490
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 29

Inland parcels may be registered.

10. Parcels for delivery in the colony may be registered on the same conditions as letters, and for an additional fee of 2d. a receipt will be obtained from the addressee on delivery and forwarded to the sender. Parcels directed to places beyond the colony cannot be accepted for registration, but, in lieu, the sender may obtain a certificate of posting on payment of a fee of 2d. Neither certificate of posting nor registration involve any liability on the part of the department beyond that named in clause 23.

Certificate of posting for foreign parcels.

Jewellery and valuables to be specially packed, and if for New Zealand, registered.

11. Parcels containing gold, jewellery, and such like valuables should be securely packed, and, if addressed to any place within New Zealand, are recommended to be registered. Their transmission to certain countries is not permitted (see prohibitions, pages 491 to 496, last column). Parcels containing gold mined in the North Island, if addressed to countries beyond the colony, can only be posted at Money Order Offices, and senders will have to pay thereon the gold export duty (2s. per ounce) in addition to the usual parcel postage.

Gold export duty to be prepaid.

Manner of packing.

12. The public will greatly facilitate the work of the Post Office and help towards the safe delivery of parcels by taking care that they are in all cases compactly, strongly, and securely packed, especially those with fragile or perishable contents. It must be borne in mind that each parcel must be several times handled before it reaches its destination, and although every care will be taken by the officers through whose hands they pass, yet it will be impossible to avoid occasional damage if the packing be defective.

Contents may be examined by postal officers.

13. Parcels may be opened and examined by postal officers, but this does not make it obligatory that the ends shall be left open by senders. After so opening the examining officer will securely refasten them.

Possible delay of parcels.

14. Parcels may be delayed when their transmission would interfere with the due despatch of letter mails.

Delivery of parcels.

15. At places served by letter-carriers delivery of parcels will be made by them as far as practicable. Where letter-carriers are not employed, or where they are unable to deliver parcels, delivery must be taken at the Post Office. Senders are recommended to inform addressees by post of the despatch of parcels so as to assure prompt delivery.

Redirected parcels liable to fresh rate of postage.

16. Redirected parcels are liable to a new rate of postage for each redirection.

Parcels liable to demurrage.

17. Parcels addressed to a Post Office “To be called for” will, after they have remained in the office seven clear days (excluding Sundays and holidays), be charged demurrage at the rate of 1d. a day. No demurrage, however, will be charged on parcels for places at which there is no house-to-house delivery, or to persons on board ship.

Charges to be paid before delivery.

18. Parcels cannot be delivered until all charges due thereon, such as Customs duty, redirection fees, &c., are paid.

Senders to be advised if parcels refused or undeliverable.

19. When parcels are refused by the addressees, or known to be undeliverable, senders will be immediately communicated with, and they may elect to have them redirected to another place or returned, but they must pay a fresh rate of postage for such redirection or return.

Unclaimed parcels.

20. Unclaimed parcels will be retained at the office from which they should be delivered for one clear month, exclusive of the one in which they are received. At the end of that period the sender will be advised that they cannot be delivered, as provided in the preceding section.

Undeliverable parcels.

How disposed of.

21. Inland parcels, if not claimed by the addressees or senders within three months, exclusive of the one in which they have been received, will be disposed of as the Postmaster-General may direct. Parcels with perishable contents may be destroyed immediately they become offensive. Parcels from countries beyond New Zealand, if unclaimed, will be retained until expiry of six months from the date of posting of the advice of non-delivery to the sender, and then returned through the Dead Letter Office to countries of origin.

Parcel once posted cannot be handed back to sender.

22. Postmasters are forbidden to hand a parcel back to the sender.

Department not liable for delay.

23. The Postmaster-General is not responsible for the delay of any parcel.

Department liable for loss or damage up to £2.

24. In the event of any damage or loss of any parcel occurring during transit, the Postmaster-General shall in no case be liable to pay, by way of compensation to the owner or otherwise, a greater sum than two pounds sterling in respect of any parcel.