246
24. Should the proposal of the Chinese Government not be accepted, it will be absolutely necessary to improve our Postal Agencies. They cannot be left as they are. On the other hand, no suggestion to open additional agencies at the expense of this Government should be entertained.
correspon-
25. The time has perhaps arrived when something should be done to bring the Chinese dence transmitted to and from this Colony more under control. There can be no doubt that the revenue suffers serious loss from the smuggling of thousands of Chinese letters, not to Chinese ports where there is no national Post Office to receive them, but to San Francisco, Australia, the Straits Settlements, and other places where efficient Post Offices exist. The subject is surrounded with difficulties, and the sweeping measures so often advocated, besides being ruinously expensive, would make the Postal Department here a nuisance and a hindrance to trade which would not be tolerated for a week. The function of a Post Office is to facilitate, not to hinder business. Proposals of a practical nature have, as you are aware, been submitted to the Government in this matter, and they are at present under consideration.
I have the honour to be,
The Honourable F. STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary, &C.,
&c.,
&c.
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
A. LISTER, Postmaster General.
APPENDIX.
(4.)-APPROXIMATE STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1886.
Supplied to the International Bureau of the Postal Union, Berne.
INTERNATIONAL.
LOCAL.
COMPARISON WITH 1885,
DESCRIPTION OF CORRESPONDENCE.
TOTAL.
De- spatched.
Received.
De- spatched,
Received.
Total in 1885.
Increase. Decrease.
Ordinary paid letters,
Unpaid and short paid Articles,
538,500 403,700 61,100
52,600 1,055,900
1,095,000
* 39,100
9,600 |
22,300
2,400
15,800
50,100
46,000
4,100
Letters on Postal Business,
1,100
600
1,200
1,100
4,000
4,350
350
Post Cards,
1,300
2,500
2,100
1,000
9,900
13,000
3,100
Do. with prepaid reply,
Newspapers and Periodicals,.
118,700
248,200
35,100
15,000
412.000
510,000
98,000
Books, Circulars, Prices Current, &c.,
197,300
8 2,000
14.000
10,800
304,100
410,000
*105,900
Patterns,
4,800
2,900
300
8,000
16,160
8,160
Commercial Papers,
Registered Articles,
21,700
30,300
3,400
3,500
58,900
57,874
1;026
Leiters with value declared,
Registered Articles with Return Receipt,.
Parcels.
200 3,136
4,200 3,516
50
50
4.500
2,262
2,238
966
888
8,506
1,670
6,936
*The figures in the above table are obtained by multiplying the amount of correspondence forwarded during 28 days by 13. The results are very fortuitous and these decreases are probably more apparent than real. The sale of postage stamps, a much more satisfactory test, shows a steady increase.
(B.)
No. 38.
GENERAL POST OFFICE, HONGKONG, June 16th, 1886.
SIR, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 939 of yesterday's date, referring to me for an early report the Secretary of State's Despatch No. 57 of May 14, with its enclosures respecting the proposed new contract for the Eastern Mail Service.
2. This subject has been so long under discussion, and is presented by the London Post Office in so clear a light, that there appears to be no doubt as to the course the Colony should pursue. In recommending that the Telegram enclosed in draft should be forwarded without delay, I have the pleasure of knowing that I am in accord with the views of the Legisla- tive Council and of the Chamber of Commerce.
3. That draft Telegram deals with four points.
(1.) The best tender to accept.
(2.) The contribution of Hongkong. (3.) The Canadian route,
(4.) The hour of departure from Hongkong.
4. As to the best tender to accept, Lord WOLVERTON's lucid report leaves no question open. I am very glad to see that no experiments are to be tried in the way of leaving the nails to be conveyed, on any portion of the route, by chance
steamers.
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Private notes are available after approval.