2114

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 60

and the sender requested to make the necessary amendments. Under no circumstances should such amendment be made by the officer accepting the parcel.

(b.) The parcel must then be weighed and measured, care being taken before it is finally accepted to consult the lists of limitation as to weights, measurements, and contents given in the Guide, and to see that the correct postage is affixed to the parcel, on the address side, by the sender. Special care must be exercised in weighing a parcel addressed to a foreign place; and in no case must the slightest excess weight be allowed. The officer who accepts a parcel is responsible for any deficient postage. The greatest care must be exercised in the cancellation of the postage-stamps, in order to secure distinct impressions and to avoid damaging the cover or contents. The cancellation is to be done before the parcel leaves the counter. Supervising officers are to give these matters careful attention and to report any failure that may come under their notice.

597. In order to indicate the class of inland parcel accepted for transmission, form P.P. 16 and counterfoil are to be enfaced “XT” for an express-transit parcel, “XD” for an express-delivery parcel, “R” for a registered parcel, “F” for a fragile parcel, and “I” for an insured parcel.

598. The “Fragile” label, P.P. 32, is to be affixed to parcels of a fragile nature for places overseas only. All inland parcels marked “Fragile” must have paid thereon a special fee of 6d. or 9d. as the case may be, and have affixed thereto the special “Fragile” label provided for the purpose. The “Fragile” label and any other label must be affixed to a parcel on the address side.

599. When the sender of an inland parcel desires the personal receipt of the addressee, a fee of 2½d. is to be charged, and the usual A.R. card used to obtain such receipt. The A.R. card, when completed, is to be returned from the office of destination direct to the sender.

600. When any inland parcel is erroneously accepted in excess of the regulation weight or dimensions, such parcel should, whenever possible, be forwarded to its destination marked by a responsible officer thus:—

“Accepted in error. Weight [or Dimension] in excess of regulation maximum. Pass. Signed, .”

The irregular acceptance of the parcel should be reported.

601. A Postmaster or other responsible officer is permitted to accept, under special circumstances, and at his own discretion, an inland parcel slightly in excess of the regulation size or weight, provided the contents cannot be divided, an additional initial rate of postage being charged thereon.

602. A parcel containing any prohibited article, or bearing any writing or marks of an offensive or indecent character, must be refused. If detected in transit it must be detained and the circumstance reported, the address of the parcel being given and, in the case of a prohibited article, the contents described.

603. (a.) Any parcel tendered in a damaged or insecure condition, or in a condition likely to injure other parcels or any officer of the post-office, should be refused, and a more secure method of packing suggested. If a parcel in such condition be observed in transit, it must be made secure and sent forward; if it cannot be so secured, it must be detained, and the sender or addressee advised on form P.P. 15.

(b.) If the sender of an insecurely packed parcel should insist on its being forwarded, the foregoing rule may be relaxed, provided