Jan. 9.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 39

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 explosive 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, rags of any kind; also all clothing of every kind which has ceased to be in actual wear and does not form part of the personal effects of any passenger or any other person on board a vessel arriving in the colony, are not accepted for transmission. The Customs Department has decided that in the case of parcels of second-hand clothing arriving by post the contents of which are not discovered to be second-hand until after being opened, delivery is not to be made until the clothing has been properly fumigated under the direction of post-office officials. Should any such parcels arrive, addressees must be given notice that parcels will be held to allow of fumigation being carried out. 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 parcels, provided the cover 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 jewellery, watches, articles of gold, silver, and such-like valuables should be insured and specially packed as instructed in paragraph 9, under the heading of Insurance of Parcels. If addressed to any place within New Zealand they may be registered in lieu of being insured, or may be insured and registered if desired, but their insurance or registration is not compulsory unless the contents are over 10s. in value. The transmission of such parcels to certain countries is interdicted (see prohibitions in the last column of the table of British, Intercolonial, and Foreign Parcel Post charges). 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 and insurance rates. Bullion for the Australian Colonies cannot be sent by parcel-post, but may be forwarded by letter-post.

Franked Parcels from the United Kingdom.

12. Senders of parcels posted in the United Kingdom and addressed to New Zealand may defray all charges arising on them, such as Customs duties, redirection-fees, &c. Such parcels should be indorsed “Free of all charge.”

Registration, Certificates of Posting, and Acknowledgment of Receipt.

13. 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 3d., the certificate to include as many parcels as the sender may choose to enter on a list to be handed in in duplicate with the parcels. For an additional fee of 2½d. for each parcel an acknowledgment of receipt (A.R.) by the addressee will be obtained in any of the Australian Colonies and forwarded by post to the sender. 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.

14. 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.

Delays in Transmission.

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

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

Delivery of Parcels.

17. 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.

18. 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 for persons on board ship.

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

Undelivered and Unclaimed Parcels.

20. 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 redirection or return.

21. 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.