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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2ND APRIL, 1870.

70. I append returns, marked A and B, from which it will be observed that the British Contract Packets have arrived with the Mails from home with punctuality; that the average time occupie in making the voyage by these vessels has been a few hours longer in 1869 than it was in 1868; al that 40 days is the quickest time in which a Mail has been conveyed from London to Hongkong by them; whilst the Mails despatched from London via Brindisi one day later than the Mails vi Marseilles, have invariably reached Hongkong with the Marseilles portion of the Mail. From another return annexed, marked C, it is shewn that the quickest time a Mail from London has been brought to Hongkong by the French Packets is 41 days. The average time occupied in the voyages by the outward French Packets, is one hour more than by the British Packets.

71. I also append a return, marked D, of the arrivals and departures of United States' Mail Packets at Hongkong by which it is shown that the lowest number of days occupied in the

voyage from San Francisco to Hongkong during 1869 was 33, whilst the average time occupied in the voyage from San Francisco was 354 days against 35 days in 1868.

72. The French Packets are to run fortnightly carrying Mails between the United Kingdom and China and Japan commencing with the Mail to be despatched from Hongkong on the 14th July; this service will afford weekly communication (via Suez) between the United Kingdom, France, &c., on the one side, and China and Japan on the other, by the British and French Packets alternately, and it is, I hear, in contemplation to inaugurate a fortnightly service, between Hongkong and San Francisco. 73. The amount realized by the sale of Postage Stamps in 1869 was $155,785.52, of which Stamps of the value of $76,830.88 were sold in Hongkong, and the remainder, viz., $78,954.61, at the Post Office Agencies at the Ports, shewing a Decrease of $939.38, in those sold in Hongkong, and an Increase of $22,922.78 in those sold at the Ports, as compared with 1868.

74. I annex a list of the number and value of cach kind of Postage Stamps sold in 1869 and 1868, shewing the Increase or Decrease, as the case may be, under each head, viz. :-

STAMPS SOLD IN 1869.

STAMPS SOLD IN 1868.

INCREASE.

DECREASE.

Denomination.

Number.

Amount.

Number.

Amount,

Number.

Amount.

Number.

Amount.

$ c.

2 cents.

244,941

4,¿98.82

227,464

S 4,549.28

C.

17,477

C. 349.54

$

C1

4

**

148,382

5,335.28

191,200

7,051.72

42,911

1,716.44

6

17

147,832

8,869.92

132,661

7,959.66

15,171

910.25

8

244,305

19,544.40

169,528

13,562.24

74,777

5,982.16

""

12

**

70,297

8,435.64

58,357

7,002.84

11,940

1,432.80

18

11

8,604

1,548.72

7,876

1,417.68

728

131.04

2-4

""

116,372

27,929.28

100,584

24,140,16

15,788

3,789.12

30

17

110,747

33,224.10

92,817

27,845.10

17,930

5,379.00

43

**

35,636

17,105.28

32,531

96

"

29,473

28,294.08

25.061

$155,785.52

15,614.88 24,058.56

$133.802.12

3,105

1,490.40

4,412

4,235.52

$23,699.84

$1,716.44-

The Honorable J. GARDINER AUSTIN,

Sc.,

Colonial Secretary, &c.,

fe.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

F. W. MITCHELL,

Postmaster General.