Dec. 20.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3227

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 will 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.

25. 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 next preceding regulation.

26. Inland parcels, if not claimed by the addressees or senders within three months, exclusive of the one in which they have been received, will be disposed of as the Postmaster-General may direct. Parcels with perishable contents may be destroyed immediately they become offensive. Parcels from countries beyond New Zealand, if unclaimed, will be retained until the expiry of six months from the date of posting of the advice of non-delivery, and then returned through the Dead Letter Office to countries of origin.