June 18.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1825

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6. With the exception of postage-stamps, the public is forbidden to join or attach to post-cards any objects whatever. Nevertheless, the name and address of the addressee and those of the sender may figure on gummed labels not exceeding 2 in. x ¾ in. It is also permissible to affix on the back and on the left part of the front vignettes or photographs on very thin paper, on condition that they adhere completely to the card.

7. Reply post-cards must bear in French, as a title on the front of the first part, “Post-card with reply paid” (Carte postale avec réponse payée); on the second part “Reply Post-card” (Carte postale réponse). The two parts must, moreover, each fulfil the other conditions of the single post-card; they are folded one on the other, and not closed in any manner.

8. It is permissible for the sender of a reply post-card to indicate his name and address on the front of the “reply” part, either by writing or by a gummed label.

9. The stamping of the “reply” part by stamps of the country which has issued the card is only valid if the two parts of the reply post-card arrive adherent from the country of origin, and if the “reply” part is sent from the country in which it has arrived by post to the destination of the said country of origin. If these conditions are not fulfilled it is treated as an unstamped post card.

10. Post-cards not fulfilling, with regard to prescribed indications, dimensions, external form, &c., the conditions imposed by the present Article for this class of correspondence are treated as letters.

[These regulations are being generally admitted as valid at the present time, but as the Convention of Rome does not come into operation until the 1st October, 1907, no guarantee can at present be given that the privileges here announced will be allowed by the Post Offices of all other countries, although there is reason to believe that in most quarters the post-cards posted in accordance with the foregoing instructions will be delivered without charge if the proper rate of postage is prepaid. Charges must still be raised on incoming cards posted abroad if they are marked with the “T” stamp of the offices of origin. (For list of countries see page 6.)]

11. Post-cards or correspondence contained in covers which are made of transparent paper or which have a panel of transparent paper showing the address on the enclosure, may be allowed to pass at letter-rates of postage. As a rule, the postage-stamp must be affixed to the cover itself, but when a post-card is enclosed in a cover the stamp may be affixed to the card if a portion of the cover at the top right-hand corner is cut out to allow the stamp to be plainly seen and obliterated without withdrawing the card. The Department does not hold itself responsible for delay to such packages, or undertake to superscribe such packages with an explanation of any delay.

12. Cards, pictorial or plain, without alteration or amendment, may be sent as printed matter within New Zealand and to the United Kingdom. To all other places they may be sent as printed matter provided the word “Post-card,” if it appear, be clearly struck out, and the words “Printed matter” substituted. In all such cases the card must not be used to make any communication of the nature of a letter.

Reply-cards.

13. The prepayment of the reply part by stamps of the country which issues the card is only valid if the two parts of the reply post card arrive adherent from the country of origin and if the reply part is addressed from the country in which it arrives by post back to the said country of origin. If these conditions are not fulfilled, it is treated as an unstamped post-card.

14. Each of the two halves must fulfil the conditions laid down for single post-cards. One half must be doubled over the other, and the cards must not be closed up in any manner whatsoever. If the conditions applying to single post-cards are infringed, reply-cards are treated as letters. The sender of a post-card with a reply half may indicate his name and address on the reply half either in writing or by attaching a gummed label.

Irregular or Unpaid.

15. Any post-card exhibiting anything of an obscene, libellous, or obviously objectionable character will be detained and sent to the Dead Letter Office. Persons posting obscene, libellous, or grossly offensive cards are liable to punishment by law.

16. Post-cards infringing any of the above rules, except the last, are treated as letters.

17. Post-cards posted insufficiently prepaid or unpaid (such as private cards or post-cards not issued by New Zealand, or cards which have already been used for transmission) will be charged double deficiency at post-card rates. (See “Tree-leaves,” section 40, page 31.)