124
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 21ST MARCH, 1874.
25. The following Tables show the number of Registered Letters sent to, and received from other places in 1873 and 1872.
SENT.
To India.
Galle.
Strait Settlements.
Australia.
Continent of Europe.
Ports of China and Japan.
450
1873 1872 1873 1872 1873 1872 1873 1872
522 9 14 136 116 $3 111
1873 1872
227 224 962
1873
1872
981
RECEIVED.
582
489
22
49 896 743 234 329 609 528 591
496
Giving a Total of Registered Letters sent in 1873, of 6,283 against 6,060 sent in 1872, and a Total of Registered Letters received of 5,139 in 1873, against 4,533 received in 1872.
26. The amount realized by the sale of Postage Stamps in 1873, was $141,991.74. Stamps of the value of $77,023.08 were sold in Hongkong, and the remainder, viz., $64,968.66 at the Post Office Agencies at the Ports in China and Japan, showing a decrease of $4,500.16 in those sold in Hongkong, and an increase of $2,138.36 in those sold at the Ports, as compared with 1872.
27. I annex a List of the number and value of each kind of Postage Stamps sold in 1873 and 1872, showing the increase or decrease, as the case may be, under each head, viz. :-
POSTAGE STAMPS SOLD IN 1873.
【POSTAGE STAMPS SOLD IN 1872.
INCREASE.
DECREASE.
Denomination.
Number.
Amount.
Number.
Amount.
Number.
Amount.
Number.
Amount.
c.
C.
S
C.
$
C.
2 cents.
244,277
4,885.54
243,707
4,874.14
570
11,40
4
123,869
4,954.76
132,705
5,308.20
8,836
353.44
6
109,363
6,561.78
102,737
6,164.22
6,626
397.56
8
""
180,849
14,467.92
194,450
15,556.00
13,601
1,088,08
12
44,279
5,313.48
48,634
5,836.08
4,355
522.60
31
18
10,944
1,969.92
12,390
2,230.20
1,446
260.28
24
78,172
18,761.28
89,692
21,526.08
11,520
2,764.80
90
163,491
49,047.80
146,565
48
96
"
25,908 24,577
12,435.84
23,593.92
28,183 26,418
43,969.50 13,527.84 25,361.28
16,926
5,077.80
2,275
1,092.00
1,841
1,767.36
Total,....
$141,991.74
$144,353,54
$5,486.76
7,848.56
28. The following returns shew that the average time occupied in conveying the Mails from Home has been about the same in 1873 as it was in 1872, by the British Packets, and that by the French Packets the average time with the Mails from Home, was a little more in 1873 than it was in 1872. The shortest time in which a Mail was delivered in Hongkong from London by British Packet via Brindisi last year was 37 days, and the shortest time in which a Mail was delivered in Hongkong by French Packet vid Marseilles last year was 38 days. As regards the Homeward Mails, two Mails sent from Hongkong by French Packet vid Marseilles were delivered in London in 35 days, and three in 36 days, whilst by the British Packets vid Brindisi the quickest time occupied was 39 days on four occasions.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
The Honorable J. GARDINER Austin,
Colonial Secretary,
HONGKONG.
F. W. MITCHELL, Postmaster General.