16
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
punishment, order prisoners to be placed on
reduced rations, in solitary confinement, or in
dark cells, and in urgent cases may order the
use of irons.
94. Visiting Justices should report quarterly
upon the state of the Gaol-building, and upon
any repairs lately done, or which require to be
undertaken. Also upon any abuses connected
with the gaol, and upon the general condition
of the prisoners especially as to health, morals,
discipline, and observance of the rules.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, February 1st, 1858.

THE following Despatches are published for
the information and guidance of the
respective Postmasters throughout New Zea-
land.

E. W. STAFFORD.

Downing Street,
9th September, 1857.

SIR,-Referring to my Circular Despatch of
the 11th of August, on the subject of the es-
tablishment of a Book Post between India and
the Colony under your government, I transmit
herewith, for your information and guidance,
copy of a further communication which has
been received from the General Post Office,
stating that his Grace the Postmaster-General
has obtained the sanction of the Lords Com-
missioners of the Treasury for the establish-
ment af a Book Post between the Australian
Colonies and Ceylon and Mauritius; and that
the measure will take effect from the 1st Octo-
ber next.

I have, &c.,
W. LABOUCHERE,
Governor G. Browne, C. B.,
&c., &c., &c.

General Post Office,
2nd September, 1857.

SIR,-In continuation of my Letter of the
1st ultimo, I am directed by the Postmaster-
General to acquaint you, for the information of
Mr. Secretary Labouchere, that his Grace has
further obtained the sanction of the Lords of
the Treasury for the establishment of a Book
Post between the Australian Colonies and Cey-
lon and Mauritius; and that the 1st October
next has been fixed as the date for bringing the
measure into operation.

The postage to be charged upon books sent
by the Post between the above-mentioned
Colonies will be as follows:-

For a Packet not exceeding 4 oz. in
weight. s. d.
Do. above 4 oz. and not exceeding
lb. 0 3
Do. above lb. and not exceeding
1 lb. 0 6
Do. above 1 lb. and not exceeding
1 $rac{1}{2}$ lb. 1 6
Do. above $1 rac{1}{2}$ lb. and not exceeding
2 lbs. 2 0

And so, increasing sixpence for each additional
half-pound or fraction of half-pound.

With regard to the mode of accounting for
the postage, I am desired by his Grace to state
that, according to the terms of the agreement
under which the Mail Packet Service between
this country and Australia has been established,
the entire postage upon all Letters, Newspapers,
and Books despatched from Australia, is to be
collected in advance and retained by the Colo-
nial Post Office. No share of the postage col-
lected upon Book Packets sent from Australia
to Ceylon and Mauritius will, therefore, be ac-
counted for to the Post Offices of the latter
Colonies.

To meet this difficulty, the Postmaster-Gene-
ral is of opinion that, as it may fairly be as-
sumed that the number of Books sent in each
direction, between Australia and Ceylon, and
between Australia and Mauritius, will be about
equal, an arrangement should be made that the
Offices of Ceylon and Mauritius, instead of ac-
counting to this Office upon Book Packets sent
to Australia for two-thirds of the postage and
retaining the remaining one-third, shall account
to this Office upon such Book Packets for one-
third of the postage only, and retain the re-
maining two-thirds for their share, respectively:
thus obtaining double the Colonial share of pos-
tage in one direction only, and no postage in
the other direction.

In acquainting you with the course intended
to be pursued, the Postmaster-General desires
me to request that you will move Mr. Secretary
Labouchere to cause the Officers administering
the governments of Victoria, New South
Wales, South Australia, Western Australia,
Tasmania, New Zealand, Mauritius, and Ceylon,
to be informed of the arrangements which will
be carried out on the date above mentioned.

I have, &c.,
F. HILL.

H. Herivale, Esq.,
&c., &c., &c.,
Colonial Office, S.W.

General Post Office,
London, 9th Sept., 1857.

SIR,-I am directed by the Postmaster-Gene-
ral to acquaint you, that, henceforth, Book
Packets may be sent by the Post between New
Zealand, on the one side, and India, Hong
Kong, Ceylon, and Mauritius, on the other
side, under the same regulations as those of the
Book Post between New Zealand and this
Country.

The following are the rates of postage,
British and Colonial combined, chargeable in
the several Colonies above mentioned upon
Book Packets despatched to Australia, viz.:--

For a Book Packet not exceeding 4 ozs.
in weight 0 3
Do. above 4 ozs. and not exceeding
lb. 0 6
Do. above lb. and not exceeding
1 lb. 1 0