XVII

P.—l

Buildings. In last year's report attention was called to the pressing need for additional accommodation at the Chief Post Office, Dunedin, the Circulation Branch, Wellington, and the Chief Post Office, Auckland. Beyond temporary alterations,at Dunedin and a rearrangement of the counter space at Wellington, nothing has yet been done to meet urgent requirements, and it will be impossible to carry on at these offices much longer with satisfaction to the department and the public unless steps are taken to provide additional space for handling mail matter, and to enable prompt attention to be given the public at the counters. The volume of mail work has increased so enormously during the past tew years that at times it is only with difficulty that arrangements for its prompt disposal can be made at the offices mentioned, particularly at Dunedin and Wellington. The duties connected with collecting and paying money for other departments having been so largely increased, much greater counter space is required than was contemplated would be needed for many years to come. New offices were opened at Miller's Flat and Otahuhu, and the building at Owaka was removed and re-erected on another site. The following general repairs, additions, &c, were carried out during the year: Eenovating and altering rooms to accommodate hew telephone-switchboard, &c, Auckland; additions and alterations, painting, &c, Arrowtown; enlargement of mail-room, building strong-room, &c, Ashburton; renovations, repairs, improving lighting, &c, Christchurch; alterations and repairs, Dunedin; painting and repairs, Dargaville; repairing damage done by flood, Hutt; repairs, painting, &c, Hokitika; erecting new chimney, concrete water-tank, repairs, &c, Kawakawa; painting and repairs, Lyell; additions to building, repairs, &c, Mangonui; improving drainage, alterations, repairs, fittings, &c, Napier; water-supply and repairs to quarters, Ophir; alterations to office and Postmaster's quarters, Opotiki; painting and repairs, Palmerston North; additions to Postmaster's quarters, Palmerston; alteration, &c, Picton; repairs, &c, Eakaia, Sanson, and St. Bathan's; additions and repairs, Timaru; repairs and painting, Te Kopuru; improving drainage, erection of passenger and goods hydraulic lift, repairs, fittings, &c, General Post Office building, Wellington; hot-water service, fire-service, &c, Telephone Exchange, Wellington ; repairs, &c, Westport; general repairs to staff quarters and residence of Officer-in-Charge, Wakapuaka; alterations and additions, drainage, &c, Waitara ; additions, Waitekauri and Whangarei; repairs, &c, Warkworth. MONEY-ORDERS. Twenty-three money-order offices were opened during the year—namely, Addison's, Aoroa, Blackburn, Burnett's Face, East Oxford, Ellerslie, Gladstone, Golden Cross, Komata, Mauriceville, Molesworth Street (Wellington), Mount Eoskill, Opitonui, Puhoi, Studholme Junction, Taheke, Tokatea, Waerenga, Waihou, Waikanae, Whananaki, Wharekawa, and Woodend. Two offices were closed—namely, Cape Foulwind and Mokihinui. The number of offices open at the end of the year was 417, as against 396 twelve months previously.

iii—F. 1.

Duration of Service. Service. Annual Subsidy or Payment. When established. Wh»n terminated or terminable. Number of Voyages per Annum. Mileage for Completo Voyage. Cost per Mils. Auckland and San Francisco Wellington and Vancouver Auckland and Fiji Auckland and South Pacific Islands Auckland and Devonport Auckland and Great Barrier Dargaville and Tangihua Helensville and Matakohe Helensville and Dargaville Horeke, Kohukohu, Rawene, Waitapu, and Opononi Russell and Opua Whangaroa and Totara North Wellington, Kotu Bay, Homewood, Maori Bay (and other offices), and Havolock Nelson, Motueka, Totaranui, Takakar, and Collingwood Westport and Karamea Westport and Little Wanganui Hokitika, Okarito, Bruce Bay, Paringa, Haast River, Okuru, Waitoto, and Jackson's Bay Lyttelton and Chatham Islands Bluff and Half-moon Bay Bluff, Te Oneroa, and Cromarty .. Interprovinoial service in connection with San Francisco line Interprovinoial service ill connection with Vancouver line £ s. d. 10,288 8 2 7,500 0 0* 1,690 0 0 1,200 0 0 60 0 0 250 0 0 75 0 0 April, 1871 Dec, 1897 June, 1880 June, 1885 Aug., 1863 Oct., 1891 Nov., 1893 Mar., 1900 Mar., 1899 13 13 13 12 939 52 52 I 52 I 104 11,850 13,320 2,334 6,992 6 120 46 118 \ 170 / s. d. 1 4-03 0 10-40 1 137 0 3-43 0 2-56 0 9-62 0 7-53 Dec, 1899 Dec, 1899 Dec, 1899 | 500 0 0 j 148 10 0 Jan., 1881 Dec, 1899 Dec, 1899 0 5-04 Jan., 1889 52 48 1 2-28. 1 098 4 9 69 90 0 0 25 0 0 Jan., 1889 Jan., 1891 Dec, 1899 Dec, 1899 104 52 16 2 ) 180 0 0 f f260 0 0 I 125 0 0 | 200 0 0 | 600 0 0 Dee., 1891 July, 1898 . f June, 1886 ( Jan., 1895 June, 1898 Dec, 1899 Doc, 1899 Dec, 1899 j 18 13 52 26 12 } 183 | 130 . 102 ) 82 f 0 9-08 1 1-11 0 4-44 1 1-20 Jan., 1886 Dec, 1899 6 384 5 2-50 300 0 0 300 0 0 360 0 0 July," 1886 April, 1893 Mar., 1899 Dec, 1899 \ 6 52 12 1,050 48 208 0 11-43 2 4-85 2 10-62 , ! 3,000 0 0 I j 3,000 0 0 Nov., 1886 Mar., 1900 13 Dec, 1897 Mar., 1899 * Minimum subsidy. t Service carried on at £10 per trip, temporarilyi from 1st July, 1898.