Tae Municipal Council has in fact, asked the Postal Commissioner of tho+
Imperial Castoms to do what we suggested be should do—fucnivh the Ratepayers with as full particulars ho can of the manner in which the Local Post Office will be worked should it be traveferred to his department. As the Chairman puts it in the letter, which we publish eleewhore, the Connell wishes to be informed, "in the event of the Local Post Office passing into the hands of the proposed Chinese Postal administration, if any and what changes would be likely to be made in the existing system in respect of roceiving, forwarding and delivering mait matter, and the terms of subscrip and the other facilities which the Local Post-office places at the disposal of the public; or if its business would be conducted as at present." It is on the manner in which the Commissioner may be able to satisfy the community that the Local Post Office would be at least us liberally conducted, in every way, under the administration of the Customs as it us been by the Council, that a very considerable number of Ratepayers will we expect vote when the transfer of the institution is pro. posed, as we take it for granted it will be, at the annual meeting next your. The Loonl Post-office gives the public facilities which, though unimportant in themselves, have grown to be part of the every day business and common life of the place. It charges little for these, probably it loses money by them, but if so the loss falls on the community generally, which would be quite content to bear any small deficit in the accounts; knowing that good value is received, By consulting what was Uke general interest and convenience, rather than morely considering whether such and such work which the community wanted the Local Post to do would pay, the Municipal Council has gradually constructed a Post Office that isa model public servant, as all Post Offices should be, instead of revenue winners, and a most useful department. The Chinese will expect every part of the system they are about to inaugurate to pay, and they are certain to try and make them do 6", and we hope the Com. missioner will give such assurances to the Ratepapors that not only will the Local Post Office be carried on with the presuut staff and worked as it has byon, but that its facilities to the public will nut be fewmened or ite charges increased. The decision of the community will to a great extent depend on those Inst pointe, If it is shown that the community will be liberally dealt with in the matters we have indicated, theRatepayors may be trasted tv meet the Postal Commissioner in the same sp The other parte of the scheme are of euch value to China, and promise such good to foreigners and natives, that people here are not likely to he over exacting in the matter of the Lvoal Post Office, or to raise obstacles to ite transfer to the Castoma, But they are certain to require that their interests do not suffer.
The letter from a correspondent here, from wh we publish extracts elsewhere, shows that in some respects the working of the Local Post Office at the.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.