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On every letter exceeding half an ounce in weight,—then the sum of one penny for every half-ounce or fractional part of half-an-ounce, according to the weight of such letter.

On all letters sent by Post, or being re-directed and again forwarded by the Post, there shall be charged and paid a new and distinct rate of postage for the re-direction, in addition to all other rates of postage payable thereon, according to the scale and rate of postage hereinbefore mentioned.

No Letter or Packet exceeding sixteen ounces in weight shall be forwarded by the Post, except letters to and from places beyond the seas, and letters to and from the Governor, letters on the Public Service, or to and from any of the Government Offices or Departments.

Newspapers.

Printed Newspapers shall be conveyed for a charge of one penny each, provided they be sent without a cover, or in a cover open at the sides, and there be no writing thereon, or upon the cover of the same, excepting the name and address of the person to whom sent, and that no paper or thing be enclosed in or with any such paper. And every paper or packet which shall be contrary in any respect to the conditions hereby required to be observed, shall be charged with the rate of postage to which it would have been liable as a letter.

Printed Prices Current and Commercial Lists, not exceeding two ounces in weight, shall be forwarded through the post, under the same regulations and privileges as newspapers.

Given under my hand, and issued under the Public Seal of the Province of Canterbury, at Christchurch, this sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.

JAMES EDWARD FITZ GERALD,
Superintendent.

By his Honor’s command,
JOSEPH BRITTAN,
Provincial Secretary.

God Save the Queen.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,

Christchurch, Dec. 26, 1856.

HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT directs the publication of the following Report.

By his Honor’s command,
For the Provincial Secretary,
T. B. KEBLE, Chief Clerk.

To his Honor the Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury.

SIR,—

Having been entrusted by your Honor with making the special survey referred to in the resolution of the Provincial Council, of the 20th Nov., 1856, I have carefully examined the Port Hills, between Raupaki and Mount Pleasant, for the purpose of finding a practicable line of cart road, which should be of easier ascent than the present Bridle-path, and more direct than the Sumner Road.

The former of these roads has an ascent of more than 13 feet per chain. With this gradient the action of surface water removing the soil, and the sledges and the feet of horses loosening the stones, have gradually worn away the surface, leaving in many places the rocks or the sides of the road protruding 12 or 15 inches. The entire distance to Christchurch by this line is 7 miles and 70 chains.

The Sumner road commences at the Heathcote Ferry, up to which point the road from Christchurch will be completed and metalled before harvest. The road from the Ferry to Sumner, 3½ miles, is perfectly level, and very little remains to do to it besides metalling.

Between Sumner and Lyttelton a great deal of work remains to be done. On this portion of the road the Commissioners recommended a deviation from Captain Thomas’ line, in order to avoid the bad ground near Sumner, and the heavy rock cuttings and expensive retaining walls. The altered line was to ascend from Sumner valley with an incline not steeper than 3 feet 4 inches per chain, tunnelling under the pass, and thence descending with an easy gradient to join Captain Thomas’ road in Polhill’s Bay. The entire distance to the middle of Christchurch would be 11½ miles.