F.—l

XV

The proportion of dead or unclaimed letters, letter-cards, and post-cards to the total number dealt with in the Dominion was 0-42 per cent., as against 0-37 per cent, in 1906. 55,946 book-packets and circulars were returned to foreign countries ; 24,495 were returned to senders through the Dead-letter Office ; 187,059 were returned by Chief Postmasters : a total of 267.500 book-packets and circulars, as compared with 220,657 in 1906. 7,652 letters were wrongly addressed ; 17 letters were discovered to have been posted with previously used stamps ; 4,599 unclaimed registered letters were dealt with. 4,420 newspapers and 2,769 books and other articles without addresses were received, many of which were subsequently applied for and delivered. 44,122 newspapers were returned to the publishers. 1,966 letters and 219 letter-cards were posted without addresses. 86 letters with libellous addresses were intercepted. The undermentioned articles of value were found in letters opened in the Office, and returned to senders where practicable : — f s. d. 724 post-office orders .. .. .. .. .. 1,663 5 6 60 bank drafts .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,431 1 8| 510 cheques .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,794 3 4 30 dividend warrants .. .. .. .. .. 38 8 5 11 promissory notes .. .. .. .. .. 591 11 0 1 credit note .. .. .. .. .., .. 110 18 2 Postal notes .. .. .. .. .. .. 323 9 6 British postal orders .. .. .. .. .. 50 4 0 Stamps .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 5 2 Bank-notes .. .. .. .. .. .. 449 0 0 Gold .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 31 0 0 Silver and copper .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 12 0J Representing a total of .. .. .. .. ■ £14,528 18 10 In addition, 3 gold watches, 22 silver watches, 15 metal watches, 28 gold rings, 2 rings of other metal, 12 gold brooches, 28 greenstone brooches, 5 gold-mounted tusk brooches, 6 silver brooches, 6 metal brooches, 11 greenstone hearts, 13 greenstone pendants, 1 gold pendant set with pearls, 3 pendants of other metal, 3 gold watch-chains, 10 silver chains, 1 metal chain, 14 gold and greenstone tie-pins, 4 gold neck-chains, 1 gold cross, 2 pair of gold-mounted spectacles, 1 gold-mounted tusk, 1 silver-mounted tusk, 5 silver match-boxes, 4 glass bottles with silver tops, 3 pairs of gold sleeve-links, 2 pairs of sleevelinks of other metal, 2 silver salt-spoons with greenstone handles, 1 silver-backed hair-brush, 1 silverbacked comb, 1 silver bread-fork, 1 silver locket and chain, 1 glass dish with silver top, 1 silver spoon with greenstone handle, 3 silver butter-knives, 2 silver jam-spoons, 2 silver vases, 3 silver buttonhooks, 1 silver nail-file, 1 silver shoe-horn, 2 glass dishes on silver trays, 1 silver medal, 2 silver-mounted hatpins, 2 silver-mounted purses, 1 silver-mounted pincushion, 1 pair of silver serviette-rings, 1 silver pin-box, 2 hat-pins with greenstone heads, 1 greenstone penholder, 7 boar's tusks, 2 sets artificial teeth, 2 ivory elephants, 1 ivory fan, 1 nickel spoon, 6 table-knives, 2 packets, 5 sheets, and 1 book of used stamps, 41 Tattersall tickets, 13 pawn- tickets, 6 share certificates, 1 steerage single ticket (Melbourne to Wellington), 1 saloon single ticket (Opotiki to Auckland), 1 saloon single ticket (Paeroa to Coromandel), 1 order for a steerage passage (Lyttelton to Auckland), 1 order for a steerage passage for two adults (Napier to Gisborne), 1 order for a third-class passage (London to Wellington), were dealt with.