1436
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 54

4. Pattern and sample packets (except such as are absolutely prohibited) bearing or containing writing beyond that authorised in section 10, or such as may be closed against inspection, or contain enclosures not authorised by these rules, if posted for any place within the colony, are sent to destination surcharged simple letter rate, less the postage already affixed. (The fine on open packets will not exceed 6d. if the written matter does not represent more than a foolscap sheet of writing.) If addressed to any place beyond the colony the packets will be detained, and sent to the Dead Letter Office for disposal.

Definitions.

5. The pattern and sample post for places beyond New Zealand is restricted to bonâ fide trade patterns or samples of merchandise, and natural-history specimens not forwarded for commercial purposes. Patterns or samples must possess no saleable value, or they will be detained and sent to the Dead Letter Office. Packets containing articles of saleable value may be sent at sample rates to any place within New Zealand. Packets containing watches, jewellery, &c., may be sent under this regulation, but must, if the value exceeds ten shillings, be registered.

6. Samples of cider-down, raw or thread silk, woollen or goats’ hair thread, vanilla, or isinglass are deemed inadmissible if they weigh more than 3oz.

7. Wedding-cake may be forwarded by sample-post to places within New Zealand and Australia if securely packed in tin boxes and marked “Packet Post.” For other places beyond the colony wedding-cake must be paid for at letter rates of postage or sent by parcel-post, but must be enclosed in tin boxes.

8. Packets not bonâ fide samples or patterns may be sent by parcel-post to any of the countries with which parcel-post exchanges exist.

How to Pack.

9. Patterns or samples, when practicable, must be sent in covers open at the end, and packed in such manner as to be easy of examination; but samples of seeds, drugs, and such-like articles, which cannot be sent in covers of this kind, may be posted enclosed in boxes or in bags of linen, or other material, fastened in such a manner that they may be readily opened. (See “Dangerous Articles.”)

No Writing allowed.

10. Patterns and samples must not bear any writing except the name and address of the sender, the address, a manufacturer’s trade-mark, numbers, prices, and indications relative to weight or size, or to the quantity to be disposed of.

11. Writing in characters such as Chinese, &c., will render the packet liable to letter rates of postage.

Dangerous Articles.

12. Such articles as scissors, knives, razors, forks, steel pens, nails, keys, watch-machinery, metal tubing, pieces of metal or ore, provided that they be packed and guarded in so secure a manner as to afford complete protection to the contents of the mail-bags and to the officers of the Post Office, while at the same time they may be easily examined, may be forwarded as samples.

13. Articles of glass must be securely packed in boxes of metal, wood, leather, or cardboard, so as to prevent all danger to correspondence or postal officers.

14. Liquids, oils, and fatty substances which are easily liquefied must be enclosed in glass bottles hermetically sealed. Each bottle must be placed in a wooden box furnished with sawdust, cotton-wool, or spongy material in sufficient quantity to absorb the liquid in case the bottle be broken. Finally the box itself must be enclosed either in a case of metal or of wood, with a screw top, or of strong and thick leather. When hollow wooden blocks, with minimum thickness of 2½ millimetres (about ⅛ in.), are used with sufficient quantity of absorbent material inside, and provided with a lid, the blocks need not be enclosed in a second case.

15. Fatty substances which are not easily liquefied, such as ointments, soft-soap, resin, &c., the transmission of which offers less inconvenience, must be enclosed in an inner cover (box, bag of linen, parchment, &c.), which must itself be placed in a second box of wood, metal, or strong and thick leather.

16. Dry powders, whether dyes or not, must be placed in cardboard boxes which themselves are enclosed in a bag of linen or parchment.

Live Bees, Natural History Specimens, &c.

17. Live bees and harmless entomological specimens may be forwarded at sample-post rates to any place within the colony, Australia, the United Kingdom, and to the United States, provided they are enclosed in covers so constructed as to avoid all danger and to allow the contents to be ascertained. Live bees similarly packed may also be sent to all other places. Natural-history specimens, such as dried or preserved animals and plants, geological specimens, &c., when not sent for commercial purposes, are admitted to transmission as samples.

Limits of Size and Weight.

18. Packets addressed to places within New Zealand, Australia, or the United Kingdom must not exceed 2ft. in length, or 1ft. in width and depth. The maximum weight admissible to places within the colony and the United Kingdom is 5lb., and Australia 1lb. (See under “Prohibited Articles.”)

19. Pattern and sample packets sent to any other place must not exceed 1ft. in length, 8in. in width, 4in. in depth, and 12oz. in weight, unless they be in the form of a roll, for which the maximum dimensions are limited to 1ft. in length and 6in. in diameter.

MAGAZINES.

For New Zealand and the Commonwealth of Australia (except Queensland and Western Australia)—Each copy of a registered magazine, not exceeding 2oz., ½d.; if over 2oz. and up to 8oz., 1d.; each additional 4oz. or fraction, ½d.

For Queensland—Not exceeding 4oz., 1d.; each additional 4oz. or fraction, 1d.

For Western Australia and other places, as for printed papers. Magazines are registered on application to the Secretary, General Post Office. Unregistered magazines are charged for at printed-paper rates.