yellow-metal chain, and greenstone pendant, 1 Waterbury watch, 1 gold locket, 3 gold brooches, 1 gold-mounted greenstone brooch, 3 silver brooches, 1 gilt brooch, 5 gold rings, 2 ladies' gold rings, 6 gold wedding-rings, 1 silver ring, 1 pair gold sleeve-links, 2 gold-mounted greenstone pendants, 6 greenstone pendants, 1 pair gold-rimmed spectacles, 1 gold-mounted boar's tusk bracelet, 1 silver spoon, 1 silver thimble, 2 kauri-gum necklaces, 22 sheets foreign stamps, 9 pawn-tickets, 84 sharecertificates, 7 silk handkerchiefs, 18 pairs woollen socks, 21 neckties, 3 shirts, 1 felt hat, 1 wooden pipe, 2 pairs woollen drawers, 1 woollen singlet, 6 tobacco-pouches, 1 pair bicycle-pedals, 1 bicyclebell, 1 bicycle-chain, 1 suit boy's navy-blue clothes, 2 bunches of keys, 1 wig, 2 lace collars, 9 pairs gloves, 1 blue-serge skirt, 2 pieces dress material, 3 pairs ladies' shoes, 1 pair ladies' boots, 1 fancy bag, 1 ladies' cape, 1 petticoat, 1 box frilling, 3 pairs woollen bootees. 1,914 unclaimed registered letters were dealt with. 2,193 newspapers and 1,330 books and other articles without addresses were received, many of which were subsequently applied for and delivered. 518 unclaimed newspapers were returned to the publishers. 372 letters and 81 letter-cards were posted without addresses. 16 letters with libellous addresses were intercepted. The number of inland, intercolonial, and international unclaimed articles received and disposed of during the years 1897 and 1898 was as under :—

X

Manner of Disposal. I 1884. 1885. 1880. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1892. 1894. 189G. 1897. 1898. Ipened and returned to tho writers teturned unopened to other oountries Reissued )estroyed teturned unopened by Chief Postmasters 68,942 66,592 66,729 62,847 55,118 02,654 60,540 63,483 61,745 63,112 66,886 68,872 9,134 8,115 8,359 7,287 6,892 6,220 7,779 7,751 8,941 7,546 7,648 8,899 107 3,986 17,593 185 2,872 19,187 251 6,600 21,144 96 5,974 20,185 88 5,246 19,963 92 4,340 21,164 141 2,660 21,931 128 2,092 19,909 130 4,725 22,042 148 4,069 26,414 132 3,245 34,260 219 3,368 33,273 Totals 99,762 96,951 103,083 96,389 87,307 94,470 93,051 93,363 97,583 101,289 112,171 114,631

1897. 1898. Letters Letter- Poet- p t . Newsletters. card3 cardB . lacKots. papers . Letters. Letter- Post- PaokBtB Newscards, caras. ■ raci£e » B - papers. Inland. Returned, delivered, &c, through Deadletter Office Returned by Chief Postmasters direct .. Destroyed in accordance with law 54,306 30,577 2,629 1,155 "56 2,311 3,683 112 50,958 43,032 688 727, 331616 55,517 30,262 2,706 1,182 "58 2,362 3,011 115 58,777 47,232 704 518 30^956 Intercolonial. Originally addressed to other colonies :— Returned to writere Destroyed in accordance with law Returned to other colonies as unclaimed 4,719 228 3,180 26 :S2 656 46 15,794 4,821 233 3,800 32 3 20 1,001 56 3,573 International. Originally addressed to other countries:— Returned to writers.. Destroyed in accordance with law Returned to other countries as unclaimed 4,475 217 4,392 26 1 44 564 42 15,531 5,137 251 5,020 40 2 40 576 33 19,161 "l0 Totals 104,723 1,211 6,237 127,313 34,343! [107,747 1,259 5,625 131,113 81,474