F.—l

VII

Dead Letters. The number of unclaimed letters received and disposed of during the under-mentioned years is shown in the following table :—

The unclaimed letters dealt with show a decrease of 942 per cent, compared with the number disposed of in the previous year. 18,168 book-packets and circulars were returned to foreign countries, 4,442 were returned to the senders through the Dead Letter Office, and 9,194 were returned by Chief Postmasters : a total of 31,804 book-packets and circulars, against 43,283 in 1887. The under-mentioned articles of value were lound enclosed in letters opened in the Dead Letter Office, and returned to the senders where practicable :— & s. d. 132 Post Office orders ... ... ... ... ... 355 2 1 67 postal notes ... ... ... ... ... ... 18 3 0 29 bank drafts ... ... ... ... ... ... 950 10 9 75 cheques ... ... ~. ... ... ... 70112 6 1 dividend warrant ... ... ... ... ... 0 12 . 0 3 promissory notes ... ... ... ... ... 79 17 0 Stamps ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 8 11$ Bank-notes ... ... ... ... ... ... 116 0 0 Gold 12 10 0 Silver and copper ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 6 7$ Eepresenting a total of ... ...£2,247 2 11 In addition, 1 gold hunting-watch, 4 silver hunting-watches, 1 Waterbury watch, 1 ladies' silver watch and silver chain, 1 gold locket with pearls, 1 greenstone (silver-mounted), 1 silver brooch set with cairngorms, 2 silver brooches, 1 New Zealand war medal brooch, 1 New Zealand war medal, 1 silver bracelet, 1 gold ring, 1 gold ring set with precious stones, 1 silver ring, 1 gold nugget, and 2 silk handkerchiefs were received. 3,713 unclaimed registered letters were dealt with. 1,035 newspapers and 333 books and other articles without addresses were received, a number of which were subsequently applied for and delivered. 64 letters were posted without addresses. 13 letters with libellous addresses were intercepted. 182 letters were imperfectly and wrongly addressed. 4,962 letters were refused by the addressees. 12 letters were posted with previously-used stamps. Buildings. The restoration of the General Post Office building (destroyed by fire on the 28th April, 1887) was finished on the 30th April last, and the transfer of the several branches of the department completed on the Ist June last. The building has been materially strengthened by the addition of three brick party-walls—one longitudinally and two transverse —which have been carried 2ft. above the roof. Special provision has otherwise been made to minimise the risk from fire. Johnston's patent wire-lathing, in the place of the usual wooden laths, has been used in connection with the interior plaster-work, and 4in. of concrete filled in between the floor-joists. Water-services for fire-extinguishing purposes, two on each floor, have been provided, and provision made, in the event of fire, for dividing the first and top floors into sections by fire-proof doors. The interior accommodation has been slightly varied, where experience had shown that this was desirable or where the position of the party-walls made an alteration imperative. The tower is carried to a height of 129 ft., and an illuminating fourdial clock (the dials Bft. 3in. in diameter), with chiming-bells (Cambridge chimes) and hour-bell, placed in position. The clock and chiming-bells have been provided jointly by the City Council and Harbour Board, and the hour-bell (which weighs over 29cwt.) presented by Mrs. Sarah A. Ehodes, in memory of her late husband, the Hon. W. B. Ehodes. Messrs. Littlejohn and Son, of Wellington (the makers of the former clock), secured the contract for the clock and bells. The bells, it may be mentioned, were cast at the Lion Foundry, Wellington. An office has been erected at Clyde. Eepairs, additions, and alterations have been made to the following offices: Masterton, alterations, repairs, and renovating; Wanganui, repairs; Marton, additions; Bulls, repairs; Coromandel, repairs; Blenheim, repairs; Eeefton, repairs; Greymouth, repairs; Christchurch,

Manner of Disposal. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1885. 1887. 1888. ipened and returned to the writers Returned unopened to other countries .. leissued )estroyed Returned unopened by Chief Postmasters 52,038 9,372 159 3,969 53,507 8,539 54 6,189 69,452 8,143 6.7 3,302 68,942 9,134 107 3,986 66,592 8,115 185 2,872 66,729 8,359 251 6,600 62,847 7,287 96 5,974 55,118 6,892 88 5,246 12,810 14,378 15,833 17,593 19,187 21,144 20,185 19,963 Totals .. 78,348 82,667 96,797 99,762 96,951 103,083 96,389 87,307