posed to bring the law into conformity with the existing practice of this Office; to make it more exible, and susceptible of easy modification, especially in matters of detail; to reduce the almost rohibitive rates of Coast postage; and to establish a penny Tariff between this Colony, Canton, and Macao. 21. Whilst it is impossible not to sympathise with those who feel some of the present rates of Postage to be heavy, it may be allowable to point out that they do not always make the most privileges already possessed. The amount of overstamping observable on the morning of an English fail is something startling. Some persons imagine that the Rate to England is still 32 cents! bost hundreds of trade circulars prepaid six cents each, but which, weighing less than an ounce, would ass for four cents. Others, again, put up circulars in bundles, which they prepay at so much per instead of paying the whole at so much per four ounces. It is but just to point out these errors, hich must swell the postage accounts of some firms considerably.
ary,
berc.
Others
22. During the year the list of Unclaimed and Dead Letters lying in this Office has been sent Freckly to all the Ports, Macao, and Manila. The Agents at the Ports have also sent their own lists The result has been to dispose of a good deal of correspondence which would otherwise not have been delivered. The Hongkong lists have been inserted in the local papers, free of charge, and This has led to an increase of applications for Dead or Unclaimed Letters. These classes of Chinese
orrespondence have also been advertiser in Chinese with satisfactory results.
23. Persons sometimes very much resent the opening of their letters, when returned as Dead, or ecause of deficient postage. If every letter were marked with the sender's name and address (a con- enient practice in which the Chinese set us an excellent example, for with them it is almost universal) letter need ever be opened. This address night very cheaply and usefully take the place of the intelligible monograms and crests now in fashion.
24. It would facilitate the work of the Post Office here if those who provide printed envelopes r their local and Coast correspondence would add the addresses in Chinese.
25. The Packets of the Occidental and Oriental Steam Ship Company have been recognised as United States Contract Mail boats, and thus the advantage has been enjoyed of communication generally wice in the month with San Francisco and the United States. The privilege of registering corres- pondence by this route has also been accorded, but the Chinese, and others who were expected to avail hemselves of it, have not as yet done so to the extent that was anticipated. This opportunity must be taken to acknowledge the promptitude and courtesy with which the wishes of this Office have been met in every matter by the United States Postal authorities.
26. Some difficulty having attended the forwarding of correspondence for II. M. Legation at Beking, more especially by the French Mail, all letters, &c., for that Legation, and for members of the Consular service at or beyond Shanghai, are now forwarded in a closed Consular Mail to the Shanghai Monsulate.
27. The Agents of the French Post Oflice having complained bitterly of the way in which they Tere mobbed by Coolies at Pedder's Wharf, measures have been taken by the Police authorities to ecure order during the landing of the Mails, and time has been saved by counting the bags as they re landed.
28. It has been found possible to keep the Post Office open, during an additional half-hour, for late Etters, before the departures of the French Mails for Europe, and of the Contract Mails for Shanghai.
29. Considerable improvements have been made in the structure and furniture of the Office, but buch remains to be done. A room, plainly furnished, has been provided where the Sorters can have peir meals on the premises when press of business compels them to do so. It would be very desirable they could all reside, as some of the Officers of the Harbour Department do, in quarters near the epartment.
30. In compliance with suggestions received from several sources, a balance, accessible to the blic, has been placed in the front verandah, where those who wish to do so may weigh their letters. should be borne in mind, however, that a Spring Balance is not capable of much nicety, and persons ho like to load their letters to the very last square inch of paper should have them weighed by the hroff. Many letters are sent on charged with a fine in consequence of this attempt to go as close to alf an ounce as possible. They perhaps get slightly damp on their way to the Post Office, and the ifling increase of weight turns the scale. A letter on overland paper will, in a few minutes, imbibe hough moisture from newly printed newspapers, amongst which it may happen to lie in the letter-box,
make it over weight, if it were very nearly so before.
31. The new Post Office at Shanghai was occupied during the year, and has been found commo- ious and suitably fitted.
32. No inspection of the Northern Offices and Agencies having been made, it is not possible to peak of them in detail. On the whole the business has been well and carefully conducted, at some prts particularly so. Special mention must be made of the exact and diligent discharge of duty by Messrs. MARTIN and MACHADO, the l'ostmasters at Shanghai and Yokohania respectively.
33. The Postal service to and from Iliogo has been conducted under great difficulties, and has Reeded incessant watching. It must be admitted that on one occasion opportunity was not taken by he Yokohama Office to do the best for Hiogo, but the slip did not deserve the intemperate language of Hiogo paper, nor will it recur. Just, however, as the service seemed to be gaining permanency, the ransfer of the Pacific Mail Branch Steamers to the Mitsu Bishi Company upset everything, and all had be begun over again. The assistance of II. M. Minister in Japan has already been acknowledged.