Jan. 9.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 31

TIMES FOR POSTING CORRESPONDENCE.

1. Seaborne mails, as a general rule, are closed for ordinary correspondence one hour previous to the despatch of the mails from the post-office, but by payment of a late-fee letters maybe posted until within twenty minutes of the time the mail leaves the office.

2. Late letters may also be posted on board steamers, and in the travelling post-offices and guards’ vans of the principal trains. The late fee in all cases is an extra single rate of postage.

POSTAGE AND REVENUE STAMPS, POST-CARDS, AND NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS.

1. Every Postmaster is required to keep for sale to the public a sufficient stock of the various postage and revenue labels and post-cards in use in the colony, and to sell them at the following prices:—

Also stamps of such higher value as the work of any office may render necessary.

2. No person excepting a postal officer may, unless specially licensed by the Stamp Department, sell postage-stamps, post-cards, or newspaper wrappers. The penalty for such illegal sale is ten pounds.

3. To prevent the purloining of postage-stamps by the employés in large establishments, the stamps may be perforated with the initials of the firms, &c., so as to render the improper sale of such stamps a matter of difficulty. The perforation with initials of the stamps on post-cards and newspaper wrappers is also allowed; but permission in all cases must first be obtained from the Postmaster-General.

4. Stamps should be placed on the front of the letter, and upon the right-hand corner of the upper side. On redirected letters care should be taken not to place fresh stamps over the stamps which have been previously used.

5. Stamps which have been torn, cut, or otherwise rendered imperfect, except by perforation, cannot be used.

6. Stamps cut from post-cards or newspaper-wrappers cannot be used for postage on letters, packets, or newspapers, or for payment for telegrams.

7. English, Victorian, and New South Wales postage-stamps may be obtained by persons desirous of sending a stamp or stamped envelope to their relatives or friends in the United Kingdom, Victoria, and New South Wales, in order to relieve them of the cost of the postage when sending replies. These stamps cannot be purchased in quantities of more than two shillings and sixpence worth at one time, nor are they permitted to be used for the purpose of making remittances.

REPURCHASE OF STAMPS.

1. Postmasters in charge of money-order offices are permitted, though not compelled, to purchase from the public New Zealand postage-stamps of not less value than 10s. (provided the stamps be not soiled or otherwise damaged), at a discount of 5 per centum.

2. To prevent the temptation to steal stamps attached to letters, which might be afforded by facilities for selling them, single stamps cannot be purchased. The stamps must in all cases be presented in strips of not less than two.

PRIVATE BOXES AND BAGS.

1. Private letter-boxes are provided for merchants and others upon payment, in advance, of the following fees:—

(a.) For a term exceeding six calendar months and not exceeding one year, one pound (£1).

(b.) For a term not exceeding six calendar months, ten shillings (10s.); and

(c.) Provided that no private box shall be let for a term less than six months, to date from the day on which the same shall be let; and that, where there are two or more applicants for the same box at the same time, the preference shall be given to the person desiring to have the same for the longest term.

2. No private box can be held in the joint names of a number of persons unless it be known that the applicants are in business partnership. Private persons are not permitted to join in renting a private box. Subject to the above restrictions, any person can have a private box who is willing to pay the appointed rent. No person can be permitted to engage a private box for Sunday or for a certain day or days only.

3. Letters directed to any person renting a private box, and letters directed to members of the family or servants, also letters directed to the care of the box-holder, will be deposited in the box (unless written notice be given to the contrary). The registered and unpaid correspondence will be retained by the delivery-clerk, and the box-holder notified by means of cards placed in the box.

4. Each box is provided with a door, lock and key, which must be kept in repair at the holder’s expense.

5. Private-box lobbies at chief post-offices are open on week-days from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. At all other offices the hours are irregular, and vary from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to local requirements. The lobbies are also open on Sundays and holidays, but at irregular hours.

Including registration-fee of 3d.