672757-1884-Postmaster-General-s-Report-1883- — Page 4

218 SUPPLEMENT TO THE HONGKONG GOVT GAZETTE OF 22ND MAR., 1884.

under those circumstances, they avoid putting themselves in the position of having a complaint t make. Still there is a great deal of carelessness as to the contents of letters. Covers are receive at this Office, obviously containing coin, which have not even been posted, but have been sent loos on board steainers to reach the Post Office as best they could! A whole bundle of letters for Shangh was found to have been gnawed to pieces by rats because one cover, in the middle of the bundl contained bride-cake. It is very hard that persons should lose their anxiously expected correspondenc for the sake of such a useless and dirty practice as is sending bride-cake through the Post. A sigl of the repulsive parcels, which it is a trial even to touch, too forcibly suggests the question whethe anybody will have the fortitude to eat their battered and rancid contents.

21. The mails once reached London and twice reached Hongkong in 32 days. The quickes British packet passage has been 32 days, twice, outward. Taking the whole year, and the passage in both directions, the British Packets show an average of 36 days against 364, the average Frenc mail passage. The following are the averages for the year,.

British Packets, Outward, French Packets, Homeward, French Packets, Outward,

British Packets, Homeward,

I have the honour to be,

.341 days.

..36

.36

.373

27

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Honourable W. H. MARSH, C.M.G.,

&c.,

Colonial Secretary, &c.,

&c.

APPENDIX.

A. LISTER, Postmaster General.

(4.)—COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE 1882 & 1883.

1883.

1882.

Imperial Share,

.$33,715.46

$19,894.49

Increase,

$13,820.97*

Conveyance of Mails,..

$11,323.19

$10,031.05

Increase,

$ 1,292.14

Expenditure,

.$33,767.07

$31,317.85

Increase,

Balance,

..$32,358.19

$43,438.55

Decrease,.....

$ 2,449.22†

$11,080.36*

Gross Revenue,

.$111,163.91

$104,681.91

Increase, $6,491.97 .

* These large differences are caused by the payment of an outstanding debt of about $13,000 to the London Office, †The Crown Agents' account for 1883 is included, in 1882 it was not.