THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
bundles the alphabetical letter denoting the class.
96. A Postmaster is responsible that the correct
bags are despatched from his office, that they are
properly tied three times round the neck with
good sound string, and the string sealed to the
bag with the office seal. The label of each bag
must be carefully examined, and the bags for
each line of road (if more than one despatch takes
place at the same time) laid out in proper order,
and entered on the way-bill before the contractor
or other person to whom they are entrusted leaves
the office. Care must be taken that no bag is
sent that is not in complete repair. Each
despatch should take place punctually at the time
fixed for it. Mails conveyed by steamers should
be alongside at least five minutes before the time
fixed for departure.

97. When an extra bag or packet is made up
    for any office and despatched with the regular
    bag, the words "Supplementary Mail" must be
    written in red ink on the letter-bill accompanying
    such extra mail, and it must be entered in the
    way-bill in the column provided for such mails.

98. Any irregularity in the despatch or arrival
    of a mail, however caused, must be immediately
    reported to the Inspector. No alteration in the
    hours of departure or arrival of any mail must be
    made, without the authority of the Postmaster-
    General. The hour at which each mail is
    despatched should be entered in a book.

99. Whenever a Postmaster becomes aware
    that any irregularity has occurred with respect
    to a mail from his own or any other office, which
    will cause its non-arrival at its destination in
    proper course, he should at once, if practicable,
    telegraph to the Postmaster of the place to which
    it is addressed informing him of the circum-
    stance; he must also report the case to the
    Inspector, stating the cause of the irregularity,
    if known, and how the mails will be disposed of.

100. A Postmaster must, unless he have special
     instructions on the subject, use his own discretion
     as to forwarding country mails which have been
     so delayed, by special means, or by the next
     available opportunity, so as to prevent as far as
     possible public inconvenience from detention of
     the letters.

X.-ARRIVAL OF MAILS.

101. On the arrival of a mail the hour of arrival
     should be entered on the way-bill and in the
     proper book, and the bags should be checked off
     one by one, in order to ascertain that none are
     missing, and that none of the bags are defective.
     Before cutting the string, the officer who opens
     the bag must satisfy himself that the seal is
     perfect, and is that of the office from which the
     bag was despatched. Anything that is defective
     or irregular must be reported to the Inspector.
     On emptying the bag, which he should always
     turn inside out, he must first search for the letter-
     bill, ascertain that it has been duly prepared,
     and carefully check the receipt of any registered
     or property letter that may be entered thereon,
     placing his initials to the entry. He must also
     satisfy himself that each registered letter that
     may be received is entered on the letter-bill and
     list, tied with green tape, and in all respects
     properly dealt with. He must then place the
     registered letters in the proper channel for dis-

307
posal, taking care that they do not leave his
possession without his obtaining the receipt of
the officer to whom he hands them. Any irregu-
larity which may be detected must be duly noted
in order to be reported.

102. After the registered letters have been thus
     checked, the correctness of the unpaid postage
     and other entries on the letter-bill must be tested
     by an examination of the letters. If they cannot
     be made to agree they must be checked by
     another officer, where more than one is employed,
     and the correct amount must be entered in the
     Receiving Postmasters' column in the letter-bill,
     the checking officer making a note "checked by
     me," and signing it. As soon as the opening
     officer has satisfied himself as to the entries he
     must sign the letter-bill. Every letter-bill should
     be stamped at the same time as the letters which
     arrive with it, so as to bear the same index
     letter. The letter-bills must be forwarded as
     vouchers with the Postmaster's monthly accounts.

103. If a mail should arrive without a letter-
     bill, or with a letter-bill headed wrongly, the
     officer who opens it, after carefully examining its
     contents, must make out a letter-bill, as a sub-
     stitute for the one which was omitted, taking
     care that the entries, including those of registered
     or property letters, are complete. He must then
     write across it the words "substitute for omitted"
     or "wrongly headed letter-bill," as the case may
     be; and, having signed it, he must file it with the
     letter-bills received in due course, and forward it
     with his monthly accounts, instead of the missing
     or erroneous bill. The "substitute" bill must
     be certified by a second officer, if more than
     one is employed in the office. The wrongly
     headed bill, or a duplicate of the "substitute"
     for a missing bill, as the case may be, must
     accompany the report which is made of the cir-
     cumstance to the Secretary.

104. All letters and book or pattern-parcels
     received in a mail, whether for delivery or for-
     ward, must be stamped on the back before they
     are sorted.

XI.-STAMPING.

105. Every Chief Post Office and Post Office,
     and also many sub Post Offices, are provided
     with a dated stamp. The figures of the dated
     stamp must be carefully adjusted at the beginning
     of each day; and as soon as this has been done
     a clear impression must be made in a book, so
     as to afford evidence of the correct discharge of
     this duty. When a stamp is fitted with index
     letters A., B., C., &c., care must be taken to
     change the letter punctually at the appointed
     periods. The use of the index letter is to indicate
     the hour at which any letter arrives or is posted,
     and if it fail to do so owing to bad management
     or carelessness, a Postmaster may often be blamed
     for a delay which has not occurred at his office.
     Whenever the index letter is changed an impres-
     sion should be made in the proper book.

106. It is necessary not only that the impres-
     sion of every official stamp should be legible, but
     that it should be perfect in every particular, so
     that each letter and figure of the stamp may be
     quite clear and distinct. To effect this attention
     must be paid to the following points :-

107. The stamp must be kept perfectly clean; which may be
     done most effectually by washing it with a weak