Dec. 31.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3617

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Limits of Weight and Size.

7. Parcels not exceeding 11lb. in weight, 3ft. 6in. in length (see regulation 9), or 6ft. in length and girth combined, are accepted for transmission to all places within New Zealand excepting those not served by railway, coach, or steamboat (see next regulation), to the Australian States, and to the United Kingdom. Thus a parcel measuring 3ft. 6in. in length can be 2ft. 6in. in girth, while one of 3ft. in length may be 3ft. in girth, &c. The limits of weight and size of parcels for other countries will be found in the Rate-table which follows. Wheels must not exceed 2ft. in diameter. Parcels weighing up to 20lb. each, addressed to the Clerk of Writs, Wellington, may be accepted from Registrars of Electors and Returning Officers.

8. Parcels for or from New Zealand offices not served by coach, railway, or steamer (see pages 56 to 98 of Post and Telegraph Guide) must not exceed 5lb. in weight, 2ft. in length, and 1ft. in breadth or depth; nor can parcels for those offices be accepted which are of too fragile a nature to permit of their safe transmission in mail-bags.

9. Fishing-rods and golf-sticks in packages up to a maximum length of 4ft. 6in. may be accepted. Their transmission is allowed only between New Zealand offices served by railway, coach, or steamboat.

How to Pack.

10. The public will greatly facilitate the work of the Post Office and help towards the safe delivery of parcels by taking care that parcels are in all cases compactly, strongly, and securely packed, especially those with fragile or perishable contents. It should be borne in mind that a parcel must be frequently handled before it reaches its destination, and, although every care will be taken by the officers through whose hands it passes, it will be impossible to avoid occasional damage if the packing is defective. Any parcel damaged, insufficiently protected, or insecurely packed, presented at a post-office, will be challenged. If, however, the presenter of such a parcel insists upon its being forwarded, it will be marked “Sender’s risk,” and accepted on such condition.

11. Parcels containing perishable articles, such as game, fish, eggs, &c., may be accepted for inland transmission. Razors, scissors, needles, knives, forks, or other sharp instruments, liquids, or semi-liquids, such as paints, &c., bottles, or glass in any form, may be forwarded both inland and to such of the countries beyond New Zealand as do not specially prohibit their introduction (see prohibitions in the table which follows). All such articles must, however, be securely packed (as indicated at page 13, paragraph 14, of Post and Telegraph Guide), so as to prevent all risk or injury to other parcels or the officers of the Post Office.

Prohibitions.

12. Parcels bearing or containing writing or marks of an offensive or indecent character, or containing gunpowder, cartridges, matches of any kind, or anything explosive or liable to sudden combustion, bladders containing liquid, live animals, offensive or filthy matter, or any substance likely to cause injury to other parcels or to the officers of the Post Office, rags of any kind, also all clothing of every kind which has ceased to be in actual wear and does not form part of the personal effects of any passenger or any other person on board a vessel arriving in New Zealand, are not accepted for transmission. Bottles or packages of liquid, as clinical specimens for examination or analysis, cannot be admitted into the post for transmission to the United Kingdom. Parcels or packages containing intoxicating liquor cannot be admitted into the post for transmission to a Maori village or to a prohibited district (including a no-license district and a Native proclaimed area) unless accompanied by the certificate of a qualified chemist or medical practitioner that the liquor is being supplied for medicinal purposes only. Parcels addressed to countries beyond New Zealand must not contain any perishable articles, such as fish, game, &c. Soft ripe fruit cannot be carried safely by post unless it is so packed that the juice cannot exude. Secure packing is necessary to avoid damage to other parcels, and parcels insecurely packed run every risk of being refused transmission. Tin boxes with tightly fitting lids are suitable receptacles for fruit intended for the post. In addition to the foregoing, parcels are liable to the further prohibitions indicated in column 7 of the table which follows.

13. The importation of any of the following articles into New Zealand by parcel-post is prohibited: Books or music being pirated copyrights of British authors, any indecent 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