JULY 3.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1605

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sale of such stamps a matter of difficulty. The perforation with initials of the stamps on post-cards and postal-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. Postage-due stamps, discount-stamps, or stamps cut from stamped paper (meaning thereby bill or note forms, share-transfer forms, or any other form on which a stamp is impressed for payment of stamp duties under “The Stamp Act, 1882”) cannot be used for prepayment of postage or for payment of telegrams. Such stamps, when identified in the post-office, will not be postmarked. Stamps cut from letter-cards, post-cards, newspaper-wrappers, registered-letter envelopes, and embossed envelopes, may be used as adhesive stamps in payment of postage. Imperfect, mutilated, or defaced stamps will not be accepted for payment of postage. A “registration-fee” stamp cut out of a registered-letter envelope may be used on any registered packet, but not on an unregistered packet. Stamps of Aitutaki, Niue, Penrhyn, or Rarotonga may not be used outside those Islands respectively for prepayment of postage.

7. English, Victorian, New South Wales, and Western Australian 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, New South Wales, and Western Australia, in order to relieve them of the cost of the postage when sending replies. These stamps cannot be purchased in quantities of more than 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. Discount-stamps are purchased at money-order offices if mounted on the special card provided for the purpose and presented in quantities of the value of 1s. or its multiple. They are not permitted to be used for postage.

3. 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 and on the terms named:—

(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.).

These fees cover the rent of boxes of the usual size.

(c.) For a box where provided double the usual size, as at (a.) and (b.), two pounds (£2) and one pound (£1) respectively.

(d.) For a box where provided treble the usual size, as at (a.) and (b.), three pounds (£3) and one pound ten shillings (£1 10s) respectively.

2. Private boxes are let for periods ending on the 30th June or the 31st December, and for a term not less than six months, except in the case of first letting. A private box may be first let for a term less than six months, but not less than three months, to date from the day on which the same shall be let up to the 30th June or the 31st December next following. In cases in which the first period would be less than three months, the next period of six months must be added and paid for. Where there are two or more applicants for the same box at the same time, preference shall be given to the person desiring to have the same for the longest term.

3. 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 fee. No person can be permitted to engage a private box for Sunday or for a certain day or days only.

4. Letters directed to any person or firm renting a private box, and letters directed to the care of the box-holder, will be deposited in the box, unless written notice be given to the contrary. It must be understood, however, that outside the principals the Depart-