152
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH MARCH, 1876.
53. Tables B and C also afford the following averages as to the time allowed the Contract Packets to and from London, and the time actually occupied by them.
French Packets, Homeward,
British Packets, Outward,
French Packets, Outward,
British Packets, Homeward,.
Average voyage allowed. .412 days, .40 ..414 42
41호
99
">
15
Average voyage, taken. ..39 days.
394
.41
17
13
.411
19
54. To the returns as to the American Packets (Appendix B and C) has been added a statement of the time occupied in transmitting mails to and from London by their means. The quickest delivery in London was in 45 days, the latest in 56 days. One mail reached Hongkong by this route in 44 days from London, but another actually occupied eighty-seven days. The cause of the delay is, presumably, waiting in San Francisco for a steamer, which does not occur in the opposite direction. The average time from London has been 57-654 days, the longer period being for those mails made up by the London Office some time before a steamer was ready to take them, the shorter for those which were timed more happily. A calculation from the dates of posting would probably give a few days more.
55. The sixpenny rate from London by this route appears somewhat delusive when these long delays are taken into account. Those who wish to post for sixpence had far better avail themselves of Messrs. Hour's vessels, which are not nearly so much used for cheap postage as they might be. The passages home by this line are generally very good, the passages out perhaps not quite so quick, but they would probably not average more than 50 days.
56. The Contract Steamers to Australia viâ Torres Straits have been somewhat irregular in their arrivals and departures, but they form a very important means of communication with the Australasian Colonies, and doubtless as the service gains permanency it will increase in regularity.
57. An apology is due for the length and prolixity of this Report. It cannot be better expressed than in the words of the great founder of the Penny Post; "Some pains should be taken to make the main features of the Post Office system intelligible."
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
The Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
&c.,
Colonial Secretary, &c.,
&c.
APPENDIX.
(A.) GENERAL RETURN OF POST OFFICE BUSINESS.
ALFRED LISTER,
Postmaster General.
1874.
Books
SENT.
1875.
Books
INCREASE. DECREASE.
Berks
Books
1874.
| Books
RECEIVED.
1875.
INCREASE.
Books
DECREASE.
Books
Books Letters. and Letters. and Letters and Letters ant Letters and Letters and Letters' All waters and
Papers.
Papers.
Papers.
Papers
Papers.
Papers.
UNITED KINGDOM.
Per British Packets,.........
183,018 112,176|135,525
98,787 2,507
Per French Packets,...
UNITED STATES.†
63,000 25,848 62,379 27,335
1,187
711
No No No No 13,389 record record record record
17
>1
Papers."
Papers.
Per United States Packets,
28.224 37,626 31,670 42,114 8,416 : 4,788
REGISTERED CORRESPONDENCE.
United Kingdom,
4.280
4.178
102
17,972
1,978
19,970
1,998
2,404
481
Continent,
401
622
128
690
981
241
Australia,
117
87
30
229
305
76
Ports of China and Japan,
$21
785
777
1,103
326
Straits,
202
149
1,155
1,063
92
Ceylon,
20
15
43
India,
180
473
13
503
448
57
Total, Registered Correspondence,|
6,429
6,309
128
248
5,372
6,356
1.153
149
Total, do. Increase or Decrease,
120
984
Deer case.
Increase.
Ship Mails..
1,357
1,571
214 Increase.
1,46
1,710
264 Increase.
* Registered Papers, Books, and Patterns, not being numerons, are included under degistered Letters.
Including a very small Mail for Yokohama by cach U. S. Packer.
J
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