8

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

the Colony, when despatched to destination must be | 20), a transcript of which shall be made in a book kept
accompanied by Form No. 23, in which the Post- for that purpose, the letter must be date stamped,
master will take credit for the postage charged and the word "Registered," with the figures denoting
against him.
its registry number, written on it in red ink on the
50. Postage chargeable on letters, packets, or front side at the left-hand top corner; it will then
newspapers, which from any cause cannot be de- be deposited in the locker until it is time to make
livered, or the postage on which cannot be recovered, up the mail in which it is to be despatched, and the
must be taken credit for in the Form No. 24.
despatching officer will be responsible that he obtains
51. Gratuities shall be paid to masters of unsub- the letter from the locker.
sidized vessels on mails despatched at the rate of one
61. Postmasters will carefully collect all letters
penny per letter or packet, not including newspapers.
unquestionably containing coin, addressed to places
Missing and Unclaimed Letters.
within the Colony, and which have not been registered,
52. Postmasters must regard the inquiries which in order to subject them to compulsory registration.
they are called upon to make regarding letters The full addresses of such letters must be entered in
reported to be missing, as a subject on which the the registry book, also the names of the officers who
reputation of their office is involved. They must first observe them, and how they are disposed of.
therefore, to the best of their power, promptly inves- The letters must then be taxed with a double regis-
tigate all cases of alleged loss.
tration fee of one shilling, and treated in all other
53. Letters posted without addresses, or with so respects as registered letters. In the event of a
imperfect or illegible addresses that they cannot be double registration fee being charged on a letter
forwarded to their intended destinations, must be supposed to contain coin, and proof being afterwards
date stamped, and forwarded by first opportunity afforded by the person addressed that such letter did
to the Dead Letter Office, each letter bearing on its not contain coin, the Chief Postmaster is hereby
face, in red ink, the cause of its being classed as dead.
authorized to refund the charge, on his obtaining a
54. A distinctly written list of the addresses of all receipt therefor.
letters or packets remaining unclaimed at any Post
62. Mails containing registered letters must be
Office at the end of the third month after their accompanied with the lists applicable to such mails.
receipt, shall be exhibited in some conspicuous place In the lists will be written the addresses and registry
outside such Post Office; and all letters the addresses numbers of the registered letters so contained in the
of which have been so exhibited, remaining unclaimed mails. The lists to be dated and signed by the
or undelivered at the end of the second month there- receiving officers, and returned to the despatching
after, shall be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office office.
by the first opportunity after the first of each month, 63. Registered letters are not liable to be sur-
each letter or packet having the reason of its non- charged on account of deficient postage, the officers
delivery written in red ink on its face.
who receive them being responsible that the proper
55. Letters addressed to persons who are known amount of postage and fee in stamps is affixed at the
to be dead, must be delivered to their legal represen- time of registration. With the exception, therefore,
tatives, if known; otherwise the word "Deceased" of letters registered under the provisions of Rule 61,
must be written in red ink on their faces, and the and of re-directed registered letters, all registered
letters sent to the Dead Letter Office.
letters must be delivered free.
Registered Letters.
64. The first duty of every officer opening a mail
56. Every prepaid letter, book, or packet, addressed is to examine the letter-bill for the purpose of ascer-
to places within New Zealand, the United Kingdom, taining whether any registered letters are contained
the British Colonies, and to many foreign countries, in the mail. If there be any—after being date
may be registered on payment in stamps of the fees stamped, their addresses, the date of receipt, and
as set forth in the New Zealand Postal Guide.
the names of the offices whence they are received,
57. Registered letters, when re-directed to any must be recorded in a book to be kept for that pur-
place within the Colony, are not liable to any further pose, also how they are disposed of. Any irregularity
charge than ordinary re-directed letters; but if re- discovered respecting registered letters must be im-
directed to places beyond the Colony, the second mediately reported to the Postmaster-General.
postage and registration fee must be prepaid.
65. A registered letter is to be delivered only to
58. Especial care must be exercised in the treat- the person to whom it is addressed, or to the bearer
ment of registered letters, so that they can at any of a special authority in writing signed by him. A
time be traced to each person through whose hands letter carrier, on delivering a registered letter, must
they have passed. In transferring registered letters require the receipt No. 21 to be signed by the person
from hand to hand, the check consists in each officer to whom the letter is addressed; when this is not
obtaining a receipt or acquittance from the person to practicable, it must be signed by some responsible
whom he hands the letters. The Postmaster-General person known to be permanently connected with the
will call to strict account any officer who may neglect house, or, when the letter is directed to a place of
his duty in this matter, and, in addition to such business, by a clerk or other person known to belong
fines as may be imposed, will determine those to the establishment. The receipt of a lodger must
cases in which any loss is to be made good by the not be taken except for his own letters. Registered
officer in fault; or, if the error should be found to letters which are not delivered by letter carrier,
arise from lax supervision, by his superior officer.
such as those that are kept till called for, must be placed
59. In every office there should be a registered in the locker, and the proper form of receipt for such
letter locker for the secure deposit of registered letter must be placed in the box or pigeon hole where
letters which are waiting for delivery or despatch, ordinary letters so addressed await delivery, so that
the key to be in possession of the officer appointed the delivering officer may see that there is a regis-
to this duty during office hours, and in the custody tered letter in the locker. Notice of a registered
of the Postmaster when the office is closed. The letter for the holder of a private box must be given
careless detention of letters in the locker will be con- by placing a copy of form No. 22 duly filled up into
sidered as a serious offence, and punished accordingly.
such box.
60. Letters may be registered at any Post Office 66. All registered letters must be distinguished
during the usual office hours, and for despatch by from the ordinary correspondence by having the word
any mail, until one hour before the closing of such "registered" written legibly in red ink on the left-
mail. To the person presenting a letter for registra- hand top corner of the front side of the letters, and
tion, a receipt must be given on the proper form (No. by being tied with green tape. The tape must be