F.—l

The total increase for the year was 31,081 articles, or 18-88 per cent., entirely of letters registered in the colony. Indeed, the number of letters received from bevond the colonv decreased by 52. 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 1-5 per cent, compared with the number disposed of in the previous year. The percentage of dead or unclaimed letters to the total number of letters posted in the colony was 0-43 per cent. For 1889, the proportion in the United Kingdom was 0-38 per cent.; United States, 0-48; Canada, 0-67; Victoria, 1-08; New South Wales, 1-05; Queensland, 1-07; and Tasmania, 0-59. With the exception of the United. Kingdom, New Zealand's proportion was the lowest. The number of missing letter inquiries to the total number of letters posted was in the proportion of four to every thousand. In the United States the proportion was three, and in Queensland six, to every thousand letters. No other returns available. 45,597 book-packets and circulars were returned to foreign countries, 8,460 were returned to the senders through the Dead Letter Office, 44 were re-issued, and 10,843 were returned by Chief Postmasters; a total of 64,903 book-packets and circulars, against 51,943 in 1889. 4,236 newspapers were returned to the publishers as unclaimed. The under-mentioned articles of value were found enclosed in letters opened in the Dead Letter Office, and returned to the senders where practicable : — £ s. d. 194 Post Office orders ... ... ... ... ... 518 5 3 114 postal notes ... ... ... ... ... ... 55 5 4 37 bank drafts ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,992 0 9 137 cheques ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,470 17 0 2 dividend warrants ... ... ... ... .. 16137 13 promissory notes ... ... ... ... ... 410 6 3 Stamps ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 26 16 11 Bank-notes ... ... ... ... ... ... 126 0 0 Gold ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 0 0 Silver and copper ... ... ... ... ... ... 3147 Representing a total of ... ... ... £5,625 19 8 In addition, 1 gold and 1 silver watch, 1 white-metal watch-chain, 1 hair watch-chain (goldmounted), 3 gold rings, 1 silver ring, 2 silver brooches, 2 pairs of gold earrings, and 1 silver pencilcase were received. 1,100 unclaimed registered letters were dealt with. 954 newspapers and 350 books and other articles without addresses were received, a considerable number of which were subsequently applied for and delivered. 155 letters were posted without addresses. 19 letters with libellous addresses Were intercepted. 208 letters were imperfectly or wrongly addressed. 4,301 letters were refused by the addressees. 16 letters were posted with previously-used stamps. Buildings. The new office at Longford, built on a site fronting the main road, has been completed. Minor offices have been erected at Fern Flat and Whakatane. A small building was purchased at Te Puke and made suitable for office purposes. The Cable Company's station at Wakapuaka has been added to and altered. The following are some of the principal alterations, additions, or repairs effected during the year: General Post Office, drainage overhauled and iron shutters fixed on strong-room windows fronting Customhouse Quay; Reefton, new foundation-piles, &c.; Napier and Spit, repairs; Pembroke, erection of porch; Dunedin, telegraph office renovated; Albany Street, repairs and sanitary arrangements improved; Palmerston South, drainage provided; Thames, mail-room

VIII

Manner of Disposal. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1808. 1889. 1890. I Ipened and returned to the writers teturned unopened to other countries leissued )estroyed .eturned unopened by Chief Postmasters 53,507 8,539 54 6,189 69,452 8,143 67 3,302 68,942 9,134 107 3,986 66,592 8,115 185 2,872 66,729 8,359 251 0,600 62,847 7,287 96 5,974 55,118 6,892 88 5,246 62,654 60,540 6,220 7,779 92 141 4,340 I 2,660 14,378 15,833 17,593 19,187 21,144 20,185 19,963 21,164 21,931 Totals 82,667 96,797 94,470 j 93,051 99,762 90,951 103,083 96,389 87,307