27. Since the close of the year further payments have been made to foreign countries, increasing Je total amount hitherto paid since our entry into the Union to $5,733.32. It may be interesting to
ow how this sum has been apportioned.
1 To Batavia, for conveyance of mails from Singapore to Batavia by Netherlands Packets. 1877,
43.00
........
570.95
815.28
11. to Italy, for land transport of correspondence à découvert for the Continent of Europe, ...............................
To Italy, for transport of closed mails for France, Spain, and Portugal, 1877,
III. To France, for son and land transport of correspondence à découvert for the Continent of Europe, 1877..................
To France, for conveyance of correspondence for France, 1877,
IV. To the United States, for conveyance of correspondence for Chili, Hawaii, and other Non-Union Countries, to April, 1878,... V. To London, for sea conveyance of the correspondence charged for under II, mails for India, &c.,-Claim not you received,...
8,015.28 1,708.88
79.98
$5,733,32
28. With regard to the delays which have arisen in settling the Union accounts, it may perhaps permissible to append an extract from a Report already submitted to the Government (on Circular spatch of Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, August 23rd, 1878).
The Colonies were thrown into the intricacies of the Postal Union too suddenly for so complicated a system to work smoothly all at once. The Metropolitan Offices in Europe were too busy to give detailed instructions on points on which they themselves bad bad bat little experience The French Post Office Agents, generally ex fait in overy possible detail, could give no information, and only expressed their own bewilderment. The first Statistical period may be compared to a review of raw recruits, no one of whom has any idea what he is expected to do."
* The second statistion! Period (the results of the first having been cancelled) was a little better, but not much.
•
•
The necessary forms were mostly filled up and forwarded, but too many of the Offices to which they were sent noglected to verify and return hem. The most anxious care was exercise in this Office to prevent omissions, and yet some few omissions occurred. Points absolutely unpro- ided for in the Treaty had to be settled as they arose, and objections have been taken to the ways in which they were settled. Some of the areonta fornished by this Office, to the best of its information and ability, though correct as regards figures, were in a form which other Offices would ant accept. It would have been very simple for those Offices, being in possession of the results, to put them on paper ruled and headed in any way that might be desired (for that was all the question at issue), but only within the last few weeks an application has been received to remodel and reforward them, and it is presumed the accounts must wait till they are received,"
•
+
•
"It may be asked then, how long is this state of nacertainty and confusion to contiune? It is hoped not much longor. The Convention of Paris amplifies the taking of Statistics just in the details which have been found all but unworkable. The various Post Offices are of course learning the new course of dnty more and more every day,
It is believed that within a year the whole system, as regards Hongkong, will be susceptible of the clearest financial treatment, as much as if the Postal Income and Expenditure of the Colony were practically fixed."
The Honourable W. H. MARSII,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
ALFRED LISTER,
Postmaster General.
•
fc.,
Colonial Secretary,
St.,
Inclnding a special contribution of £3,150=$16,211.47.
fc.
In previous years these payments have been made to London on behalf of the Countries concerned. This som is really a charge against 1877. Within the last few days only an application has been received from the London Office for statistics of transit between this Colony and chelles, for which the accounts for 1877 were waiting. No mails have been exchanged with Seychelles for some years, hence of course no such atistles had been supplied.
APPENDIX.
(A.)—COMPARATIVE RETURN OF REGISTERED CORRESPONDENCE, 1878 & 1877.
SENT.
RECEIVED.
DESTINATION.
Number of
Number of
Number
Number
Increase. Decrease.
Articles, Articles, 1873. 1877.
of Articles, 1878.
of
Increase. Decrease.
Articles,
1877.
nited Kingdom,
untralia,
ontinent of Europe,
4,017
4,114
97
3,020
2,521
1,399
1,270
671
599
1,000
1,084
606
erle of China and Japan,
208
187
71
057
682
75
raita, India, Ceylon, tc.,
1,047
1,504
383
1,000
1,491
568
1,205
A28
437
2,410
2,070
203
TOTAL,.....
8,707
7,314
1,490
07
10,682
8,297 2,648
203
NHT INCREASE,....
1,393
2,385
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