■p.—l

X

Closed. . Blackball, Greymouth Omarama, Oamaru South Malvern, Christchurch Bromley, Christchurch Omoho, Auckland Tallaburn, Dunedin Bushside, Christchurch Owharoa, Thames Tapuae, Wellington Oryer-'s Landing, Thames Pukekararo, Auckland Waikakaho, Blenheim Lower Awatere, Blenheim Puysegur Point, Invercargill Watershed Road, Wanganui North Taieri, Dunedin Ruakaka, Auckland Whangaparapara, Auckland Okiwi Bay, New Plymouth Scarborough, Wellington The total number of post-offices open at the close of the year was 1,524. ■ Paecel-post. The following table shows the total number and the weight of inland, intercolonial, United Kingdom, and foreign parcels dealt with during the years 1894, 1895, 1896, and 1897 :—

The following table gives 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 1896 and 1897 : —

The declared value of parcels received from places outside the colony in 1897 was £41,820. The Customs duty collected amounted to £9,567 12s. lid. In 1896 the value was £36,438 os.' Id and the Customs duty collected £7,693 11s. 2d. The declared value of parcels despatched to places beyond the colony was £8 153 as against £7,703 9s. 10d. in 1896. On the Ist January, 1897, the postage on parcels to and from the United Kingdom was reduced from Is. 6d. for the first two pounds and 9d. for each additional pound, to Is. for the first pound and 6d. for each additional pound. The effect of the reduction may be seen from the following figures: —

Postal Disti-iotB. 1894. Number. Weight. 1894. Number. 1895. Weight. 1896. 1897. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. Auckland .. Thames New Plymouth Gisborne .. Napier Wanganui Wellington Nelson Westport .. Greymouth Hokifcika .. Blenheim .. Christchuroh Timaru 34,480 2,103 2,567 1,362 8,778 5,543 43,035 5,697 1,696 2,627 1,722 2,260 26,523 2,120 1,010 28,316 4,425 lb. oz. 98,202 8 5,702 8 6,705 10 4,140 11 i 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 J 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 14 J 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 13 J 96,386 9 5,060 9 2,563 8 99,180 10 12,598 15 37,317 2,808 2,857 1,480 9,189 6,230 44,824 5,529 1,952 2,653 1,611 1,902 29,033 2,129 1,048 31,427 4,622 lb. oz. 117,815 8J 8,052 4 7,306 11 4,447 8 27,025 10 19,609 8 193,053 6 17,698 6 4,138 6 7,075 15 5,691 3 4,854 1 108,748 15 5,259 144 ! 3,337 11 106,561 1 13,657 13 42,287 3,366 2,753 l',979 8,932 6,852 45,195 5,534 1,941 2,773 1,621 1,851 32,298 1,808 1,056 32,504 4,804 lb. oz. 134,523 4 9,945 8 8,001 1 5,862 12 26,526 12 21,508 12 166,995 8 18,168 3 4,977 3 7,777 10 5,583 6 5,441 5 125,764 3 4,554 12 3,436 13 112,672 12 14,314 9 Oamaru .. Dunedin .. Invercargill Totals 1174,264 540,315 8 176,206 582,193 8J 186,611 654,333 13 197,554 676,054 5

Keci ;ived. Despatched. Country. 1896. 1897. .896. 1897. Number. Weight. Number. I Weight. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. 13,730 lb. oz. 46,750 0 15,742 lb. oz. 53,002 4 3,446 I ib. oz. 8,223 0 lb. 07,, 9,510 8 United Kingdom and foreign offices (vid London) Victoria New South Wales South Australia Queensland Tasmania Western Australia Samoa Barotonga Hawaiian Islands Ceylon Straits Settlements Uruguay .. .. 4,197 2,579 2,853 206 187 113 122 5 10 38 44 22 7,491 0 8,014 6 759 13 489 6 351 2 363 6 22 6 43 12 57 5 79 8 51 2£ 3,174 3,521 239 374 243 185 4 11 54 150 1 10,105 12 9,875 6 791 12 858 12 446 0 454 6 33 0 22 7 97 3 343 5 4 14 1,457 j 1,568 149 225 280 198 84 54 28 33 2,580 0 3,537 114 414 15 583 12£ 589 1 580 5 213 10 185 9 87 3 64 13 1,526 1,681 179 256 224 270 117 4S 39 126 2,869 1 3,838 4 414 4 540 14 723 0 676 12 299 14 163 8 96 7 289 6 7 4 4 Totals 19,909 64,473 2J 23,698 76,035 1 7,522 17,060 0 8,670 19,426 2