1288
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 64

General.

It is the duty of Postmasters, whenever they have ground for suspecting an infringe-
ment of any of the foregoing conditions, and occasionally even where there is no ground for
suspicion, to open and examine book packets posted at or passing through their offices.

To prevent obstacles to the regular transmission of letters, a Postmaster may, when
necessary, delay forwarding any book packet until the following despatch.

The main business of the Post Office being the transmission of letters, the forwarding
of book packets and newspapers (which no one is compelled to send through the Post Office),
though an important, is only a secondary object, for which no arrangement can be made which
would interfere with the quick and regular conveyance and delivery of letters. Books
and packets, therefore, which would be injured by being thrust into a bag and hurriedly
pressed down like a bundle of letters, should not be sent through the post.

A list of countries comprised within the Postal Union will be found after the Table
of Rates of Postage.

Registration.

By the prepayment of a fee of sixpence in addition to the full postage, any letter,
newspaper, book, or other packet, may be registered to any place in the Colony. For
registration to the United Kingdom, British Colonies, and certain Foreign Countries, see
Table of Postage Rates.

The registration of a packet makes its transmission much more secure; and the loss of
a registered packet is a very rare occurrence. Nevertheless, the Post Office is not responsible
for the safe delivery of registered packets, though any officer who may neglect his duty in
this point will be called to strict account. Valuable articles sent in unregistered letters are
exposed to risk. All Inland and Colonial letters or packets, therefore, which unquestionably
contain coin or bank notes, even though they be posted without registration, are treated as
registered, and charged on delivery with a double registration fee of one shilling, in ad-
dition to the ordinary postage; and any such letters which cannot be registered in time to
be forwarded by the mail for which they are posted are detained for the next despatch.

No letter or packet containing coin or articles of value liable to Customs duty, ad-
dressed to any Postal Union country, will be received at any Post Office.

Every letter to be registered should be presented at the counter, and a receipt obtained
for it, and should on no account be dropped into the letter-box. If, contrary to this rule, a
letter marked "Registered" be dropped into the letter-box, it will, if directed to any place
in the Colony, the United Kingdom, or the British Colonies, be liable to a double registra-
tion fee.

Letters may be registered during the ordinary office hours, and for despatch by any
mail, one hour before the closing of such mail. No letter-carrier, messenger, or other
servant of the Post Office is allowed to carry a letter for any person to be registered.

A registered letter, which has not been delivered, when re-directed to any place within
the Colony, is not liable to any further charge than an ordinary re-directed letter. If,
however, a registered letter be re-directed to any place outside the Colony, except the
United Kingdom and Australia, the second postage and registration fee must be prepaid.

No letter or other postal packet addressed to initials, or to a fictitious name, can be
registered.

Delivery.

Letter-carriers and messengers are prohibited from distributing any letters, news-
papers, &c., except such as have passed through a Post Office. They are not allowed to
deliver in the street or elsewhere except at houses or places of business, even to addressees ;
nor are they allowed to deliver under doors. They are not allowed to receive any payment
beyond the postage for the delivery or collection of any letter or newspaper, or to deviate
from the route laid down for them. The prohibition, however, from receiving payment in
addition to the postage does not extend to Christmas gratuities. For delivery of parcels
by parcel post, see regulations under "Inland Parcel Post."

No person living within the town free delivery can claim to have his letters delivered
at the office if a delivery by letter-carrier is about to take place; but letters which arrive
by a mail, after which there is no immediate delivery by letter-carrier, may be obtained
by any person on application at the office, so long as it is open for delivery.

Receipts must be given for all registered articles upon delivery thereof.

Letters addressed to the Post Office, or to be kept till called for, may be obtained
at the office, except where it is ascertained that it is the practice of persons living
within the town delivery to have their letters so addressed, in which cases they will be sent
out by letter-carrier. Letters for persons residing beyond any official delivery will be
delivered on application at the office. It is not permitted to return any letter to the
writer or sender, or to any one else, or to delay forwarding it to its destination according
to the address, even though a request to such effect be written thereon (except under the
provisions for special request, see "Special Request Letters"), as every letter must be
delivered to the person to whom it is originally directed, and to him alone. No informa-
tion must be given by a postal officer respecting letters, &c., which pass through a Post
Office, except to the persons to whom they are addressed.

Articles not allowed to be sent by Post.

Any indecent or obscene print, painting, photograph, lithograph, engraving, book, or
card, or any other indecent or obscene article, or any letter, newspaper, publication,
packet, or card having thereon any words, marks, or designs of an indecent, obscene,
libellous, or grossly offensive character; also any explosive, dangerous or noxious sub-
stance, any living creature, or anything likely to injure the contents of the mails or any
officer of the Post Office.

Under the Inland Parcel Post, however, fish, meat, game, eggs, &c., razors, scissors,
needles, knives, forks, or other sharp instruments, are permitted to be forwarded if so
packed as to prevent all risk of injury to other parcels or to the officers of the Post Office.
Liquids, or semi-liquids, such as paint, &c., glass in any form, are also received if so packed
as to be secure from breakage.

FORSTER GORING,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

By Authority: GEORGE DIXSBURY, Government Printer, Wellington.