F.—l

X

Sixty-seven post-offices were established, six reopened, and thirteen closed, as under:— Opened. Aicken's, Hokitika Kohi, Wanganni Eedwood's Valley, Nelson Bainham, Nelson Kohinui, Wellington Ruahine, Wellington Birchfield, Westport Koiberangi, Hokitika Rnakaka, Auckland Blandville, Christohurch Kokoamj, Oamaru Ruatoki, Thames Bromley, Christchurch Komako, Wellington St. Albans, Christchurch Cameron's, Greymouth Little Rakaia, Christchurch Spotswood, Christchurch Caroline, Invercargill Makomako, Wellington Taneatua, Thames Chatto Creek, Dunedin Mangamuka, Auckland Te Kao, Auckland Crushington, Greymouth Mangarimu, Wellington Te Ngae, Auckland East Tamaki, Auckland Mangatoro Valley, Napier Te Rau-a-Moa, Auckland Plat Creek, Blenheim Manukau Heads, Auckland Ti-tree Point, Napier Ferguson's, Hokitika Matapu, Wanganui Tiriraukawa, Wanganui Porsyth, Dunedin Meremere, Wanganui Umawera, Auckland Glade House, Invercargill Middlevale, Invercargill Upper Riccarton, Christchurch Glenomaru, Dunedin Omoho, Auckland Utika, Wanganui Glenwood, Wellington Otawhao, Napier Wairere, Wellington Golden Cross, Thames Papatowai, Dunedin Waikino, Thames Goodwood, Dunedin Parkeston, Nelson Waitaki South, Timaru Haldane, Invercargill Pori, Wellington Wangapeka, Nelson Hawainga, Wanganui Poroo-Tarao, Auckland Wekaweka, Auckland Hinau, Wellington Progress Junction, Greymouth Western Spit, Napier Huiroa, New Plymouth Pukepoto, Auckland Whakapara, Auckland Ihuraua Valley, Wellington Rakaunui, Wellington Whenuakura, Wanganui Kakepuku, Auckland Redvale, Auckland Worser Bay, Wellington Kawatau, Wanganui Closed. Birdling's Plat, Christchurch Owen's Junction, Nelson Waihakeke, Wellington Cricklewood, Napier Pendarves, Christchurch Waikawa, Invercargill East Tamaki, Auckland Puketutu, Auckland Whakahara, Auckland Marohema, Wanganui Te Rori, Auckland Whangape, Auckland Matapu, Wanganui The total number of post-offices open at the close of the year was 1,464.

Parcel-post. The following table shows the total number and the weight of inland, intercolonial, United Kingdom, and foreign parcels dealt with during the years 1890, 1894, 1895, and 1896: —

The following table shows the number and weight of parcels exchanged with the United Kingdom, and Foreign Countries vid London, and the Australian Colonies and the South Sea Islands, during the years 1895 and 1896: —

Postal Districts. 18J Number. 1890. 190. Weight. 188 84. 1895. 1894. 1896. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. I !] iuckland .. rhames New Plymouth jisborne .. Sfapier Wanganui Wellington kelson Westport .. A toy mouth Soldtika .. Blenheim .. Dhristchurch Pimaru 3amaru .. Dunedin .. tnvercargill lb. oz. .. 24,582 : 65,907 2 34,480 .. 1,677 j 4,102 2 2,103 1,131 3,034 8 2,567 .. j 1,046 2,862 12 1,362 .. ! 7,059 19,422 1 8,778 .. ! 4,531 ; 10,731 12 - 5,543 .. 29,093 83,998 11 43,035 5,323 15,123 4 , 5,697 .. 1,201 I 2,688 12 i 1,696 2,819 i 7,128 5 2,627 1,587 4,382 8 j 1,722 2,050 4,941 15 ' ! 2,260 .. 21,819 ! 65,881 6 26,523 2,261 5,515 6 I 2,120 955 2,415 11 1,010 .. 25,301 73,616 10 28,316 .. 3,892 8,768 11 [ 4,425 lb. oz. 98,202 8 5,702 8 6,705 10 4,140 11£ 26,362 15 15,795 9 143,652 3 17,815 7 4,332 6 7,278 2 5,598 5 6,162 8 87,776 10 5,542 15 % 2,618 4 90,554 9 12,074 5 35,631 . 2,235 2,543 1,136 8,865 5,722 43,591 5,771 1,707 2,553 1,816 2,133 27,053 1,908 988 28,132 4,422 lb. oz. 107,729 14j 6,134 10 6,780 8 3,581 8j 25,672 1 18,139 5 158,124 1 17,860 6 4,382 13 6,319 13 5,904 8 5,767 13J 96,386 9 5,060 9 2,563 8 99,186 10 12,598 15 lb. oz. 37,317 117,815 8J 2,808 8,052 4 2,857 7,306 11 1,480 4,447 8 9,189 27,025 10 6,230 ! 19,609 8 44,824 j 193,053 6 5,529 > 17,698 6 1,952 4,138 6 2,653 - 7,075 15 1,611 I 5,691 3 1,902 ! 4,854 1 29,033 108,748 15 2,129 5,259 14J 1,048 i 3,337 11 31,427 106,561 1 4,622 13,657 13 Totals .. i36,327 380,521 8 174,264 I 540,315 8 176,206 582,193 8J 186,611 654,333 13 I

Eeci iived. Despi ;ched. Country. 1805. 1896. 1895. 1896. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. lb. oz. 13,681 I 46,339 0 lb. oz. ■ lb. oz. 46,750 0 3,524 9,118 8 lb. oz. 3,446 8,223 0 Jnited Kingdom and foreign offices (via London) Victoria lew South Wales louth Australia Queensland 'asmania .. Vestern Australia .. 13,730 2,558 l 7,629 0 2,504 7,850 12 238 765 0 159 394 6 133 382 5 64 201 11 26 81 11$ 14 31 1 15 ! 25 9 47 77 6 15 35 13 2,579 2,853 206 187 113 122 5 10 38 44 22 7,491 0 1,457 2,773 5$ 8,014 6 ; 1,345 3,128 1 759 13 : 176 : 474 15 489 6 196 474 3$ 351 2 246 505 0 363 6 181 i 472 14 22 6 109 388 0$ 43 12 39 168 15 57 5 3 J 2 8 79 8 11 22 4 51 2$ 8 23 8 1,457 ! 2,580 0 1,568 3,537 11 J 149 414 15 225 583 12$ 280 589 1 198 ; 580 5 84 213 10 54 185 9 28 i ' 87 3 33 : 61 13 lamoa larotonga lawaiian Islands 'eylon Itraits Settlements Totals 19,454 63,813 10$ 7,522 17,060 0 19,909 64,473 2$ 7,298 17,547 2$