REPORT OF THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1384, 27 August 1885, Page 3

REPORT OF THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE.

Tlie annual report of the Dead Letter Offioe contains the usual assortment of curiosities. Thin year 99,762 unclaimed letteis, an increase ol 3 per cent, were dealt with, 60,942 being returned to the writers, 101 and the balan< ,■. returned unopened. 5254 book paik.ts and circulars were also returned to foreign countries. 519 of these were returned to the Renders through 'he Dead Letter Office, and 679 returned by the Cnief Postmasters, The following articles of value were found enclosed in Wers opened in the Dead Letter Office, and returned to the senders where practicable :—206 money orders of the v..lne of £594 9b Bd, 36 bank drafts ..f £2165 8s 4d, 94 cheques of £Bl9 lis lid, three promissory notes of £463 10s 3d, stamps £9 15u lOd, Bank notes £202,

gold £3l, silver and copper £3 16s 3'l, representing a toial of £4298 12s 3d, in addition to ljj gold locket with a black stone and pearl, 1 greenstone cross and pendant, 1 gold-mounted wedding ring, 1 gold huntiag wntcli nnd case, ] silver brooch and 1 pair of silver earrings, 2 pair of gold earrings, ] silver ring set with emeralds and pearls, 1 silver chronograph watch, 1 gold ring and two pairs of earrings set with stones, 1 pair of greenstone earrings gold-mounted, 1 silver locket and chain, 1 gold ring set with jewels, 1 silver hunting watch and Canadian gold chain, 1 silver ring, 3 diamond studs and New Zealand plated railway pass, 1 piece of polished greenstone, 1 gold nugget in quartz, 1 piec" of velvet, 1 silk handkerchief, 1 leather purse with fiteel clasp and chain, 1 flute and 2 Crimean shirts. 5154 unclaimed registered letters were dealt with, including 4309 returned notices originally issued from the Registrars of Electors, 22 letters detained for postuge were received, 2 of which were subsequently forwarded. 649 newspapers and 431 books and other articles without addresses were also received. Of these 66 were delivered, and 91 book packages forwarded to London for return- to the senders. 94 letters were posted without addresses, 66 with libellous addresses were intercepted, 128 letters were imperfectly and wrongly addressed, 2812. letters were refused, and 9 letters were posted with previously used stamps.