1875 — Page 191

No. 62.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Annual Report for 1875, received from the Postmaster General, is published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 24th March, 1876.

J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Ecretary.

GENERAL POST OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 18th March, 1876.

SIR,I have the honour to report on this Department for the year 1875.

2. Early in the year Mr. F. W. MITCHELL retired from the public service, after being connected with the Post Office for eighteen years, during thirteen of which he discharged the duties of Post- master General with singular ability and success.

3. It needs but a very cursory inspection of the records in this Office to perceive that, when Mr. MITCHELL first joined the Post Office in 1857, it was conducted with a certain slackness of organisa-. tion, which was perhaps not peculiar to this above all other Departments in the Colony. Nor is it less evident that the energy and capacity of the then Chief Clerk very soon initiated and steadily prosecuted a thorough reform.

4. Thus, in 1858, the London Office had to investigate a complaint that the Post Office here was closed twenty hours before the departure of each P. & O. Packet, and in those days the fortnightly British Packet was the only Mail for Europe. This was in spite of instructions, issued two years before, providing for a much more suitable time of closing, and the complainant suggested that four hours, with a margin of two for the reception of late letters at double postage, would be a great relief to the public.

5. Whereas letters can now be posted on board the British Contract Packet to within ten minutes of the time of starting, or on shore for the French Packet up to half an hour before that time. Both Packets start at noon, and it may be said that in either case a letter can safely be kept open till close on half past eleven.

6. To take over a Department so well and minutely organised as Mr. MITCHELL left this Office, and to take it over without any previous knowledge either of the Department itself or of its special class of work, involved a responsibility which I confess caused me to hesitate in accepting the offer made to me by His Excellency Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY on muy return froin England-an offer by which

was no less gratified than surprised.

7. I have, however, to record my sincere obligations to the entire Staff for the hearty assistance and cooperation with which I have been received. The admirable organisation of the whole, even down to the Chinese, has very much lightened my duties, and reflects the greatest credit on the late bead of the Department.

8. This opportunity must also be taken to thank Messrs. D. SASSOON & Co., Messrs. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, and Messrs. GIBB, LIVINGSTON & Co. for their liberality in granting passages to Marine Sorters during the winter months, either free or at nominal rates-Messrs. DOUGLAS LAPRAIK & Co. for good offices of all kinds in the service of the Coast Ports-Messrs. SIEMSSEN & Co. for aid in a matter mentioned below-The China Submarine Telegraph Co. and E. L. Woonis, Esq. for telegra- phic information-The Captain Superintendent of Police for ready assistance in checking disorders at Pedder's Wharf which used to mark the landing of the French Mails-Mr. Consul MEDHURST for Cooperation in many ways at Shanghai-last, but not least, His Excellency Sir HARRY PARKES, who has always been ready to assist in overcoming difficulties of which more will be said hereafter.

9. Most branches of Postal business shew a slight increase in comparison with 1874, us will be Been from the Tables given below (Appendix 4). Nor are indications of other kinds wholly wanting that trade has a little revived during the past year. The improvement is on the very smallest scale, but the slightest sign of improvement is welcome. The marked decrease in the number of Registered Letters sent (there being an increase in those received) may point to fewer valuable documents being despatched from China, or it may indicate increased confidence in the ordinary Haode of transmission. Some remarks on Registration and Loss of Letters will be found further on.

10. On the other hand, certain fallings-off must be noticed, amongst which the most important is that of Revenue. The gross Revenue of the Department is less than that for 1874 by about £400. But Revenue is not altogether a trustworthy index of Postal activity; many matters of detail have been arranged, during the year, on a footing of greater efficiency, but also so as to involve greater expense.