the promulgation of a circular containing A fortnight ago we had occasion to note
{the new postal regulations for native pri-yate postal agencies in this port by the Commissioner of Customs in his capacity Imperial Post Master, and the excitement the circular caused amongst the members of the numerous post offices in Kiukiang Road and its vicinity. Further, we stated that the document in question was to be discussed in the postal agency guild by the people concerned. It has now transpired that although over two weeks have elapsed, not a single private postal agency has registered itself at the Custom House as required by the Imperial Postal authorities here; but on. the contrary the postal guild has petitioned BLE. Liu K'un-yi, in his capacity of Superintendent of Trade for the Southern Ports, praying to be "allowed to sell the businesses and interests of its members to the Imperial government, thereby enabling the proprietors of each' agency to enter upon a new path of life with the proceeds of the sale." We now give below a translation of the new regulations promulgated by the Customs Postal Department amongst the private postal agencies throughout the various Treaty ports The Tsungli Yamen having memorialised the Throne concerning ths establish ment of an Imperial Pest Office, H.I.M. the Emperor's consent and approval have been obtained to the new scheme and certain regulations in connection therewith are hereby promulgated for the information of all concerned.
(1) Be it known that all letters and mail matter destined for the interior cities and towns are to be forwarded to the private postal agencies already established for transmission to their several destinations. Or (2) The private postal agencies may hand their letters and mail matter to the authorities of the Imperial Post Offices for transmission, and vice rersé the latter may hand their mail matter to any of the pri postal agencies for transmission to the interior on their behalf.
(3) The charges for the letters and mail matter destined for the interior shall be made and collected, as in former times, by the private postal agencies. The Im: perial Post Offices shall not interfere in any way therewith.
(4) Wherever there is an Imperial Post Office established, the private postal agencies in the same locality shall be required to register themselves at the former Office, the authorities of which shall grant certificates of registration free of all charges and fees.
5.—In the case of the above clause (No. 4) time shall be given for such registration up to the 15th of the Sth moon of the current year (2ist September, 1896).
6.—In making the registration aforesaid private postal agencies shall be required to comply with the following form (a) To give the year and date of the said private postal agency.
(b) To give the present address of the agency, the name or names of the proprietors, and the birthplace and province of the latter.
(c) To give the names of the cities or towns where an agency possesses branch agencies; or of what other agency or agencies (names to be given) in those towns or cities which usually receive and transmit mail matter on its behalf, and the names of the here or towns where such mail matter if se The charges made on letters and parations, tone is conferred on the stomach mail matter transmitted to the interior, Blood Mixtureare marvellous, Thousands of and (2) The time generally occupied in transmitting letters to certain ties oF towns.
Finally, the above questions are to. be answered solely to guide the authorities of the Imperial Post Office Department in making arrangements for transmission of mails in connection with the new scheme. There is no other object for doing so but this, nor will any charges or fees be made for registering the said private postal agencies at the I.M. Customs or Imperial Post Office.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.