8.—6

Telegraph— 1890. 1900. Increase per Cent. Number ordinary telegrams ... 1,465,992 2,792,871 90-51 Value „ ... £71,307 15 4 £93,474 14 2 31-09 Number urgent telegrams ... ... 35,667 154,406 332-91 Value „ ... ... £4,749 17 4 £10,251 8 9 115-86 Number Press telegrams ... ... 192,882 267,919 38-9 Value „ ... ... £8,785 710 £11,866 19 8 35-08 Number bureau communications ... 39,840 239,432 500-98 Value „ ... £1,111 4 0 £6,830 10 7 514-85 Total number paid messages ... 1,734,381 3,454,628 99-19 Total value „ ... £85,954 4 6 £122,423 13 2 42-43 Number Government messages ... 226,780 365,079 6098 Value „ ... £26,070 12 7 £37,680 1 2 44-53 Total number messages, all codes ... 1,961,161 3,819,707 94-77 Total value „ „ ...£112,024 17 1 £160,103 14 4 4292 Number of offices ... ... 540 977 80-93 Telephone-exchange connections ... 2,592 8,190 21597 Postal — Number of letters and letter-cards posted ... ... ... 21,501,937 37,421,228 74-03 Number of post-cards posted ... 991,065 1,858,064 87-5 newspapers „ ... 8,691,522 12,347,374 42-1 parcels „ ... 121,292 199,220 64-2 „ post-offices open ... 1,185 1,686 42-36 Total revenue ... ... ... £222,881 £316,202 41-87 POST-OFFICE SAVINGS-BANKS. The Post-Office Savings-Banks show a marked increase both in the volume of business and in the total amount at credit of depositors. Last year the excess of deposits (£4,170,428) over withdrawals (£3,827,416) amounted to £343,012 over the previous year, and the interest credited to depositors to £146,169, while the total accumulated savings stood on the 31st December at £5,809,552, an average of £29 Bs. 7d. to credit of each of the 197,408 depositors. Compared with the year ended 31st December, 1890, the increase is almost phenomenal, the total at credit having increased from £2,441,876 to £5,809,552, or at the rate of 137 - 91 per cent., representing an increase in the average amount at credit of each account of £4 6s. 3d. The interest paid in 1900 was £146,169, as against £92,319 in 1890, an increase equal to 58 - 33 per cent. Classifying the accounts, it will be found that those with balances up to £100 increased from 90,115 to 178,405, or 97-97 per cent.; from £1.00 to £200, from 4,750 to 11,173, or 135-22 per cent.; from £200 to £300, from 1,502 to 5,151, or 242-.04 per cent.; and above £300, from 841 to 2,679, or 218-54 per cent. The total number of accounts open increased from 97,208 to 197,408, or 103 - 08 per cent. Attached is a comparative statement for the years 1890-1900.

Number of Accounts with Balances.

£ s. d. Balance at credit of the 97,208 depositors on 31st December, 1890 ... ... ... ... 2,441,876 8 7 Balance at credit of the 197,408 depositors on 31st December, 1900 ... ... ... ... 5,809,552 5 3 Increase per cent, in amount at credit of depositors ... 137-91 Interest paid depositors, 1890 ... ... ... 92,319 0 6 1900 ... ... ... 146,169 2 5 Percentage on increase... ... ... ... 58-33

XIV

Year. Up to £100. £100 to £200. £200 to £300. Above £300. Total all Classes .890 ... .900 ... ... ... ! increase per cent, of 1900 over 1890 90,115 178,405 97-97 4,750 11,173 135-22 1,502 5,151 242-94 841 2,679 218-54 97,208 197,408 103-08