Aug. 8.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2039

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.

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

(c.) Faulty or faint impressions of dies of automatic stamping-
machines on letters or telegrams are not to be accepted. The im-
pressions must be absolutely distinct in every respect. The atten-
tion of holders of machines is to be called to the fact when the
impressions are not acceptable.

251. Although the renewal of pads 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 pads are in good order.

252. (a.) An automatic stamping-machine impression may be
     made upon a receipt in place of a duty-stamp.

(b.) Automatic stamping-machine impressions are not allowed
in place of the usual Government impressed stamps on cheque forms.

GOVERNMENT CORRESPONDENCE : POSTAGE.

253. Postage must be paid on Government and public-service
     letters, packets, and telegrams, with the following principal excep-
     tions:-

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

(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-General 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.

254. Except as prescribed, all Government letters, packets, and
     telegrams, and letters, packets, and telegrams on public service
     from local bodies and from the Bank of New Zealand must be
     paid for by means of postage-stamps or by impressions of automatic
     stamping-machines of the value representing the charges, to be
     affixed to the letters and packets before posting or to telegrams
     before presentation. Government Departments posting at one
     time for delivery in New Zealand not less than one hundred pieces
     of mail-matter may, however, by arrangement with the Post Office,
     hand such letters, &c., unstamped, to a responsible Postal officer,
     together with a certificate of posting. (See Rule 343 (b) (2).)

255. Government Departments authorized under section 8 of
     the Official Postage Regulations to issue printed envelopes must
     have superscribed on the envelopes the words "Postage payable
     on Delivery," and Chief Postmasters will report to the Secretary
     any case in which appears any other superscription. Officers must
     give strict attention to charging at the point of delivery unpaid
     mail-matter posted under the Official Postage Regulations.

256. Unpaid or short-paid official letters, &c., addressed to
     Government Departments are, if not superscribed to the effect that