F.—l.

32

The high maxima were occasioned by an accident to the machinery of the " Aorangi," causing a delay of seven days.

Table No. 13. Registebed Abticles. The number of registered articles dealt with in 1911, compared with the numbers in 1890, 1900, and 1910, is as follows :— 1890. 1900. 1910. 1911. From places beyond the Dominion ... 26,374 52,343 132,493 152,349 Registered in the Dominion ... ... 169,321 464,036 993,675 1,194,570 Totals ... ... 195,695 516,379 1,126,168 1,346,919 Dead Letters . 1910. 1911. Opened and returned to writers ... ... 179,850 212,821 Eeturned unopened to other countries ... ... 45,551 54,591 Eeissued ... ... ... ... ... 559 526 Destroyed ... ... ... ... ... 24,200 21,983 Eeturned unopened by Chief Postmasters ... 174,179 206,147 Totals ... ... ... 424,339 496,068 The increase in the letters registered in the Dominion during 1911 must be attributed largely to the general election.

Table No. 14. Pabcel-post. The following shows the number and weight of parcels posted during the years 1890, 1900, 1910, and 1911 :— 1890. 1900. 1910. 1911. Number ... 121,292 199,413 1,190,711 1,613,010 Weight ... 336,6431b. 12 oz. 682,1401b. 7 oz. 3,953,2841b. 15 oz. 5,392,3601b. 3 oz. The following table shows the number and weight of parcels exchanged with the United Kingdom and the undermentioned places during the years 1910 and 1911 : —

Table No. 15. SAN FRANCISCO, VANCOUVER, AND SUEZ SERVICES. Statement showing the Number of Days occupied in the Delivery of Mails between London and the undermentioned Places by the San Francisco Mail-service. FROM LONDON VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

Eeceived. Despatched. Country. 1910. Number. 1911. Weight. 191 Number. 1910. )10. Weight. 19: Number. 1911. )11. Weight. Number. Weight. United Kingdom and foreign countries (via London) United States of America .. Canada Victoria New South Wales South Australia Queensland Tasmania.. Western Australia Samoa Fiji Ceylon Uruguay Cape Colony Natal India Tonga Hong Kong* 83,312 lb. oz. 478,632 0 93,998 lb. oz. 530,896 0 12,252 lb. oz. 37,745 6 13,112 lb. oz. 42,041 10 6,164 601 8,241 13,365 518 765 469 377 18 145 535 19,568 15 1,380 12 26,747 8 39,352 0 1,233 2 J 1,766 10 1,128 8 781 4 80 9 400 3 2,600 5 7,591 568 8,358 13,262 519 878 473 371 16 137 549 26,683 6 1,094 8 27,140 14 42,214 0 1,403 13 1,933 9 1,173 0 834 14 88 6 350 10 2,732 3 1,022 351 3,153 4,963 409 752 720 412 148 511 86 118 157 197 222 167 39 2,677 124 780 5 7,259 0 11,273 2 936 15 1,709 4 1,716 7 980 14 638 11 1,475 6 245 44 377 12 293 6 478 11 839 475 6 99 10 1,095 377 3,140 5,357 415 897 694 476 157 511 70 97 115 243 235 280 96 2,931 6 866 8 7,720 3 12,552 8 968 14 2-, 092 10 1,535 6 1,101 3 612 11 1,420 1 216 13 318 12 364 12 667 1 842 9 914 13 248 15 452 96 1,049 7 107 763 6 163 12 5,577 11 33 5 325 0 463 32 1,138 16 357 775 10 42 5 5,765 6 68 3 1,492 11 Totals 116,221 580,481" 14J 128,726 644,689 6 .25,679 70,002 12J 27,367 77,416 11 * With Hong Kong the system was only in operation for five months in 1910.

Auokland. Wellington. ; Christchurob Dunedin. Sydney. Melbourne. laximum (in days) Tinimum „ .verage „ 43 34 36 44 33 35 45 34 36 45 34 36 48 38 40 *