Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 208

To.

PARCELS DESPATCHED.

1891.

1892.

Increase. Decrease.

United Kingdom,

5,240

6,461

1,221

Germany,

160

175

15

Other Countries,

2,200

787

1,413

Total International,

7,600 7,423

1,236

1,413

Coast Ports,

5,000

4,450

550

Total,....

12,600 11,873

1,236

1,963

DEDUCT INCREASE,.

TOTAL DECREASE,

1,236

727

205

10. Table D shows approximately the Statistics for the year. Compared with 1891 there has been an increase under all heads except two, that of "Letters on Postal Business" which shows a decrease of 1,250 and that of "Registered Articles with Return Receipts" which shows a decrease of 1,460. Table E gives the figures for the past seven years.

11. The total number of Mails received and despatched in 1891 and 1892 was as follows:-

Received, Despatched,

1891.

.2,511 .3,001

1892. 3,796 4,366

Increase.

1,285 1,365

12. As was the case last year, much annoyance has been caused to the Department and the Public by the want of adhesiveness in the Postage Stamps. This is more particularly the case as regards the two-cent stamps, and is perhaps more felt in the dry season than at other times. The matter has been repeatedly brought to the notice of the Crown Agents. The same trouble is, I understand, experienced in other Colonies situated within the tropics.

13. It would greatly facilitate the work of returning Dead Letters to the writers, if they would give their addresses, and sign their names in full, and if this were done on the covers, the letters would be returned unopened. As it is, the greater number have to be opened to discover the name and address of the writer, and it is frequently found that the letter is signed with initials only, or with a Christian name only, and this in cases where there are enclosures of value. The letters have conse- quently to be perused in the hope of obtaining some clue to the identity of the writers.

14. In his report on 1891, reference was made by the Postmaster General to a Board appointed. by His Excellency the Governor to enquire what means could be devised to stop the illicit Chinese Post Offices that abound in the Colony. The Board submitted its report in August last.

Chinese correspondence arriving in or sent from the Colony may be classed as follows:-

A. Correspondence originating in the Colony and destined for places in China other than

the Treaty Ports where the General Post Office has Agencies.

B. Correspondence originating outside the Colony, as at Saigon, Singapore, &c., and destined

as A.

C. Correspondence originating in the interior of China destined for Hongkong, or Treaty

Ports, or places outside Hongkong where there are regularly established Post Offices. D. Correspondence exchanged between places where regular Post Offices exist e.g. Hongkong

and Bangkok.

It was considered that nothing could be done as regards Class A until the establishment of an Imperial Postal Administration in China to which such mail matter could be sent for delivery, the General Post Office of this Colony having no means of delivering such correspondence. As regards Classes B, C & D, there being no means of detecting such correspondence as does not pass through the Post Offices of the country of origin, it was considered nothing could be done beyond the issue of a Proclamation in Chinese explaining the requirements of the law. This was done, but it is doubtful if any good effect has resulted. In those places where persons landing have to pass through the Customs e.g. Japan, something can be done to detect correspondence that has been carried to them in