1124
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 29

and to Admiralty offices, for the prepayment of official correspondence. These stamps are of the following denominations—viz., ½d., 1d., 2d., 3d., 6d., 1s., 2s., 5s. Booklets containing 120 one-penny stamps are also sold, price 10s. 1d. each.

406. The aggregate value of official postage-stamps supplied to any one official or Department upon requisition must not be less than 5s. This amount may be absorbed by any one denomination or divided between the several denominations. In the latter case the minimum number of stamps of the respective values of ½d. and 1d. is fixed at twelve, and of 2d., 3d., and 6d. at six.

407. Upon issuing official stamps a certified voucher or form Acct. 123A must be obtained, the receipt signed by the Postmaster, and the voucher treated as a “miscellaneous payment” on behalf of the Department to which the officer receiving the stamps is attached. The value of stamps supplied to commanders of warships is claimed from the Department of Internal Affairs.

408. Form Acct. 123 is to be used in all cases where unpaid or short-paid official letters are delivered. The total amount is to be claimed at the end of each period, when official stamps are to be affixed to the forms, and the forms despatched to the Chief Accountant.

409. When official letters or other mail-matter of more than 100 pieces are posted, form Acct. 122 is to be used, and at the end of each period the total amount against each Department is to be claimed on form Acct. 135A. Payment may be accepted either in official stamps or in cash, form Acct. 135A being receipted by the Postmaster in the usual way and returned to the certifying officer.

410. Chief Postmasters may send supplies of official stamps through Postmasters to local officers of other Departments.

411. Official stamps are not to be supplied to non-permanent Postmasters except under special circumstances. If supplied, commission is to be paid.

412. Official stamps shall on no account be used for prepaying other than official correspondence or telegrams. Any officer disposing of unused official stamps for stamp-collecting purposes or otherwise is liable to a fine of £5 for the first offence, and to dismissal for any subsequent offence. This regulation does not, however, apply to officers of the Post and Telegraph Department who may, in the execution of their duty, supply official stamps to the International Bureau of the Postal Union at Berne for distribution to Postal Administrations, or to such officials and persons as may be specially authorized by the Postmaster-General.

AUTOMATIC STAMPING-MACHINE.

413. Machines may only be installed in such towns as the Postmaster-General has approved, and up to the number authorized. The Automatic Stamping Company is to obtain from the Secretary, General Post Office, permission so to install machines. Before any individual machine is installed, the company is to obtain the permission of the Chief Postmaster of the district, and no machine may be installed without such permission. The Automatic Stamping Company will then place the machine in position, and inform the Chief Postmaster when it is ready for use.

414. All machines to be newly installed, and also machines issued in place of those removed for repairs, before leaving the factory of the company are to be thoroughly tested by a selected postal officer, and the dials set back at zero, the machines thereupon being locked and sealed. The certificate of the postal officer,