1152
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 29

“ try ” letters; but such letters must be at once returned to the forwarding post-office unless delivery can be assured. Every opportunity should be taken to urge on the public the necessity for having correspondence fully and correctly addressed.

586. If letters, &c., for His Majesty’s ships cannot readily be delivered, the Secretary should be asked for instructions.

587. Every article reposted which is not believed to be legitimately readdressed must be specially brought under notice. Postmasters should invariably endeavour to satisfy themselves as to the reasons for such reposting, make prompt inquiry in cases of apparent irregularity, suitably indorse such articles, and report any case which appears to require special notice. Any letter which appears to have been opened before being redirected and reposted is to be charged with additional postage as an unpaid letter.

588. Articles prepaid in cash redirected to places beyond Australia and New Zealand may have the postage affixed in stamps by Chief Postmasters, who will claim the amount on form Acct. 340, altered to suit the case. As the agreement between Australia and New Zealand covers delivery of circulars impressed with the “ Paid ” stamp, all that will be necessary in the case of such circulars readdressed to places within the Commonwealth will be to impress the “ Paid ” stamp with the date of redirection.

UNCLAIMED AND RETURNED LETTERS, ETC.

589. At Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington a dead-letter mail must be made up twice a week, and at other chief offices, and offices where letter-carriers are employed, every Monday morning, to include all letters, letter-cards, and packets posted in the Dominion which have remained unclaimed for the periods specified in Rule 596. Letters, &c., addressed to all other offices must be kept as directed in the same section, and then forwarded to the chief office in the dead-letter envelope, which Chief Postmasters will send out at the close of each month. Dead-letter mails must be sent by Sub-Postmasters to their chief offices, and by Chief Postmasters to the Dead Letter Office, Wellington, in the special bags provided for the purpose, and must be registered. All letters must be arranged in alphabetical order when included in the mail to the Dead Letter Office, those originating beyond New Zealand being kept separate from those originating inland.

590. When letters, &c., are returned from sub-offices they should be carefully examined by the Chief Postmaster, or other experienced officer whom he may depute for the duty, in order to see that they have been kept the prescribed period, and have been dealt with in every respect according to rule. Every irregularity observed should be brought under the notice of the Postmaster in fault.

591. The personal attention of Chief Postmasters is to be given to the return of “ special-request letters ” as described in the Guide. The “ Return to sender ” stamp is to be used for all inland special-request letters. Any inland letters bearing an impression of this stamp should be delivered at the address given in the special request, and letters originating beyond New Zealand forwarded to the Dead Letter Office for disposal. Unclaimed official unregistered letters from any Government Department may be returned direct by Chief Postmasters whether the letters bear a special request or not. Unclaimed registered letters, official or otherwise, and whether “ special-request ” or not, are to be sent registered to the Dead Letter Office at the respective proper dates