F.-l

The number of inland mail-services at the end of the year was 641, an increase of 32. 84 miles of telegraph line were constructed. At the close of the year there were 4,874 miles of line and 11,827 miles of wire. £16,345 15s. 7d. was expended on telegraph extension during the year. The number of telephone subscribers increased by 130, and the total number on the 31st March, last was 2,384. £1,515,281 11s. 3d. was deposited in the Post Office Savings-bank during the calendar year, and £1,457,081 ss. withdrawn. The total sum at the credit of depositors on the 31st December last was £2,191,451 14s. 2d. For the convenience of the public a temporary post and telegraph office was established at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, which opened at Dunedin on the 19th November last. The office was placed in communication with the Dunedin Telephone Exchange. The Exhibition closed on the 26th April last, and the following postal and telegraph business was transacted at the office :—• Posted. Delivered. Letters ... ... ... ... ... 7,698 ... 8,976 Post-cards ... ... ... ... ... 348 ... 60 Books ... ... ... ... ... 1,500 ... 264 Newspapers ... ... ... ... 468 ... 2,952 168 money-orders issued, for £578 10s. 4d.; 17 money-orders paid, for £87 12s. Bd. 232 deposits in savings-bank, for £801 10s.; 22 withdrawals, for £194 13s. 2d. 2,990 telegrams were forwarded and 2,300 received. The classification of the service, it is hoped, is now in a fair way to be carried into practical effect. A short Bill, prepared with this object, is to be submitted to Parliament this session. Classification has long been promised, and as long withheld, with the result that the service is disheartened generally. The scheme which the Bill is intended to bring into operation should do much to remove the prevalent discontent, and give the employes encouragement as to the future. The following table and return give the number of offices and officers of all classes on the 31st December last:—

Compaeative Betubn of Officeks of the Postal and Telegraph Department for the Years 1889 and 1888. 1889. 1888. 1889. 1888. Postmaster-General .. .. .. 1 1 Sorters in Clearing-room .. .. 11 9 Superintendent .. .. .■ .. 1 I Storekeeper and Assistants .. 3 8 Secretary .. 1 .1 Chief Postmasters .. .. 16 16 Inspector of Post Offices .. .. 1 1 Postmasters and Officers in Charge on PerAssistant Inspector of Post Offices 1 1 manent Staff .. .. .. 260 260 Controller of Money Orders and Savings Banks Clerks and Cadets .. .. .. 203 203 and Accountant .. .. .. 1 1 Operators .. .. .. .. 290 294 Telegraph Inspectors .. .. 3 3 Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. 912 885 Telegraph Sub-Inspectors .. .. 3 Letter-carriers .. .. .. 104 103 Electrician .. .. . < .. 1 1 Messengers (Post Office) .. .. IS 14 Mechanicians .. .. .% .. 3 Linemen .. .. ..... 46 40 Clerks in General Post Office— Telegraph Message Boys .. .. 205 197 Secretary's Branch .. .. ..7 7^ Nightwatchmen .. .. 2 Dead-Letter Branch .. .. .. 4 3 Money Order and Savings-Bank Branch.. 16 15 I Totals .. .. 2,110 2,071

II

Postal Districts. i I © a 0 Coui Po Offl. ntry 5St ces. "3 o m o § s A ft to fi 03 u M o % B 3 o o o H Cli and Ca. irks 3ostal lets. Operators (including Cadets). So: Lettercarriers, i S .! O ! o i ! P-| Telegraph Message Boys. *-8 o H d f o o ■s ° I! fe § I o o h a j I IS § o i 5 a 9 o ■— I Auckland Intones jisborne Napier New Plymouth Wanganui Wellington Blenheim Nelson Westport 3-reymouth Hokitika 3hristchurch rimaru Damaru Dunedin 44 10 1 20 5 11 23 7 9 5 4 3 49 16 10 38 21 155 19 10 28 14 20 55 15 24 13 21 31 96 28 6 72 6S 09 7 5 12 5 9 17 8 11 6 5 8 12 3 ! 1 12 38 2 24 5 6 5 , 4 1 .. ! 23 5 4 .. : 121 5 ■ 35 12 ! 32 1 ; 'I .2 8 ! 3 2 I .. 23 6 5 1 ; 8' •■ ! 27 5 LlLl 236 i 54 I I 44 10 1 20 5 23 7 I ? 0 4 3 49 16 10 I 38 I 21 10 0 1 3 I 10 2 2 1 2 1 15 9 ! u 2 4 I 2 1 .. 14 4 S 7 8 5 36 2 5 2 3 2 15 3 3 14 3 8 3 1 - 1 1 3 1 I 1 1 1 -2! 4 ! 11 3 8 ! 44 4 5 •• • - j .. .. .! .J 1: 1 2 2 :: }. 2 -6 ; '2 3 ! 1 .. ! 1 8 2 1 2 2 2 7 12 8 2 1 4 .. i ! ■• ! 1 1 • • 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 .. 1 2 3 33 5 2 33 8 2 15 2 1 13 6 7 40 12 14 3 ! Invercargill 1 ■• I Total on 31st Dec, 1889 .. 1 24 15 223 10 12 36 201 2 276 80 124 81 276 679