240

And whereas, with a view to the establish-
ment of uniform postal arrangements through-
out the whole of the British Colonies and
Possessions with respect to Printed Books,
Magazines, Reviews, and Pamphlets; certain
postage regulations for the said Islands of New
Zealand were, by a Proclamation dated the
19th day of September, 1851, made and es-
tablished:

And whereas it is expedient to
amend the same with respect to certain parti-
culars thereof:

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 Proclama-
tion 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 lien 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 accord-
ing 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 pa-
pers, 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-di-
rected 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, ex-
cept 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 pam-
phlets (whether British, Colonial, or Foreign)
shall be permitted to be sent through the se-
veral Post offices to the United Kingdom at
the following rates of postage—

For a single volume or packet,
not exceeding $\frac{1}{2}$lb. in weight 0 0 6

For a single volume or packet
exceeding $\frac{1}{2}$lb. and not ex-
ceeding 1lb..................... 0 1 0

For a single volume or packet,
exceeding 1lb. and not ex-
ceeding 2lbs..................... 0 2 0

For a single volume or packet,
exceeding 2lbs., and not ex-
ceeding 3lbs..................... 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 authorised, in cases of necessity, to
delay the despatch of such books to or from
the interior, until the despatch of the mail next
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 consi-
dered 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 News-
papers.

NEWSPAPERS.

Printed Newspapers shall be conveyed by
the Post free of Postage, 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, except the name and ad-
dress 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 condi-
tions hereby required to be observed, shall be
charged with the duty 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 Newspa-
pers.