PROCLAMATION

Now therefore, I, the Governor-in-Chief in pursuance of the power and authority in me vested by the said in part recited Ordinance, and under and by virtue of all other powers and authorities enabling me in that behalf, Do hereby revoke the aforesaid Proclamation of the 19th day of September 1851, except so much thereof as revokes a certain Proclamation therein recited and bearing date the 31st day of December 1850, and all regulations and rates established thereby.

And I Do further Proclaim and Declare, that, from and after the First day of January One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, the following Regulations in lieu thereof, for the conveyance and postage of letters, shall be in operation throughout the said Islands of New Zealand.

LETTERS AND PACKETS.

A colonial rate of postage shall be charged and paid on all letters passing through any Post Office in the colony of New Zealand, or transmitted by post therein, by weight according to the following rate (that is to say):—

On every letter not exceeding half an ounce in weight—two pence.

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

The postage on all letters, packets, and papers, despatched from New Zealand to places beyond the seas, shall be paid in this colony.

All letters and papers having a postage stamp or stamps affixed thereto, or enclosed in covers having a postage stamp or stamps affixed thereto of such form as may be prescribed by the local government, which shall not have been used before, and which shall be of the value or amount of the Postage to which such letters or papers would be respectively liable, according to the scale hereinbefore provided, shall pass by the post free of postage.

On all letters sent by post, on 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, and except also printed books, magazines, reviews, and pamphlets.

PRINTED BOOKS.

Printed books, magazines, reviews, or pamphlets, (whether British, Colonial, or Foreign,) shall be permitted to be sent through the several post offices to the United Kingdom, at the following rates of postage:—

For a single volume or packet, not exceeding ½lb. in weight ... 0 0 6
For a single volume or packet, exceeding ½lb., and not exceeding 1lb. ... 0 1 0
For a single volume or packet, exceeding 1lb., and not exceeding 2 lbs. ... 0 2 0
For a single volume or packet, exceeding 2 lbs., and not exceeding 3 lbs. ... 0 3 0
And so on, increasing 1s. for every additional pound, or fraction of a pound.

The charge shall be the same whether the books, &c., be posted or delivered at the port, or whether they be posted or delivered at any place in the interior of the colony.

To prevent the inconvenience which might ensue from a large arrival of books, &c., by the same mail, the Colonial Postmasters are hereby authorized, in cases of necessity, to delay the despatch of such books to or from the interior, until the despatch of the mail next after that by which they would in the usual course be sent, or at their option, for a period not exceeding one week.

No such book or packet shall be sent by any route which would entail an expense of transit postage on the department.

One third of the total charge will be considered as paid for the British Inland Rate, one third for the Sea Rate, and the remaining third for the Colonial Inland Rate.

Printed Books, &c., sent through the Post, under the Regulations here proposed, shall be subject in all respects to the same restrictions as are hereinafter made with respect to Newspapers.