The Queenslander Saturday 30 October 1897 p. 863
Postal Express Delivery.
Regulations for an "express delivery" service at
certain towns in Queensland have been approved, and will come into force on the
1st November. There are four systems by which letters and packets not exceeding
8oz. in weight can be specially delivered, namely:
l. By special messenger all the way. This is the most
expeditious service, and to secure it letters, etc, must be handed in at an
"express delivery" post office.
2. By special messenger after transmission by post. For this
service a letter may be posted at any post or receiving office, or in any letter-box
or tram posting-bag, and be "expressed" on reaching the delivering office,
providing such office is an express delivery office.
3. By special delivery in advance of the ordinary delivery
by letter carrier. By this means any person may make an arrangement with the
postmaster of any express delivery office to secure the immediate delivery of
his own correspondence on its arrival.
4. Special delivery by travelling mall officers at all
stations where the mail trains are timed to stop without passing through the
local post office or waiting local delivery.
In the system of local service by special messenger all the
way. In Brisbane letters and packets not e exceeding 8oz. in weight will be
accepted at the Chief Post Office and the post offices at South Brisbane, Woolloongabba,
Fortitude Valley, Albion, and Toowong. They will also be accepted at most post
offices from which there is a delivery of telegrams. Such offices are designated
"express delivery offices." The scale of charges is as follows:
(a) In Brisbane for a letter or packet not exceeding 8oz. in
weight for the first mile or part of a mile, in addition to the proper postage,
4d., provided that the minimum rale, including postage, shall not be less than 6d.;
for every additional half-mile or hart of half-a-mile, up to two miles, 2d.
(b) Express messages will be delivered by foot-messengers,
by omnibus, or by bicycle, at the discretion of the department. If the sender
desires a cab or other special conveyance to be used, the actual fare must be
paid in addition to the express fee and postage.
(c) At the suburban and country post offices the express
delivery is limited to one mile from the post office.
(d) All charges, including both postage and fee, must be fully
prepaid by valid postage stamps affixed to the letter or packet.
Posting and Distinctive Marking.
(a) Every letter and packet intended or express delivery
must be handed in, and not posted in a letter-box, during the hours when the
office is open for ordinary business. After the office has closed they may be
posted in the letter-boxes in the ordinary manner, but will not be delivered
until the following morning.
(b) The words "express delivery" must be boldly
and legibly written by the sender above the address in the left-hand corner of
the cover. When posted in a letter-box there must be in addition a broad perpendicular
line drawn from top to bottom both on the front and the back of the cover.
(c) There is no express delivery on Sundays and holidays.
Reply and Further Service.
When a reply is required to an express delivery letter or
packet, the words "wait reply" must be legibly written by the sender
immediately under the words "express delivery," and the postage and
fee required for the reply must be affixed by postage stamps Immediately under
the above endorsement on the article to which a reply is desired. The messenger
will be allowed to wait ten minutes for the reply. When the letter or packet
sent in reply, or as a further service, is to be taken to an address on the
messenger's homeward route the express delivery fee will be 3d. in addition to
the ordinary postage, otherwise the full fee as for the original service must
be prepaid.
Acceptance of Express Articles by Telegraph Messengers.
A telegraph messenger on delivering a telegram may, if desired,
take back to the post office at which he is employed a letter or packet for
express delivery. The postage and fee must be prepaid by the sender by means of
stamps affixed to the article. The express fee will be charged as from the residence
of the sender and not from the office where the messenger is employed.
Letters and packets intended for express delivery from the
post office of destination only can be posted like ordinary articles, but they
must be clearly marked, "Express delivery," and have a thick
perpendicular line drawn on each side of the envelope. The fee of 4d. in
addition to the ordinary postage must be prepaid by affixed postage stamps, and
the minimum rate, including postage; is 6d. Letters and packets marked as
directed, and fully prepaid, will be delivered by special messenger immediately
after receipt of the mail in which they are enclosed. The conditions already
specified for express letters and packets for the local service will also apply
to those intended for- express delivery after transmission by post.
Persons or firms who desire at any time to receive their
letters or packets, not exceeding the weight of 8oz. each, or. in the aggregate
a total weight not exceeding 4lb., in advance of the ordinary delivery, may have.
them delivered by special messenger on payment of the following fees—namely, the
full express fee of 4d. a mile or fraction of a mile for one article, and each
for each, additional article beyond the first.
Letters or packets with the ordinary postage fully prepaid,
together with the usual late fee, and an express delivery fee of 4d., affixed
by postage stamps, will be accepted by any travelling mail officer for delivery
at any railway platform where the mail train is timed to stop. Such articles
must be marked by the sender, "Express delivery," in the manner
previously directed, and this endorsement will be covered by the date stamp of
the T.P.O. to indicate that no further or local express delivery service is required.
The sender must arrange for a special messenger to meet the train on arrival at
the platform, and apply at the travelling post office for the article. If this is
not done the letter or packet will be handed loose to the person carrying the mails
to the. local post office, and delivery must be obtained in the usual manner.
The following are declared express delivery offices: Albion, Bowen, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns. Charleville, Charters Towers, Cooktown,
Croydon, Dalby, Fortitude Valley, Gladstone, Gympie, Ipswich, Mackay,
Maryborough, Mount Morgan, Normanton, One-mile, Petrie-terrace, Queenton, Rockhampton,
Roma, Sandgate, South Brisbane, Southport, Toowong, Toowoomba, Townsville,
Warwick, Woolloongabba, and such other offices as the Postmaster-General may
from time to time appoint.
