8

E.—l

Depaetmental. 81 new Post Offices were opened, and 3 re-opened during the year, at the following places : — Broad Bay, Otago Kaurihohorc, Auckland Spring Creek, Marlborough Adelaide Road, Wellington Kumara, Westland St. John's, Wanganui, Wellington Balcairn, Canterbury Kumeo Elat, Auckland Sandie Town, Canterbury Barrhill „ Row, Otago Selwyn „ Big Bay, Otago Lee Stream, Otago St. Andrews „ Bright Water, Nelson Little Grey Junction, Westland Stirling, Otago Broadfleid, Canterbury Longboach, Canterbury Te Kapu, Hawke's Bay Clarkville „ Makeritu, Hawke's Bay Te Wharau, Auckland Crofton, Wellington Matawhero, Auckland Te Mawhai, Hawke's Bay Clarendon, Otago Mauriceville, Wellington Turiroa ~ Coalgate, Canterbury Makikihi (re-opened), Canterbury Upper Waiau Ferry, Nelson Clark's, Otago Middlemarsh, Otago Upper Parnell, Auckland Dipton „ Normanby, Taranaki Upper Waikaia, Otago Duntroon „ Ngaliinepouri, Auckland Waitoa, Anekland Dunrobin ~ Oruru „ Waitohi Flat, Canterbury Deep Stream ~ Opaki, Wellington Washdyke (re-opened), Canterbury Eketahuna, Wellington Port Fitzroy, Auckland West Eyrcton, Canterbury East Oxford, Canterbury Peel Forest, Canterbury Whakato, Auckland Foxhill Station, Nelson Patcrangi, Auckland White's Point, Nelson Ferntown „ Purakanui, Otago Waihenga, Wellington Hoteo North, Auckland Pukeuri „ Waimangaroa, Nelson Henley, Otago Round Hill ~ Warrington, Otago Highcliffe „ Red Jack's, Westland Woodville, Wellington Hilton, Canterbury Ruatangata, Auckland Waiheke, Auckland Halcouibe, Wellington Ravensbourne, Otago Waitekauri „ Horokiwi (re-opened), Wellington Rangitata, Canterbury Whatipu „ Kimberley, Canterbury Sandymount, Otago Wbakataki, Wellington ' Katikati, Auckland Sefton, Canterbury Whirinaki, Auckland. The under-noted 8 Post Offices were closed during the year:— Cape Settlement, Auckland. Southside, Marlborough. Flaxbourne, Marlborough. Spreydon, Canterbury. Gouland's Ferry, Marlborough. Takaka, Nelson. Mount Somers, Canterbury. Upper Wakefield, Nelson. 708 Post Offices were open on the 31st December, 1876, and the number of officers employed was 855. The number of Post Offices open in the several postal districts on the 31st December, 1876, compared with tho number open in 1875, is shown by the following table :—

The following return of officers of the Postal Department for the years 1875 and 1876 shows to what extent the staff was increased during the year : — Officers. 1876. 1875. Officers. 1876. 1875. Postmaster-Gleneral ... ... 1 1 Postmasters ... ... ... 13 13. Secretary ... ... ... 1 1 Clerks ... ... ... 86 82 Inspector of Post Offices... ... 1 1 Sub-Postmasters ... ... 681 620 Accountant, Money Order and Letter Carriers... ... ... 36 33 Savings Bank Department ... 1 1 Messengers ... ... ... 9 6 Clerks in General Post Office ... 4 4 Mail-cart Drivers ... ... 2 2 Clerks in Money Order and Savings Shipping Officers ... ... 2 1 Bank Department ... ... 4 4 Chief and Head Postmasters ... 14 14 Totals ... ... 855 783 It is contemplated at an early date to relieve the Chief Postmasters at "Wellington and Auckland of the business now performed by them on behalf of the Government Insurance Department. The large proportions which the Insurance business has attained at these offices has made it desirable the change should be made. The staff of letter carriers at Napier, Christchurch, and Invercargill has been increased by the addition of a carrier to each office, enabling more frequent and extended deliveries to be arranged. A late-letter box has been affixed to the Guard's van of the trains running between Dunedin and Port Chalmers. It is the intention to extend the use of these "late-letter boxes " to other railway lines.

IS '6. 181 '5. Postal Districts. Chief and Uead Post Offices. Secondclass Post Offices. Sub-Post Offices. Totals. Chief and Head Post Offices. Sccondcliiss Post Offices. Sub-Post Offices. Totals. Auckland .'hames Paranaki lawke's Bay ... iVellington kelson Westport ilarlborough. ... Canterbury lokitika Irey mouth )tago louthland Chatham Islands 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 3 140 9 12 39 60 25 17 12 132 26 19 153 36 1 143 10 13 42 62 26 18 15 130 27 20 156 38 2 1 1 1 1 1 1. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 3 126 8 11 36 51 25 15 14 119 26 17 136 35 1 129 9 12 39 53 26 16 17 123 27 18 139 37 2 2 1 "a i Totals 14 18 681 708 14 18 620 647