CO129-135 - Public Offices & Others - 1868 — Page 19

In 2098/19

17

charge of

three pence per Excarter found, of Books

and patterns

or

samples

of merchandise between

Stone long and Shanghow,

and between Stone Rong Shanghae and any other port in Chinee or Japan at which the

British mail packto

Call

Maun

Bool.

TREASURY WARRANT.

WHEREAS by an Act of Parliament passed in

the fourth year of the reign of Her Majesty, chapter 96, for the regulation of the duties of postage, certain scales of weight and rates of postage were fixed and made chargeable and pay- able upon, for, or in respect of letters, newspapers, Parliamentary proceedings, and printed papera transmitted and forwarded by the post, and various regulations were made for facilitating the trans- mission of such letters and papers by the post ; and by the same Act powers were given to the Com- missioners of Her Majesty's Treasury from time to time, and at any time thereafter, by Warrant, under their hands, to alter and fix any of the rates of postage therein mentioned.

And whereas further powers are given to the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury by another Act of Parliament, passed in the eleventh year of the reign of Her Majesty, chapter 85, for giving further facilities for the transmission of lettera by post, and for the regulating the duties of postage thereon, and for other purposes relating to the Post Office.

And whereas it is expedient to authorize the transmission of certain packets by the post between Hong Kong and Shanghai, and between Hong Kong and Shanghai and certain other ports in China and Japan, and for that purpose to fix certain rates of postage and make certain regula- tions in the manner hereinafter mentioned and set

forth.

Now we, the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, in exercise of the powers reserved to us in and by the said hereinbefore recited Acts of Parliament respectively, and each of them, and of all other powers enabling us in this behalf, do by this Warrant, under the hands of two of us, the said Commissioners (by the authority of the statute in that case made and provided) order, direct, and declare as follows:-

And on every such packet exceeding four ounces, and not exceeding eight ounces in weight, there shall be charged and taken two rates of postage;

And on every such packet exceeding eight ounces, and not exceeding twelve ounces in weight, three rates of postage; And on every such packet exceeding twelve ounces, and not exceeding sixteen ounces in weight, four rates of postage: And for every additional four ounces in weight of any such packet above the weight of sixteen ounces, there shall be charged and taken one additional rate of postage; and in charging any additional rate of postage under this clause every fractional part of every additional four ounces shall be charged as an additional four ounces in weight; and cach progressive and additional rate chargeable under this clause shall be estimated and charged at the sum which any such packet would be charged with under this Warrant, if not exceeding four ounces in weight.

2. The postage of all such packets as aforesaid shall in every case be paid at the time of the same being posted, either in money or by the proper postage stamp or stamps being affixed thereto, which stamp or stamps shall in every case be affixed or appear on the outside of every such packet near the address or direction, and shall be of the value or amount of the postage duty payable thereon under or by virtue of this Warrant.

3. Every packet transmitted by the post, under the provisions of this Warrant (except packets consisting of patterns or samples of merchandize), shall be sent open at the ends or sides, and either without a cover or envelope, or in a cover or envelope open at the ends or sides, and there shall be no written letter, either closed or open, nor any written communication in the nature of a letter, either closed or open (whether such letter or com- munication he addressed to or intended for the person to whom the packet shall be directed or any other person), nor any enclosure sealed, or otherwise closed against inspection, nor any other enclosure, not authorized by this Warrant, sent in or with any such packet, nor shall there be any the nature of a letter in or upon any such packet, written letter, or any written communication, in

or on the cover or envelope thereof.

1. All packets consisting of books, publications, or works of literature or art, whether British, colonial, or foreign, or consisting of printed votes or proceedings of the Imperial Parliament, or the Colonial Legislatures, and all packets consisting of patterns or samples of merchandize, posted in Hong Kong, addressed to Shaughai, or posted in Shang- bai, addressed to Hong Kong, or posted in Hong Kong or Shanghai, addressed to any other port in China, or any port in Japan at which the British packet boat calls, or posted in any port in China (except Hong Kong or Shanghai), or any port in Japan at which the British packet boat calls, ad-provisions of this Warrant, shall be so transmitted dressed to Hong Kong or Shanghai, may be trans- mitted direct by British packet boat between Hong Kong and Shanghai, and between Hong Kong or Shanghai, and any other port in China, or any port in Japan at which such packet boat calls, subject to the several rates of postage hereinafter mentioned, that is to say ---

On every such packet so transmitted, if not exceeding four ounces in weight, there shall be charged and taken an uniforma rate of postage (British and colonial combined) of three pence;

4. Every packet consisting of patterns or samples of merchandize transmitted by the post, under the

in conformity with and under and subject to the several orders, directions, regulations, and con ditions following (that is to say) -

There shall be no enclosure sealed or otherwise closed against inspection and examination, nor any other enclosure, not authorized by this Warrant, sent in or with any such packet;

There shall be no writing or printing upon any such packet, or the cover thereof, or contained therein, except the address of the person for whom it is intended, the address of the sender