May 26.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1209

or obscene print, painting, lithograph, photograph, engraving, book, or card, or any other indecent or obscene article, or any letter, newspaper, publication, packet, or card having thereon any words, marks, or designs of an indecent, obscene, libellous, or grossly offensive character; matches of any kind; any explosive, dangerous, or noxious substance; any living creature, except live bees and harmless entomological specimens; coin—namely, false money or counterfeit sterling, coin of the realm or of any British possession not up to standard; spirits; tobacco, except (a) a present from a person abroad to a friend in New Zealand, or (b) a sample to sell from of new brands sought to be introduced into New Zealand on a Postmaster being satisfied as to the bonâ fide character of the representations made by the recipients; opium in any form suitable for smoking; vine-cuttings, and any found in the post as received from abroad will be handed over, with wrappings, to the Customs; rags of any kind; all clothing of every kind which has ceased to be in actual wear, and not forming part of the personal effects of any passenger or any other person on board a vessel arriving in New Zealand. 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. Playing-cards are admitted at the following New Zealand ports only; Auckland, Dunedin, Gisborne, Invercargill, Lyttelton, Napier, Nelson, Oamaru, Timaru, Wanganui, and Wellington.

Coin, Paper Money, and Letters.

14. For places beyond New Zealand parcels must not contain any letter or invoice, coin, bank-note, or draft, or anything marked for delivery at an address other than that borne by the parcel itself. For places within New Zealand parcels may contain invoices, coin, bank-notes, or drafts. A parcel containing coin, or a bank-note, or a draft must be registered and sealed; unsigned or cancelled bank-notes must be sealed, but need not be registered. For every letter enclosed in any parcel, and for each article directed to an address other than that on the parcel, the parcel is liable to a surcharge of double the postage which such enclosure would have cost if sent separately.

Bullion and Jewellery.

15. Parcels containing jewellery, watches, articles of gold, silver, and suchlike valuables should be insured and specially packed as hereinafter instructed in regulation 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 table of British, Australasian, and Foreign Parcel Post charges). Parcels containing gold mined in the North Island, if addressed to countries beyond New Zealand, can only be posted at Money Order Offices, and senders must 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.

16. 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.

17. Parcels for delivery in New Zealand and for the United States of America may be registered on the same conditions as letters. Parcels directed to places beyond New Zealand, except the United States of America, cannot be accepted for registration, but the sender may obtain a certificate of posting on payment of a fee of 3d. Such certificate shall include as many parcels as the sender chooses 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 States and forwarded by post to the sender. For an additional fee of 2d. a receipt for parcels delivered within New Zealand may be obtained from the addressee on delivery and forwarded to the sender. Neither certificate of posting nor registration involves any liability on the part of the department beyond that named in the clause headed “His Majesty’s Liability.”

Parcels may be Examined.

18. 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 shall securely refasten them.

Delays in Transmission.

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

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

Delivery of Parcels.

21. 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.

22. 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.

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

Undelivered and Unclaimed Parcels.

24. 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.