13485
APR 21 1906
RECR
C. O.
16107
REGE 7 MAY 06
Inclo. on Sir E. Satow's No. 87 of February 28th, 1906.
Accounts No. 4
Sir,
H.M. Consul Ningpo to Sir E. Satow,
Ningpo, January 20th, 1906
291 January
In reply to your Accounts Circular of June 10th, I have the honour to report that the work of the British Postal Agency here is carried on in the Constable's Office, a room on the ground floor of the Office Buildings, on the top floor of which is the Constable's residence. The Consul is the actual postal agent, but the work is mostly performed by the Constable assisted by a staff of two Chinese; the Consul only keeping the reserve stock of stamps and postal orders, attending to the correspondence and being responsible for the accounts. The salary of the agent is $35 a month, the whole of which goes to the Constable, although signed for by the Consul as agent.
The two Chinese receive eight and seven dollars respectively, and are entirely in the postal service.
"Pekin" mails are only despatched by the British steamer thrice a week, and local mails are similarly received by the same steamer only. In the case of foreign mails arriving at Shanghai on a day when the British steamer is not available, the bags and parcel post boxes are despatched through the Chinese Post office and are taken delivery of by me from them.
Parcels of the value of thirty shillings and over on which duty is charged by the Customs, are handed over to the Chinese Post Office for collection of the duty and delivery; parcels of less value are delivered by the agency.
I have etc.
(Signed) R.H. Kortimore.
Consul.