Sessional_Paper_1897 — Page 289

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In my opinion the only remedy is to have an office of sufficient size to permit of two separate contiguous establishments one for outgoing and the other for incoming mails.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

The Honourable

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.

Your obedient Servant,

A. M. THOMSON,

Postmaster General,

Table A.-Approximate Statistics for the Year 1896.

International.

Local.

Comparison with 1895.

Description of Correspondence.

Total.

Des- patched.

Received.

Des- patched.

Received.!

Total in 1895.

Increase. Decrease.

Ordinary Paid Letters,

863,720 1,059,110 84,890

93,210

2,100,930

1,908,130 192,800

Unpaid or Short-paid Articles,..

4,030

23,470 510

1,020

29,030

32,940

3,910

Letters on Postal Business,

*3,490

3,380 1,820

1,430

10,120

9,370

750

+19

Post Cards (Single),

10,670

Post Cards with reply,

910

18,980 450

2,750

2,730

35,130

39,110

210

60

1,630

2,860

3,980 1,230

Newspapers, Periodicals, Books, Cir-

culars, &c.,

376;690

Patterns,

9,230

Registered Articles,

61,360

Do.,

with Return Receipts,...

130

891,150 61,100 29,120 210 161,070 2,960

<

27,430 3,060

1,356,370 | 1,404,260

47,890

41,620

40,720

900

9,620

9,230

241,280

190,020

51,260

20

30

3,140

6,310

3,170

Local Delivery:-Letters, Circulars, &c.,

112,840

95,610

17,230

United Kingdom,

India,

Germany,

Australia,

Ceylon,

Malta and Gibraltar,

Coast Ports,

Egypt,

Table B.-Sale of Stamps at Hongkong 1895 and 1896.

1895.

1896.

January,

.$12,489.53

$15,520.43

February,

10,667.13

11,713.62

March,

12,813.99

12,693.90

April,

11,451.37

15,083.72

May,

14,554.84

12,218.73

June,

12,030.09

12,733.60

July,...

11,928.27

13,664,26

August,

12,943.28

12,023.13

September,

11,698.62

11,837.51

October,

14,319.72

14,509.75

November,

12,748.35

14,155.97

December,

13,521.29

15,828.81

$151,166.48

$161,983.46

Table C.-Statistics of Parcels for the Year 1896.

Despatched to

Ordinary. Insured,

Received from

Ordinary. Insured.

11,313

684

1,087 192

407

132

83

284

31

4,230

Total,......

17,164

1,279

9,725

731

1,313 United Kingdom,

254 India,.

665

170

66

Germany, Australia, Ceylon,

31

Egypt,

7,389

Gibraltar and Malta,

27

+

Coast Ports,

Total,..

18,804

1,567