APRIL 3.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1127

the records of impressions. The ribbons used in the machines are all black; impressions with any other colour must be challenged.

421. Miscellaneous. — Automatic stamping-machine impressions are not allowed in place of the usual Government impressed stamps on cheque-forms. An impression by the machine may be made upon a receipt in place of a duty-stamp.

422. Only impressions made upon the actual material of the cover or envelope, or on the label attached to the article posted, or on a P.P.A. label will be accepted in prepayment of postage. Adhesive labels must bear the full name and address of the addressee and be completely gummed down. If a loose label is used it must be strong enough to withstand the wear-and-tear of passage through the post without becoming separated from its parcel.

423. Impressions on pieces of paper may not be affixed to mail-matter in the same manner as postage-stamps.

424. Faulty or faint impressions of dies of automatic stamping-machines on letters or telegrams are not to be accepted. The impressions must be absolutely distinct in every respect.

425. Although the renewal of ribbons is solely a matter between the vendors and the purchaser of the machine, officers deputed to collect the charges are required to make a careful examination at regular intervals to see that the ribbons are in good order.

426. When an automatic stamping-machine is to be sent to the company, Christchurch, for repair, a Chief Postmaster will see to the forwarding of the machine, making the freight payable in Christchurch.

OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

427. Government and public-service letters, packets, and telegrams must be prepaid in stamps, with the following principal exceptions :—

(a.) Letters, packets, and telegrams from His Excellency the Governor;

(b.) Letters, packets, and telegrams from any of His Majesty’s Ministers;

(c.) Addresses and petitions to Parliament, marked as such, provided they do not exceed 2 lb. in weight, and are forwarded without covers, or in covers open at ends;

and others as set out in the official correspondence list. The correspondence described in (a), (b), and (c) is to be passed free of charge. Letters and packets forwarded by or on behalf of His Excellency the Governor or any of His Majesty’s Ministers are enclosed in covers imprinted or marked “Official, paid, Government House,” or “Official, paid [Name of the Minister’s office]”; or franked by the signature, or a facsimile thereof, of His Excellency, or the Minister, or of any officer to be designated by him.

428. All other Government letters, packets, and telegrams, and public-service letters, packets, and telegrams from local bodies and from the Bank of New Zealand must be paid for by means of postage-stamps to be affixed to the letters and packets before posting or to telegrams before presentation. Government Departments posting more than one hundred pieces of mail-matter at one time may, however, by arrangement with the Post Office, hand such letters, &c., unstamped, over to a responsible postal officer, together with a certificate of posting. All mail-matter must be paid for at the following rates: Letters, each, 1d. for the first 4 oz. and ½d. for each succeeding 2 oz.; printed matter, ½d. for each 2 oz. or less; and be stamped by the Post Office with a stamp bearing the words “Official, paid,” and such stamping will entitle the mail-matter to delivery without surcharge. An