"DEAD" LETTERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8484, 11 July 1907, Page 3

"DEAD" LETTERS.

SOME STRANGE FACTS. One of the most interesting portions of the annual report of the Post and Telegraph Department annually presented to Parliament is that relating to the "dead" letter branch. This year the details are ■calculated to arouse even more than the ordinary amount of curiosity and interest. The report of the Post and Telegraph Department presented to the House on Tuesday is a striking illustration of what carelessness means in the aggregate. It is shown that no less than 40,012 book packets and circulars were returned to foreign countries, 26,067 by the Dead Letter Office and 154,578 by Chief Postmasters, a total of 220,657 book packets and circulars, as compared with 189,446 in 1905. Wrongly addressed letters numbered 1,363. Referring to newspapers it is stated that 3,328 were received without addresses, many of these being subsequently applied for and delivered. The same remark applied to 2,017 books. Publishers had returned to them 11,936 newspapers. No less than 1,064 letters and 211 lettercards were posted without addresses, and 91 letters with libellous addresses were intercepted. AN INTERESTING LIST. The following is a striking array of articles of value found in letters opened in the Dead Letter Office, and returned to senders where practicable No. Amount. £ Post Office orders 598 1,274 Bank drafts 48 4,529 Cheques 467 4,244 Dividend warrants 46 59 Promissory notes 5 186 Postal notes Stamps Bank notes Gold Silver and copper Total £11,050 In a general reference to articles found, it is shown that the collection made by the department embraces practically everything from gold and •silver watches to tie pins and studs, and such mundane things as artificial teeth, trotting certificates and railWay passes, and steamer tickets. Here are some of the figures:—Two gold watches, fifteen silver watches, scores of cheap time-pieces, thirtytwo gold-mounted greenstone brooches, seventeen greenstone hearts, quite a multitude of other gold-mounted greenstone ornaments, two gold spectacle frames, one gold whistle, thirty gold rings, silver match-box, pair of silver-mounted green&tone carvers, ten gold lace pins, two pairs of tusks, one electric belt, three sets of artificial teeth, twenty pawn tickets, a miner's right, and a dairy registraton certificate. MISSING LETTERS. In a reference to missing letters the report states that 1,809 enquiries for letters and, 1381 for other articles alleged to have been posted and not delivered were made durirg the year. In the case of 960 of enquiries for letters and 825 for other articles the investigations by the department resulted in the missing articles being traced or accounted for.