NEW ZEALAND POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5429, 21 August 1878, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

The nineteenth annual report of the Post Office Department, d ited July 27, and r -ceived by us y st rday, after referring to the determination on the part of the colony to enter into a general postal union as one of the important events bearing on iho fumre administration of the postal service of New Zealand, observes that although the decision to join the general postal union will entail a small loss of revenue tn the colony, it is h°ld that in view of the many and highly important advantages secured under the union scheme, the colony should be prepi cd to iacur the loss. The inspection of post offices has been carried on vigorously, and with most encouraging results. The inspector of post offices has travelled through the North and South Islands during the year, and the more i nportant offices hiving been frequently inspected. The several reports speak favorably of the manner in which the post offices —or, at least, those in charge of officers of the permanent staff—are carried on The general conduct of the officers has been most satisfact ny. The absence of any serious complaint against ho department is unmistakable proof that the public interests are wll cared for. It is the intention to establish an inland parcels post, by which merchandise -raw or manufactured—an I many other articles, may bo forwarded through the post at a nominal rate of postage. It is als > intended to ex.end the book-packet regulations, so as to include documents winch at present can on y be transmitted through the post at letter rates of postage. The gross revenue from all sources for the financial ye trended the 30th Juno was £114,191125. 9d.—au increase of U‘43 per cent over the receipts «f the previous year. The estimated expenditure, inclusive of a sum of £9OOO on account of labilities, is estimated at £ 135,359 lls 10d. This is £4BIO 12s. 9d. less than the ox penditurc for the year preceding. The number of lc tors, newspapers, >tc., received and despatched during the year shows a satisfactory increase. The newspapers show a decrease of over 5$ percent, owing principally, it is believed, to the publication of the late Otago Provincial Government tiascite having been discontinued, 0v0r260.000 of which, it is stated, passed through the post annually. 63 new offices have been opened, three re-opened, and 10 closed 13 offices have been constituted offices for lie transaction of money order and savings bank business. The number of post cards posted during the year was SI 274. Judging from results, the circulation of pest cards has not diminished the revenue. The receipts on acco mt of local collections for the past year show a larger increase than in any forme • yoar. Treating post cards ns letters, for the purpose o! comparison, it is found that the increase of local letters for 1877 was 22,521 over the increase for the previous year. Although the postcards are not extensively used, it may bo accepted as a fact that they are regarded by the public with favor as a ready and cheap medium of communication. The gross revenue collections for the financial year ended 30th June ultimo, and the estimated expenditure for the same period, arc set down as follows ■ Revenue. £ e. d.

£130,118 13 » The revenue collected within tho colony Increased by the sum ot £10,117 4s. Bd., or II’CS per cent., while the gross collections show an increase of £11,717. or ll'J3 per cent, a ove the revenue for the preceding year, Tho excess of expenditure over revenue is put down at £2U)27 Is. For tho previous year £37.230 •Is. 7d. represented the actual difference of expenditure over revenue, To arrive at a correct estimate of the value of tho actual work performed y the department, £52.843 Ds. -id., tho sum set gainst offlei il postage, should bo taken credit for. This would show that tho possible earnings of tho department exceeded its gross expenditure by a sum no less than £30,921 B*. 4d. In reference to tho buildings of tho J’ost Onico Department, the report says It has been decided to build now and offices for tho accommodation of the Chief Post Oiilco, Wellington. New buildings for tho joint use of the Post Office and Telegraph are to be erected at Timam. A. suitable site has been purchased, and tho buildings will bo put in hand without delay. Tho rapidly increasing popula ion of the city of Wellington has decided the department to establish a branch Post Ofllce on some suitable ste at the To Aro end of the city. Tho building will also afford accommodation for a telegraph station. It has also beou determined to erect now offices at tho Lower Unit, Halcouibe, Normanby, Ta'apau, Balclutlia, and Cnro. Tho offices at .Marlon, Fcilding, Waimate, and Milton are now being altered. It has also been decided to enlarge the offices at Ashburton, Wanganui, and Mastorton. Of tho San Francisco service, it may bo said that the colony receives a m ximnm return for a minimum expenditure. . Tho charge on tho revenue of tho colony is n diminishing one, and with the natural increase of correspondence, so will the not cost decrease year by year In reference to the Post Office Savings Banks the report states New accounts were opened during tho year to tho number of 11,235, against 11,255 in 1870 ; and 8501 accounts were closed, against 0472 in 18*0 The number of accounts which remained open ha i increased at the dose of the year to |28,701. from 20.117 at tho close of 1870. Tho number of deposits received 'luring the year was 00,053, amounting to £081,291135. 21-, tho average amount of cacli deposit being £ll 3h. 0.1. The withdrawals Wore 30,303. for £007,023 7* 5d., ami of an average amount of £lO IBs. 10(1. flic amount at the credit of deji mit irs in creased to £707,375 I7s. Bd. at the dose of Ihoyear, from £723,910 17s. Od. at the c osc of 1870. There was an excess of deposits over withdrawals of £14,271 5s Od.. against an excess of withdrawals over deposits in 1870 of £32.140 Us. lOd,; and tho interest credited to the account* of depositors during the year was £39,103 ID. Oil. against £15,703 *3, 76. in 1870.

Collected within the colony 06,(504 IS 8 On account of Imperial postages 15,000 0 0 San IVancisco service, payments by non contracting colonics 2.520 14 1 Balance of expenditure over revenue .. 21,0(7 1 0 £130,118 13 0 Expenuiiuiie, £. «. a Salaries . 33,010 8 8 Conveyance of malls by sea 57,185 15 3 ,, inland mails .. .. 27.612 10 0 Contingencies 4,310 10 1 Estimated liabilities , 0,000 0 0