July 3.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1439

4. In every case it must appear that the loss did not arise wholly or in part by the fault of the sender, and that it occurred while the letter was in the post.

5. Evidence of the loss of a registered letter shall be given to the Postmaster-General by a statutory declaration made by or on behalf of the claimant, setting forth,—
   (a.) The date when, and the place where, such letter was posted, so far as the same can be reasonably ascertained.
   (b.) A description of the contents and value of such letter, so far as known to the claimant, and the fact of the loss.
   (c.) Any other particulars required by these regulations, or tending to establish the facts of the loss and verify the claim made.

But the Postmaster-General may require any further or additional reasonable evidence to satisfy him as to any such alleged loss or value; or, where he deems the loss proved by other means, may dispense with the whole or any of the requirements of this regulation.

6. The Postmaster-General may in every case, if he thinks fit, reinstate the article lost instead of giving pecuniary compensation.

7. Where compensation is given, the Postmaster-General reserves the right to retain and dispose as he thinks fit of the letter or its contents in case it should subsequently come into his hands.

8. In no case will the Postmaster-General give compensation for injury or damage consequent upon the loss, damage, or delay of a letter, or any article contained therein.

9. Without prejudice to any of the preceding rules, the Postmaster-General may, if he thinks fit, refuse to give compensation for loss on any ground on which a common carrier might in like case claim exemption from legal liability. The decision of the Postmaster-General upon all questions of compensation is final.

Compulsory Registration.

10. Valuable articles sent in unregistered letters are exposed to risk. All inland and Australian letters or packets, therefore, which unquestionably contain coin, bank-notes, or jewellery, even though they be posted without registration, are treated as “registered,” and charged double the registration fee, in addition to the ordinary postage; and any such letters, &c., which cannot be registered in time to be forwarded by the mail for which they are posted are detained for the next despatch.

Prohibitions.

11. It is prohibited to send to any of the countries mentioned in the “List of Countries to which Postal Union Rates are charged” any registered article marked on the outside with the declared value of the contents; and Postmasters must refuse to receive articles which are so marked.

12. It is forbidden to send coin, jewellery, or precious articles by letter-post to any of the same countries which are not marked (b).

13. Jewellery, &c., if addressed to countries which do not admit of their transmission by letter-post, and with which New Zealand has parcel exchanges, may be sent by parcel-post, except in cases in which they are specially prohibited; see special tables under heading “British, Intercolonial, and Foreign Parcel Post.”

14. The registration to some countries is incomplete. In such cases articles are as a rule registered to the port of arrival, and the continuation of the registration thence to destination is left at the discretion of the country of arrival.

Redirection.

15. Registered articles are redirected free of charge on the same conditions as ordinary letters.

REDIRECTION.

Conditions of Free Redirection.

1. Redirected letters, post and letter cards, commercial papers, printed papers, newspapers, and sample-packets are treated as if they were addressed direct from the first office of posting to their ultimate destination, no charge whatever being made for intermediate redirections. When letters are fully prepaid for their first destination they are charged on delivery only the actual difference between the postage from the first office of posting to the ultimate place of destination and the postage originally affixed to the letters. Thus, a ½oz. letter prepaid 1d. and posted at Wellington for Auckland would be redirected free of charge thence to Dunedin, or to any place named in the table at the beginning of this Schedule. Telegrams readdressed for transmission by post are charged 1d.

Parcels treated differently.

2. Parcels are, when redirected, liable to additional postage at the prepaid rate for each redirection, except where the original and corrected addresses are both within a free delivery from the same post-office.

Redirection of Registered Letters.

3. Registered letters, &c., the redirection of which is desired after delivery, must not be dropped in the letter-box, but must be handed in at the office counter.

Notices of Removal.

4. Notices of removal and applications for the redirection of letters, &c., must in all cases be signed by the persons to whom the letters are addressed. The printed form of notice, which will be supplied on application at any post-office, should be used wherever practicable.

UNCLAIMED LETTERS.

1. On the first day of each month a list is exhibited at each post-office in the colony of the addresses of all letters received from places beyond the colony that have remained unclaimed for two months at such post-office, exclusive of the month in which they were received; and such of these letters as remain unclaimed at the end of a further period of one month are then forwarded to the Dead Letter Office, to be returned unopened to the countries where they originated. Unclaimed letters originating in the colony are not advertised, but at the end of one month are forwarded (excepting special-request letters to the Dead Letter Office, Wellington, there to be opened and returned to the writers.