F.—l

IV

The increase in 1885 was—letters 1-62, post-cards 14-42, books and parcels 7 - 39, and newspapers 0-99 per cent. The average number of letters posted by each person was estimated to be 29-15. The cash revenue for the financial year was £199,147 7s. 6d., an increase of £3,751 6s. Bd., or 1-92 per cent. The expenditure amounted to £191,750 Bs. 3d., compared with £190,474 os. 4d., expended the previous year, an increase of 0-67 per cent. The receipts therefore were £7,396 19s. 3d., or 385 per cent, in excess of the expenditure. This, too, was secured in the face of unusually large payments under the head of " Conveyance of mails by sea," the item, bonus, Direct Service, alone having exceeded the amount estimated by over £5,000. The estimated value of the official free correspondence was £75,606 lls. lid., an increase of £5,391 16s. 3d. The weight of the correspondence is estimated at over 254 tons, of which 184 tons originated in Wellington. The estimated value of the services performed by the Post Office during the year was—cash receipts, £199,147 7s. 6d.; official correspondence, £75,606 lls. lid.: giving a total of £274,753 19s. 5d., or a balance of £83,003 lls. 2d. over and above the expenditure. Government Insurance renewal premiums to the amount of £11,152 were collected at post offices at places where there were no branches of the Bank of New Zealand. This was in addition to general insurance work undertaken by Postmasters. Fees amounting to £1,070 for the registration of births, &c, were collected. £14,066 under the Live Stock Acts was received. £2,876 was received in respect of fees for inspection of machinery. £211,205 was collected from 24,122 taxpayers for the Property-tax Department. 51,000 payments for about £24,000 were made on account of miscellaneous expenditure. 3,180 orders, to the amount of over £9,500, for the boarding-out of industrial school children, were also paid by post offices during the year. Letter-carriers' deliveries were established at Hastings and Petone. Additional deliveries were provided at Masterton, Akaroa, and Eeefton. At Auckland, Gisborne, and Kaiapoi the deliveries have been extended. 36 additional receivers were established—s at Auckland, 1 at Cambridge, 6 at Napier, 1 at Wanganui, 1 at Turakina, 1 at Nelson, 3 at Christchurch, 1 at Kaiapoi, 4 at Ashburton, 2 at New Plymouth, 4 at Wellington, 1 at Petone, 2 at Greymouth, 1 at Oamaru, 1 at Gisborne, 1 at Ettrick, and 1 at Mosgiel. Throe receivers were abolished. The total number of pillar, wall, and lamp-post receptacles at the close of the year was 260. 6,376,152 letters, 246,172 post-cards, 437,595 books, circulars, and parcels, and 1,797,336 newspapers were delivered by letter-carriers. This was an increase of 235,061 letters, 43,356 books and parcels, and 71,656 newspapers. 53 additional post-offices were established, 4 reopened, and 11 closed during the year, as under :— Opened. Aponga, Auckland. . Huia, Auckland. Rangitira Valley, Timaru. Arthurton, Invercargill. Karioi, Napier. Springston Station, Christchurch. Arundel, Timaru. . Leigh, Auckland. Stanway, Wellington. Ashburton Forks (reopened), Longburn, Wellington. Swanson, Auckland. Christchurch. NcKee's, Dunedin. Taieri Beach, Dunedin. Babylon, Auckland. Mangare Bridge, Auckland. The Reefs, Invercargill. Cape Foulwind, Westport. Matamata, Auckland. Tokaanu, Napier. Charing Cross, Christchurch. Matamau (reopened), Napier. Tokonui Gorge, Invercargill. Ghorlton, Christchurch. Maungamuku, Auckland. Tuhara, Napier. Combormere, Gisborne. Mimihau, Invercargill. Utakura, Auckland. Fairview, Timaru. Mount Eden, Auckland. Waiareka Junction, Oamaru. Fernhill, Napier. Ngahauranga, Wellington. Waihakeke, Wellington. Prankton Junction, Auckland. Opaki, Wellington. Waipu Junction, Auckland. Gorge, Wellington. Oraki, Invercargiil. Wairangi, Auckland. Grovetown (reopened), Blenheim. Owen Eeefs, Nelson. Wairengaakuri, Gisborne. Haast, Hokitika. Pendarves, Christchurch. Waiwaka, Wellington. Hakaru, Auckland. Pipiriki, Wanganui. Walton, Auckland. Harben, Westport. Pourerere (reopened), Napier. Waotu, Auckland. Hawarden, Christchurch. Pukekararo, Auckland. Whatatutu, Gisborne. Helena Bay, Auckland. Closed. Arahura, Hokitika. j Karere, Wellington. Tiki, Auckland. Egmont, Now Plymouth. Lake Tarawera, Thames. Upper Motueka, Nelson. Erewhon, Napier. Pourerere, Napier. Waikanae, Wellington. Kare Kare, Auckland. Pukerua, Wellington. The total number of post offices at the close of the year was 1,089. The names of the following post offices have been changed : Combermere to Waimata Valley (Gisborne), Herd's Point to Bawene (Auckland), McKee's to Kakapuaka (Dunedin), Oruawharo North to North Albertland (Auckland), Taieri Beach to Taieri Mouth (Dunedin,), Te Kapu to Frasertown (Napier), Tinker's Gully to Matakanui (Dunedin), Walton's to Waikanae (Wellington). Government Insurance agencies were established at the post offices at Orepuki, Kaikora, Goldsborough, Little Eiver, Greytown South, Belgrove, Mauriceville, and Methven; and. the one at Eiverhead closed. 17 newspapers were registered for transmission through the Post Office. The total number on the register at the close of the year was 198. 197 magazines are registered under the magazine post. 22 were registered during the year.