POSTAL INFORMATION.
LOCAL REGULATIONS.
The country offices are open from 9 am to 6 pm, except when
mails arrive at a later hour in which case they are open for an hour after such
arrival, but not later than 8 p.m.
REGULATIONS FOR PRIVATE MAIL BAGS.
Settlers upon mall routes requiring the accommodation of a
Private Bag can obtain the same from either of the Two Post Offices next to
them upon payment (in advance) of a sum not exceeding Two Guineas per annum to
the Postmaster who has to make up the bag, subject to the following
regulations, viz :-
1. The bag must be of leather, and provided at the cost of
the person requiring it.
2. The Postmaster will close and seal it securely before dispatching
it; and it must be returned in like manner, sealed with some seal the
impression of which is known by the Postmaster.
3. The bag may contain letters for all persons who give
written authority to the Postmaster to enclose them; but it must be distinctly
understood that the person paying for the private bag is responsible for the postage
of all unpaid letters, and for the receipts for all which may be registered. In
case of non-payment of postage, or detection of registered letter receipts, the
Postmaster shall decline to forward any more letters of either of these classes
A contractor is bound to convey and deliver free of all
charge, all bags given to him by the Postmasters, or under their instructions;
but is not required to deviate in the slightest from the usual mail rate, and
is on no account to be delayed. Should the return bag not be ready at the
appointed time and place the contractor must not wait for it.
GENERAL RULES TO BE OBSERVED.
All Letters, Packets, and Newspapers posted in Queensland
that are required to be prepaid, must bear Queensland Stamps.
Inland Letters inadvertently posted, either stamped or
insufficiently stamped, will be forwarded to their destination; but, before
delivery, double the amount of deficient postage must be paid.
Inefficiently prepaid or wholly unpaid letters posted for
transmission to Australian Colonies, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, will
be forwarded, but charged with the deficiency and a single rate as a fine.
Any insufficiently prepaid letter posted for transmission to
the United States of America, will, if bearing at least a single rate of
postage, be forwarded and charged with the postage deficient, and a single rate
of postage as a fine; any letter not bearing a single rate of postage will be
opened and returned to the sender.
Any Letter or Packet posted for transmission to British
Colonies (excepting the Australian Colonies and New Zealand), and to foreign
countries (unless in special cases), if sent direct, will invariably be opened
and returned to the sender, unless it bears the full amount of postage payable
thereon.
Letters and Pets Containing Gold or Silver, Jewels etc -
No letter or packet, whether registered or unregistered, containing either gold
or silver, money, jewels or precious articles, or any other article whatever,
liable to Customs duties is allowed to be conveyed by post to any of the
countries comprised within the Postal Union. Any Letters or Packets containing
such enclosures and addressed to the countries comprised in the General
Postal Union - namely: Austro-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, France,
French Colonies, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira), Roumania, Russia, Servia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United States and British India - will not be
received at any Post Office.
Letters, Packets, and Newspapers, on being
Re-directed, are charged the same amount of postage, in addition to the
original postage, as would be payable if such letter, packet, or newspaper were
originally posted at the place of re-direction (excepting soldiers' and
sailors' letters).
A Postmaster may refuse to receive or transmit by post any
letter, packet, or packet of newspapers exceeding sixteen ounces in weight, or
of inconvenient form or dimensions, or containing, or reasonably suspected to
contain, any article likely to injure the other contents of the mail bags or
any person.
LETTERS.
Letters sent overland to the Colonies of New South Wales and
South Australia, are charged postage as follows, viz.: New South Wales, 2d. per
oz.; South Australia, 4d. per oz. (2d. Queensland stamp and 2d. N. S. Wales
stamp.)
Registered Letters. For the Registration of Letters
(except where specially mentioned) a Stamp of the value of fourpence must be
affixed, in addition to the postage chargeable. As the Post Office is not
responsible for the loss of any letter, packet, or newspaper, whether
registered or otherwise, persons sending Bank Notes or Drafts are advised to
take the numbers and particulars, and to cut such Notes or Drafts in halves,
and to send them by different posts. The registration of letters containing any
enclosure of value is compulsory by law. Envelopes for Registration purposes
may be had on application to any Post Office, at one half-penny each.
Late Fee on Letters. - Colonial and Intercolonial,
3d. each letter; Foreign, 6d. This fee is paid by affixing to the letter the
required amount of postage stamps.
Loose Ship Letters. - Loose Letters posted on board
steamers must bear a late fee, besides the regular postage in Queensland
postage stamps, unless for delivery within the colony, in which case the
regular postage only is required.
Consignees Letters. - Letters concerning goods sent,
and to be delivered therewith, are not required by the Post Office Act to be
posted, nor to bear postage stamps, but those sent by railway must, to avoid
being taken for ordinary letters, have besides the words "Consignees
Letter," the name and address of the sender legibly written or printed on
the face thereof.
Exemption from Postage Rate.-
1. All Petitions or Addresses to Her Majesty, His Excellency
the Governor, and all Petitions to the Executive Council, the Legislative
Council, and the Legislative Assembly, not exceeding thirty-two ounces in
weight, and without covers, or in covers open at both ends.
2. Savings Bank Books, from and to, and to and from,
depositors and the Treasury; applications made by depositors (Savings Bank) for
acknowledgment of deposits; applications or necessary letters of enquiry respecting
the sums deposited by them, and for the replies thereto.
3. All letters on Government insurances and annuities business.
(Provided, that the words "Government Savings Bank," as the case may
be, are legibly marked on the outside cover.)
4. Telegraphic Messages posted for delivery when bearing the
word "Post" on the cover and initialled by the Electric Telegraph
Officer in charge.
5. Packets (in covers open at the ends or sides, and the
contents legibly endorsed thereon) containing votes and proceedings of the
Parliament of Queensland, or the weekly parts of the Queensland Parliamentary
Debates, may be sent by post within the colony free of charge, provided they
bear the date of issue from the office of the Government Printer, and are
posted within seven days thereafter. All such packets posted after the
expiration of seven days from the date of issue from the office of the
Government Printer shall be charged postage at ordinary rates for packets.
6. Divisional Boards' ballot papers, when initialled and posted
by the returning officer and endorsed "Ballot paper." The following
Table of Postage Rates is abridged from the Postal Guide :-
PACKETS AND BOOKS.
Packets of Gold transmitted within the Colony-Not
exceeding ½
oz., 4d.; exceeding ½ oz., but not exceeding 1 oz., 8d.,
and so on, increasing 4d. for every additional ounce or fraction of ounce.
Book Packets, Bankers Packets, Packets of Deeds, &c.,
Packets of Prices Current, &c., within the Colony -- Not exceeding 2
ozs., 1d.; and 1d. extra for every additional 2 ounces or fraction of 2 ounces.
Packets containing Returns of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, may be
transmitted unstamped, the postage being paid on delivery, if marked as containing
such returns only, and signed by the clergyman or the district registrar transmitting
them.
Packets open at each end, containing Printed Reports of the
Proceedings of any Benevolent, Religious, or Charitable Institutions, when
posted at any Post office for delivery at such office, or at any place within
the limits of the city or town in which such Post office is situated- Not
exceeding 2 ozs., 1d. ; and for every additional 2 ounces or portion of 2
ounces, 1d.
Packets of Books, Samples, &c., for the United
Kingdom, via Brindisi, or via San Francisco- Not exceeding 2 ozs., 2d.; and
so on, increasing 2d. for every additional 2 ozs., or portion of 2 ozs., up to
3 lbs.
Packets of books and printed papers of every kind, posted in
conformity with the regulations of the British Colonial Book Post, and
addressed to the United Kingdom, may be forwarded in the closed mails
despatched by way of Brindisi. The postage on such book packets, sent via
Brindisi- 2 ozs. 2d. ; and for every additional 2 ozs., up to 3 lbs., 2d. The
postage must be prepaid by stamps, and the value of stamps affixed to a packet
will be taken as an indication of the choice of route on behalf of the sender.
PACKETS.
(In covers open at the ends or sides, and the contents
legibly endorsed thereon.)
1. Bankers' packets containing notes, orders, cheques,
pass-books, returns or other periodical statements, sent by, or to any bank or
banker. Registered parcels containing notes to be completely enclosed in a
strong cover, and the contents marked legibly on cover, signed by an officer of
the bank.
2. Packets containing process of, or proceedings or
pleadings in any court, briefs, cases, and instructions for counsel, and their
opinions thereon respectively, deeds, affidavits, policies of assurance,
letters of attorney, depositions, or recognizances.
3. Pat-terns or samples of merchandise not having a value of
their own, apart from their mere use as patterns or samples, and either
unenclosed or enclosed in transparent bags, or in bags tied round the neck so
as to be easily loosened and refastened.
4. Prices current and catalogues.
5. Acts of the Queensland or Imperial Parliament, or printed
Votes and Proceedings of either House thereof respectively, or vouchers, or
returns, or copies of returns, made by, or to any officer in the public
service.
6. Medical diplomas, certificates (partly written and partly
printed) writing paper, envelopes, script, pamphlets, maps, plans,
specifications, music, photographs (on paper), magazines, reviews, placards,
almanacs, prospectuses, paintings, engravings, printers' proofs, or periodical
publications, other than newspapers.
7. Printed or plain books.
8. Printed circulars and circulars produced by the
Papyrograph, Velocigraph, Multigraph, or any other process by which a number of
facsimile copies can be made, may be sent by post as town, country, or foreign
packets, within the meaning of The Postage Act of 1871; provided they are open
at the ends or sides, or in covers open at the ends or sides, and the contents
legibly endorsed thereon.
9. Seeds in transparent bags or papers, tied so as to be
easily loosened and refastened, not exceeding sixteen ounces in weight.
10. Divisional Board notices of valuation, and of rates and
receipts for rates, open at end or sides, and contents stated thereon.
Regulations. No packet shall exceed two feet in
length, and one foot in width and depth; nor three pounds in weight. There
shall be no letter either closed or open, nor any enclosure, sealed or
otherwise closed against inspection, sent in or with any such packet, nor shall
there be any letter or any communication in the nature of a letter written, or
printed on the cover or envelope of any such packet. The name and address of
the sender may appear on the cover as well as those of the party addressed, but
this is not indispensable. Should a packet be posted unpaid, or, excepting
those addressed to the United Kingdom, insufficiently prepaid, or be enclosed
in a cover not open at the ends or sides, and contents not legibly endorsed, or
should it exceed the dimensions or weight specified, such packet will be sent
to the Dead Letter Office, and returned to the sender. Where a packet,
addressed to the United Kingdom only, shall have been posted insufficiently
prepaid, and it shall appear that at least a single rate has been paid thereon,
such packet will be forwarded, charged with an additional postage equal to the
deficiency, and a further rate as a fine. Should any letter, whether sealed or
open, or otherwise closed against inspection, be found in a packet, such letter
or other enclosure will be forwarded, charged not only with the postage due
upon it as an unpaid letter, but also with an additional single packet rate.
The packet itself in such case, will be forwarded, provided the postage shall
have been duly paid, without any extra charge. Patterns [see Definition 3] must
be of no intrinsic value. This rule includes all articles of a saleable nature,
and, indeed, whatever may have a value of its own, apart from its mere use as a
pattern; nor must the quantity of any material sent ostensibly as a pattern be
so great that it could fairly be considered as having on this ground an
intrinsic value. In most cases a small piece of an article is all that is
required to be transmitted. The complete article having a value of its own,
would not, in such cases, come under the class of patterns or samples only. For
instance, a child's dress, a stocking, a shoe or boot, etc., cannot be classed
as samples. Patterns must not bear any writing other than the address of the
persons for whom they are intended, the name and address of the sender, a manufacturer’s
or trade mark, numbers, and the price of articles. Samples of seeds, drugs, and
so forth, which cannot be sent in open covers, may be enclosed in bags of linen
or other material; but closed bags, although transparent, must not be used for
this purpose. No article likely to injure the contents of the mail bags, or the
person of any officer of the Post Office, will be forwarded as a pattern.
Metals, nails, watch machinery, cutlery, and other articles of intrinsic value,
cannot be forwarded to or through France. When packets are found posted
contrary to the regulations, whether received from abroad or posted within the
colony, they will be surcharged for collection on delivery with the deficient
postage as letters, together with an equal amount as a fine. N.B. In cases
where, from the arrival of Packet Ships from England, or from any other cause,
the number of such packets is unusually large, the Postmaster, in order to
prevent interruption to the punctual despatch of the ordinary Mails, is
authorised to delay the transmission of any such packets for three successive
posts.
NEWSPAPERS.
The postage on newspapers must be paid by affixing on the
newspapers stamps of sufficient value, and no newspaper chargeable with postage
will be forwarded unless fully prepaid.
Every printed copy of a paper containing any public news or
occurrences, or any remarks or observations thereon, or upon any political
matter, or containing only or principally advertisements or trade reports, and printed
for sale, or for gratuitous distribution, may be sent by post as a newspaper if
it shall be periodically published in parts or numbers at intervals not
exceeding one month, and every such part or number shall be deemed to be a
separate newspaper, provided it shall not exceed 4 ounces in weight.
Regulations. Every newspaper shall be sent without a
cover or in a cover open at both ends, and there shall not be in or upon any
such newspaper or the cover thereof, any communication, character, figure, letter,
or number (other than the words "newspaper only," the printed titles
of such newspapers, the printed names, occupations, and places of business of
the printer, publisher, or vendor thereof, the name, occupation, and address of
the person to whom it is sent), nor shall anything be enclosed in, or with, or
accompany such newspaper or cover, otherwise such newspaper shall not be
transmitted or delivered. Newspapers received from beyond the colony stitched
in monthly parts or otherwise, are (when re-posted) subject to the charge of
One Penny for every number contained therein.
MONEY ORDERS.
Money Orders may be obtained and made payable at any Money
Order Office in Queensland, on payment of the following charges:- For any sum
not exceeding £2, 3d.; exceeding £2, but not exceeding £5, 6d. ; exceeding £5,
but not exceeding £7, 9d.; exceeding £7, but not exceeding £10, 1s.
New South Wales, New Zealand, South Australia, Tasmania,
Victoria, Western Australia, for any sum not exceeding £5, 1s. ; exceeding £5,
not exceeding £10, 28.
At any Money Order Office in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong
(including Macao) and British Post Offices in China, viz. For any sum not
exceeding £2, 1s.; exceeding £2, but not exceeding £5, 2s. 6d. ; exceeding £5,
but not exceeding £7, 3s. 6d. ; exceeding £7, but not exceeding £10, 5s.
The German Empire, Heligoland, and Switzerland (under special regulations) for any sum not exceeding £2, 2s. ; exceeding £2, and not exceeding £5, 5s. ; exceeding £5, and not exceeding £7, 7s. ; exceeding £7, and not exceeding £10, 10s.
No single Money Order will be issued for a larger sum than
Ten Pounds. Money Orders must be obtained between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3
p.m. The Money Order Office at the General Post Office is kept open on
Saturdays until 12 noon. List of Money Order Offices in New South Wales, New
Zealand, South Australia, Victoria, and the United Kingdom, may be seen, and
further information obtained, at any Money Order Office in Queensland.
Money Orders may be transmitted by Telegraph between any
Money Order Office in Queensland, and between Queensland and any Money Order
Office in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, and Western
Australia, having telegraphic communication, on payment of the usual charge for
a message, in addition to the Money Order Commission.
MONEY ORDER OFFICES.
Post cards are designed to facilitate letter correspondence
and provide for the transmission through the post office of short
communications, either printed or written in pencil or ink. They may,
therefore, be used for orders for goods, invitations, notices, receipts,
acknowledgments, price-lists, and other requirements of business or social
life, and the matter required to be conveyed may be either in writing or in
print, or in both.
Post Cards are of two kinds, namely: - The single post card,
with a penny stamp thereon, and containing space- On one side for the address
only of the recipient; on the other side for the communication and the
signature of the sender. The double (or reply) post card, with two penny stamps
thereon.
The postmaster will
treat the post card as a sealed letter, and not as a packet, with the following
exception, namely: - In no case will an unclaimed post card be returned to the
writer, but will be sent to the Dead Letter Office, thirty days after receipt,
there to be destroyed. At the request of a person named in the ad-dress upon
it, a post card may be re-addressed by the postmaster in the same manner as a
letter, on payment of one penny additional postage.
The stamp impressed on a post card is the fee chargeable
thereon for its transmission within the colony.
Post cards are issued exclusively by the Department, and may
be obtained at any post office at their face value. Cards which contain any
written or printed matter of the nature of personal correspondence other than
the address, if issued by private persons, cannot be passed through the post
office at less than letter postage, as they will not be considered " Post
Cards" within the meaning of the law.
No written or printed matter will be allowed on the side of
a post card used for the address, except the address itself, and nothing should
be pasted, gummed, or attached to the card. When this rule is disregarded the
post card will not be forwarded except at letter rate, with a second rate as a
fine."
A request (written thereon) to return a post card, which
does not bear space and stamp for reply will be disregarded.
A post card must be stamped by postmasters on the side
intended for the address
POSTAL NOTE REGULATIONS.
Classes and Value.- Postal notes are of four classes,
namely:-
1. The shilling note printed with green ink, and bearing a
half-penny fee stamp. (This note backed by a Telegraph form which, when filled
up with a message of ten words, will be received at any Telegraph Office, and
transmitted to any station within the colony as a paid telegram.)
2. The half-crown note, printed with red ink, and bearing a
penny fee stamp.
3. The five-shilling note, printed with blue ink, and
bearing a two-penny fee stamp.
4. The ten-shilling note, printed with lilac ink, and
bearing a three-penny fee stamp.
How Numbered and Signed- Every postal note so issued
is numbered with a distinctive number, and signed by the issuing officer.
Payable to Bearer. Every postal note, except when
crossed as provided in the next clause of these regulations, is payable to the
bearer on demand.
Crossed Notes. When additional security is desired
for remittance purposes, the lawful owner of a postal note may write or stamp
across its face, between two transverse lines, the name of any bank, firm, or
person to whom he desires payment to be made. A postal note so crossed to a
bank or firm, will not be payable by the Postmaster-General (or transferable)
until it has been endorsed or stamped by some person duly authorised by such
bank or firm; or, when crossed to any person, until it has been endorsed by
such person.
Supply of Notes to Private Persons.- The Issuing
Officer will supply, post free, in quantities not less than £5 worth at one
time, postal notes to any person remitting cash in payment for the same, less a
discount of two-pence in the pound.
Receivable as Cash- Postal notes will be received at
any post or telegraph office as cash, at their face value, less amount of fee
stamp, in payment of money due to, or for services performed by the department.
Notes may be given in Change- Any officer of the Post
and Telegraph Departments may, for the purpose of giving change only, pay out,
at its face value, exclusive of amount of fee stamp, a postal note which has
been previously sold and the stamp thereon obliterated.
Paying Offices- Every postal note will be payable to
bearer, or to its lawful endorser, if crossed, on presentation, within the
usual banking hours, at The General Post Office, Brisbane, and the post office
in each of the undermentioned towns, namely: at Ipswich, Toowoomba, Warwick,
Dalby, Roma, Maryborough, Rockhampton, Blackall, Aramac, Clermont, Mackay,
Bowen, Townsville, Charters Towers, Cooktown, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Gympie, St
George, Stanthorpe, and at such other post offices as may be hereafter
appointed.
The postmaster may refuse payment of a postal note- If,
having been crossed, it is not endorsed, and is presented by any person not
authorised to endorse the same, or not being the person in whose favor it was
crossed. If the paying officer has reason to believe the endorsement to be a
forgery, or made by an unauthorised person. If the note is so soiled or
mutilated that any signature thereon has become undecipherable.
