NEW ZEALAND POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5449, 13 September 1878, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

The nineteenth annual report ot the Post Office Department, dated July 27, and received by us on August 20, after referring to the determination on the part of the colony to outer into a general postal union as one of the important events bearing on the future administration of the postal service of Now Zealand, observes that although the decision to join the general postal union will entail a small loss of revenue to the colony, it is held that, in view of the many and highly important advantages secured under the union scheme, the colony fhould be prepared to incur 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 important 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 satisfactory. The absence of any serious complaint against the department is unmistakable proof that the public interests are w*dl caved for. It is the intention to establish an inland parcels poit, by which merchandise—raw or manufactured—and many other articles, may be forwarded through the post at a nominal rate of postage. It is also intended to expend the book-packet regulations, so as to Include documents which at present can on'y bo transmitted through the post at letter rates of postage. The gross revenue from all sources for the financial ye ir ended the 30th Juno was £114,191125. 9d.—an increase of 11’43 per cent over the receipts of the previous year. The estimated expenditure, inclusive of a sum of £9OOO on account of labilities, is estimated at £135,339 11s. 10d. This is £4346 12s. Od. less than the expenditure for the year preceding. The number of letters, newspapers, Ac., received aud despatched during the year shows a satisfactory increase. The newspapers show a decrease of overs£ percent, owing principally; it is believed, lo the publication of the late Otago Provincial Government <?asef fe having been discontinued, 0ver260,000 of which, it is stated, passed through the post annually. 63 new offices have been opened, three re-opened, and 19 closed. 13 offices have been constituted offices for die transaction of money order and savings bank business. The number of post cards posted during the year was 81 274. Judging from results, the circulation of post cards has not diminished the revenue. The receipts on account of local collections for the past year show a larger increase than in any former year. Treating post cards as letters, for the purpose of comparison, it is found that the increase of local letters for 1877 was 22,521 over the increase for the previous year. Although the post cards are not extensively used, it may be accepted as a fact that they are regarde I by the public with favor as a ready and cheap medium of communication. The gross revenue collections for the financial year ended 30th Juno ultimo, and the estimated expenditure for the same period, arc set down as follows , Revenue. £ s. d. Collected within the colony .. .. 93,064 IS 3 On account of Imperial postages .. 15,000 0 0 San Francisco service, payments by noncontracting colonies .. .. •• 2,520 14 1 Balance of expenditure over revenue .. 21,927 1 ,0 '£136,118 13 9 Expenditure. £ s. dSalaries ~ ~ ~ .. -- 33,010 8 8 Conveyance of mails by sea .. . 57,185 15 3 ~ inland mails .. .. 27,012 19 9 Contingencies .. .. .. • • 4,310 10 1 Estimated liabilities . 9,000 0 0 £130,118 13 9 The revenue collected within the colony increased by the sum of £10,117 4s. Sd., or UX>B per cent., while the gross collections show an increase of £11,717. or 11*43 per cent, the revenue for the preceding year. The excess of expenditure over revenue is put down at £21.027 Is. For the previous year £37,230 4s. 7<L represented the actual difference of expend!ture over revenue. To arrive at a correct estimate of the value of the actual work performed by the department, £52.343 93. 4d,, the sum set gainst official postage, should bo taken credit for. This would show* that the possible earnings of the department exceeded its gross expenditure by a sum no less than £30.921 Bs. 4d. In reference to the buildings of the Post Office Department, the report says It has been decided to build new rtnd commodious offices for the accommodation of the Chief Post Office, ■Wellington. New buildings for the joint use of the Post Office and Telegraph are to bo erected at Timaru. A suitable site has been purchased, and the buildings will bo put in hand without delay. The rapidly increasing population of the city of Wellington has decided the department to establish a branch Post Office on some suitable s ! to at the Te Aro end of the city. The building will also afford accommodation for a telegraph station. It has al\o been determined to erect new offices at the Lower Unit, Halcombe, Normanby, Tanapan, Balclutha, and Gore. The offices at Marton, Feilding. Waimato. and Milton arc now being altered. It has also been decided to enlarge the offices at Ashburton, Wanganui, and Mastcrton. Of the San Francisco service, it may be said that the colony receives a m ximmn return for a minimum expenditure. The charge on the revenue of the colony is • a diminishing one aud with the natural increase of correspondence. so will the net cost decrease year by year. In reference to the Post Office Savings Banks the report states:—New accounts were opened during the year to the 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 had increased at the close of the year to 23,(01, from 20117 at the close of 1870. The number of deposits received during the year was 00.953. amounting to £081.294 13s. 2d., the average amount of eacli deposit being £ll 3s. Od. The withdrawals were 39,303, for £007.023 7s. 5d., and of an average amount of £lO 18a lOd. The amount nt the credit of depositors increased to £707.375 17s. Bd. nt the close of the year, from £723,910 17s. sd. at the c'oso of 1870. There was an excess of deposits over withdrawals of £14,271 6s. 9d., against an excess of withdrawals over deposits in 1870 of £32.140 14s. lOd,; and the interest credited to the accounts of depositors during the year was £29,193 14s. 01. against £28,702 4s. 7d. in 1870.