The great point about the now postal tariff, which comes into force on the 1st of September next, is that it reverts to the great principle of uniformity. The preposterous zones are all swept away, and there are only two sets of rates as far as postage in China is concerned, local and domestic. Some rates are very properly raised. It will no longer be possible to send a local letter weighing half-an-ounce for a }-cent or half-a-farthing; the lowest rate will be one cent, or a farthing. Single postcards will still cost one cent for postage, and double two cents. Newspapers will be a }-cent for every two ounces instead of three ounces. Printed matter generally will be one cent for three ounces or less, two cents for 3 to 8 ounces, four cents for 8 to 16 ounces, eight cents for 16 to 32 ounces, and 15 cents for 32 to G4 ounces, the limit. Samples will be one cent up to 3 ounces; two cents for 3 to 8 ounces; and four cents for 8 to 12 ounces, the stration, five cents simple, return receipt. Parcels, ten cents for one pound; fifteen cents for 1 to 3 pounds; twenty cents for 3 to 6 pounds; thirty cents for 6 to 11 pound: and fifty cents for 11 to 22 pounds. Money orders, two cents on the dollar. These are all the Local Post rates, and they are decidedly reasonable.
The domestic rates, which means the rate for mail matter between Imperial Post Offices in China, however near or far, are somewhat higher. The rate for letters, per half-ounce, is to be two cents, or a halfpenny, half the rate in England. Newspapers are to be one cent for every two ounces, the rate by Notification 40 having varied from one cent to three cents for three ounces. Printed matter generally will be two cents for 3 ounces, five cents for 3 to 8 ounces, ten cents for 8 to 16 ounces, fifteen cents for 16 to 32 ounces, and thirty cents for 32 to 64 ounces, the limit. The existing rate is as high as 24 cents a pound for interprovincial inter-zone. Samples are to be two cents up to 3 ounces, five cents from 8 to 8 ounces, and ten cents from 8 to 12 ounces, the limit; the existing maximum rates for the same weights are si twelve, and twenty-four cents. Rogistration and money orders are the same as for the local post. Parcels are to pay fifteen cents up to 1 pound, twenty cents up to 3 pounds, thirty cents up to 6 wunds, forty cents up to 11 pounds, and Jhty cents up to 22 pounds, the limit but parcels over 6 pounds or one cubic foot are not accepted for places only reached by overland couriers, Those rates compare favourably with the ing rates, inter-zone inter-provincial parcels paying until the Ist of September fifty cents a pound.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.