Mar. 3.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 559

tion, and, although every care will be taken by the officers through whose hands it
passes, it will be impossible to avoid occasional damage if the packing be defective.

8. Parcels containing perishable articles, such as game, fish, eggs, &c., may be ac-
   cepted for inland transmission. Razors, scissors, needles, knives, forks, or other sharp
   instruments, liquids, or semi-liquids, such as paints, &c., bottles, or glass in any form,
   may be forwarded both inland and to such of the countries beyond the colony as do not
   specially prohibit their introduction (see prohibitions in the table which follows, last
   column). All such articles must, however, be securely packed, so as to prevent all risk
   or injury to other parcels or the officers of the Post Office.

Prohibitions.

9. Parcels bearing or containing writing or marks of an offensive or indecent
   character, or containing gunpowder, cartridges, matches of any kind, or anything ex-
   plosive or liable to sudden combustion, bladders containing liquid, live animals, offensive
   or filthy matter, or any substance likely to cause injury to other parcels or to the officers
   of the Post Office, are not accepted for transmission. Parcels addressed to countries
   beyond the colony must not contain any perishable articles, such as fish, game, &c.
   Vine-cuttings may not be imported into New Zealand, and any found in the post as
   received from abroad will be handed over with wrappings to the Customs. In addition
   to the above, parcels are liable to the further prohibitions indicated in the last
   column of the table which follows.

Coin, Paper-Money, and Letters Prohibited.

10. Parcels must not contain any letter, coin, or bank-notes, or any packet or parcel
    intended for delivery at an address other than that borne by the parcel itself. Unsigned
    and cancelled bank-notes may, however, be forwarded to places in the colony in sealed
    packets, provided the cover of the packet indicates the contents. For every letter so
    enclosed, and for each article directed to an address other than that on the parcel,
    the parcel becomes liable to a surcharge of double the postage which such enclosure
    would have cost if sent separately. Invoices may, however, be sent in parcels addressed
    to offices within the colony. Parcels having written thereon any communication in the
    nature of a letter are subject to a fine of 6d.

Bullion and Jewellery.

11. Parcels containing bullion, 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
    in the last column of the table which follows). 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. Coin and bullion for the Australian Colonies
    cannot be sent by parcel-post, but may be forwarded by letter-post.

Registration and Certificates of Posting.

12. 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 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 the clause headed
    “Postmaster-General’s Liability.”

Parcels may be Examined.

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 examin-
    ing officer will securely refasten them.

Delays in Transmission.

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

15. The Postmaster-General is not responsible for any loss which may arise through
    the delay of any parcel.

Delivery of Parcels.

16. 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.

17. Parcels addressed to a Post Office “To be called for” will, after they have re-
    mained 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 for persons on board ship.

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

Undelivered and Unclaimed Parcels.

19. When a parcel is refused by the addressee, or known to be undeliverable, the
    sender will be immediately communicated with, and he may elect to have it redirected
    to another place or returned, but he must pay a fresh rate of postage for such redirec-
    tion or return.

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.

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 Post-
    master-General may direct. Parcels with perishable contents may be destroyed im-
    mediately they become offensive. Parcels from countries beyond New Zealand, if
    unclaimed, will be retained until the expiry of six months from the date of posting of
    the advice of non-delivery, and then returned through the Dead Letter Office to coun-
    tries of origin.

Redirected Parcels.

22. Redirected parcels are liable to a new rate of postage for each redirection,
    except parcels addressed to officers and seamen of Her Majesty’s ships in Australasian
    waters, which are readdressed without charge within or from New Zealand.

Postmaster-General’s Liability.

23. In the event of any damage or loss 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.