THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 18TH MARCH, 1871.
127
33.
The number of Registered Letters sent,
The number of Registered Letters received,
to India, during 1870,
was..
449
from. India, during 1870, .
.was..
653
to Galle,
28
from Galle,
1,011
to Australia,
130
from Australia,
225
""
to the Straits,
87
from the Straits,
875
to the Continent of Europe,
123
from the Continent of Europe,
22
240
to the Forts in China and Japan,
114
from the Ports in China and Japan,
""
194
Total,.
937
Total,.
Ia 1809,
647
In 1869,
Excess in 1870,
290
Excess in 1870,
3,198 2,815
883
34. The amount realized by the sale of Postage Stamps in 1870, was $144,131.48, of which Stamps of the value of $85,258.12 were sold in Hongkong, and the remainder, viz.: $58,873.36, at the Post Office Agencies at the Ports, shewing an Increase of $8,427.24 in those sold in Hongkong, and a Decrease of $20,081.28 in those sold at the Ports, as compared with 1869.
35. I annex a List of the number and value of each kind of Postage Stamps sold in 1870, and 1869, showing the increase or decrease, as the case may be, under each head, viz.
POSTAGE STAMFS SOLD IN 1870.
POSTAGE STAMPS SOLD IN 1869.
INCREASE.
DECREASE.
Denomination.
Number.
À mount.
Number.
Amount.
Number.
Amount.
Number.
Amount.
$ C.
$
C.
2 cents.
201,179
5,223.58
244,941
4.898.82
4
155,927
6,237.08
148,382
5.935.28
11
16,238 7,545
S c. 324.76
$ C.
301.80
€
117,160
7,020.00
147,832
8,869.92
33
30,679
1,840.32
8
253,228
20,258.24
244,305
19,544.40
""
8,923
713.84
12
60,064
7,279.68
70,207
8,435.64
""
9,633
1,155.96
18
8,640
1,655.20
8,604
1,548.79
30
6.48
24
114,846
27,563.04
116,372
27,929.28
"1
1,526
363.24
30
106,243
31,872.90
110,747
33,224.10
""
4,504
1,351.20
48
27,891
13,387.63
35,626
17,105.23
7,745
3,717.60
96
24,713
23,724.48
"
29,473
28,294.08
4,760
4,509.00
Totals,
$144,131.48
$155,785.52
1,340.88
$13,000.92
36. The Correspondence on Official business sent from this Department to private individuals and firms, to the Postal Agents at the Ports and to the various Public Offices, has materially increased, as has also the Official correspondence received.
37. Returns are appended, marked A. and B., from which it is satisfactory to notice that the British Mail Packets have arrived with the Mails from home with punctuality, that the average time occupied in making the voyage has been less than it was in the previous year, and that 39 days is the shortest time in which a Mail has been conveyed from London to Hongkong via Marseilles, and 38 days viâ Brindisi. The return marked C. shows that 38 days was also the shortest time occupied by the French Packets in delivering a Mail from London. On one occasion, however, the French Packet arrived without a Mail from London. Owing to the communication across France having been interrupted, this Mail had failed to reach Marseilles in time; it was brought forward by the following British Packet.
38. A return, marked D., is appended of the Arrivals and Departures of the United States' Mail Packets at Hongkong, from which it will be observed that the voyage from San Francisco to Hong- kong has been performed five times in 33 days; and that the voyage to San Francisco has been accom- plished on three occasions in 32 days. The average time occupied in the voyage from San Francisco has been 344 days against 35 days in 1869.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
F. W. MITCHELL, Postmaster General.
The Honorable J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary,
Sc.,
&C.,
&c.
*