Jan. 18.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 183

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SPECIAL-REQUEST CORRESPONDENCE.

1. Letters and other articles posted in New Zealand, having the names and addresses of the senders written, printed, or embossed on the address side or on the fly of the envelopes, are returned unopened to the writers or senders by Chief Postmasters, when not claimed within thirty days; and all such articles which have, in addition, a request on the address side of the cover that the articles be returned if not claimed within a stated period, are also returned unopened by Chief Postmasters at the end of such period. No such articles, however, will be returned unless they have remained in the post-office to which addressed at least ten days. A special request that letters and other articles posted in New Zealand, if not delivered within a stated period, be redirected to an address outside New Zealand, and vice versa, will not be complied with. Such correspondence will be sent to the Dead Letter Office in the usual way. For the purposes of this regulation New Zealand includes the Cook Islands—namely, Rarotonga, Mangaia, Atiu, Aitutaki, Mitiaro, Mauke (Parry), and Hervey (Manuae); and also Palmerston (Avarua), Niue (Savage), Pukapuka (Danger), Rakaanga, Manahiki, Penrhyn (Tongareva), and Suwarrow Islands.

2. Letters and other articles originating outside New Zealand which bear a special request for return to the sender within a stated period are sent by Chief Postmasters at the end of such period to the Dead Letter Office, Wellington, for immediate return to the country of origin.

3. Letters and other articles of this class originating at hotels, clubs, or places of public resort are not returned unopened by Chief Postmasters unless, in addition to the printed or embossed address on the cover, the name of the actual sender also appears.

4. The above instructions do not apply to the following classes of correspondence, which, however, are sent at once to the Dead Letter Office after having been retained in accordance with sections 1 and 2: Registered and surcharged articles, and letters containing coin.

5. Special-request articles are recommended to be marked as follows, near the left-hand upper corner: “If not claimed in ten days return to [name and address].” Unless the name of the sender as well as the address is given, the request for return will not be acceded to, except in the case of letters bearing a request for return to a specified private letter-box, when the number of the box will be regarded as sufficient.

BUSINESS HOURS.

1. All post-offices are opened for delivery of letters, sale of stamps, receipt and delivery of parcels, and registration of letters, &c., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except as otherwise shown in the list of post-offices appearing in the Supplement to the Guide) on week-days only. A list of money-order offices and savings-banks is printed, and hours of business on week-days only are given under the heading “Money Orders,” in the Post and Telegraph Guide.

2. Certain post-offices specially authorised by the Postmaster-General may be closed during the periods of sorting and despatching mails. At country offices where private boxes are not provided, and where mails arrive after 5 and before 8 p.m., a delivery of letters is made for a quarter of an hour after the mails have been sorted.

3. Post Office and Telegraph Holidays.—The statutory post-office and telegraph holidays are New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, Dominion Day, the King’s Birthday, and Boxing Day. When one of these days falls on a Sunday, the next day is observed as a holiday in lieu thereof. Partial holidays only are observed on Easter Monday and Boxing Day. Good Friday and Christmas Day are observed as Sundays.

RECEIVING-BOXES.

1. In addition to the facilities for posting afforded at every post-office, correspondence may also be posted in receiving-boxes approved of by the Postmaster-General. Receiving-boxes are primarily for letters. Newspapers and other articles not exceeding 13 in. in length and 2 in. in thickness may also be posted in receiving-boxes. Not more than six newspapers or other printed articles may be posted in any one receiving-box in one day by the same person or on behalf of any one person. Articles identified as posted in breach of this limitation will be detained.

DELIVERY.

1. To facilitate the delivery of letters a letter-box should be affixed to every house-door. Any person whose residence lies 50 yards or more from the street should provide a letter-box at his gate, in order to expedite delivery. In the case of rural deliveries, settlers off the road-line must either meet the mailman or provide a suitable box on the road-line in which their correspondence can be deposited.

2. Deliveries from office counters, &c., are made from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on week-days (except as otherwise shown in the list of post-offices appearing in the supplement to the Guide), but certain post-offices specially authorised by the Postmaster-General may be closed during the periods of sorting and despatching mails.

3. Letter-carriers and messengers are prohibited from distributing any letters, newspapers, &c., except such as have passed through a post-office. They are not allowed to deliver in the street or elsewhere except at houses or places of business, even to addressees; nor are they allowed to deliver under doors. They are not permitted to receive any payment beyond the postage for the delivery or collection of any letter or newspaper, or to deviate from the route laid down for them. The prohibition, however, from receiving payment in addition to the postage does not extend to Christmas gratuities. For delivery of “Householder” circulars, see section 11 of “Printed Papers” regulations. For delivery of parcel by parcel-post, see regulations under “Parcel Post,” in the Post and Telegraph Guide.