Zoo Jumbo's Losses.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4336, 23 November 1882, Page 2

Zoo Jumbo's Losses.

(FROM OUB OWN COEBEBPONDENT.)

Auckland, This day

A number of intending subscribers to "Ada Mantua's" and"*" Zoo Jumbo's" consultations, residing at Auckland and Dunedin, were nicely caught by the postal authorities. Ifc appears that last year several complaints 'were made to the Auckland Post office authorities of letters containing money addressed^ promoters of sweeps never having reached their destination. As money letters wore not registered the postal authorities were unable in all cases, .to prove delivery. This year, Mr Bi«s/; Chief Postmaster, suggested tbthe Postmaster-General that "these, -missives to promoters of sweeps, reasonably suspected of containing money, should be oompulsorily registered under the Act as containing valuables. This would protect the public by securing certain delivery of letters, and also relieve

the Post Office from uncalled for aspersions. The Postmaster-General adopted the recommendation, and in one week alone 270 letters were so registered in Auckland (containing notes to the amount of £3000), addressed to the promoters of sweeps. In some cases the letters contained from ten to twenty £1 notes, being forwarded as ordinary letters, and' with regard to mm delivery or non receipt of which senders could have had no remedy. " Ada Mantua " and " Zoo Jumbo " were too wary to lake delivery of registered letters, as they would have furnished legal evidence for their prosecution for a breach of the Gaming and Lotteries- Act, The consequence was that the missives went to the Dead Letter Office, where the 1 notea were carefully taken out and paid into the Colonial Exchequer.