Part 8

1. In each report on an application for a new Post Office describe the locality in which it is proposed to establish the office, giving name of the township, number of lot and concession stating whether front or rear of the concession, and county in which situated. In places where land is not so divided give such particulars as may serve to indicate the exact position. State further the number of churches, schools, mills, stores, houses or other buildings in the immediate neighborhood; the character of the surrounding land, whether well settled, and the estimated number of families that the office applied for would accommodate; its distance from all neighboring offices; its estimated postal revenue; the mode and frequency of the service proposed; the estimated annual cost; whether any previous application for a Post Office in the same locality has already been reported on, and such other information as may bear on the matter.

2. With each report on an application for a new Post Office should be sent a sketch or tracing (from the map of your Division) shewing as nearly as can be ascertained the position of the proposed office and mail route, and the offices and mail routes already in operation in its neighborhood.

VII.

MAIL ARRANGEMENTS.

1. The principal object of all mail arrangements is to ensure the transit of the letters and papers to destination with the utmost possible despatch.

2. The main routes throughout the Provinces should connect with each other as closely as it is possible.

3. The branch routes should be so arranged as to form as close a connection as possible with the main lines.

4. Through bags should be exchanged by all offices between which pass a large number of letters and papers, including Travelling Post Offices on different routes.

5. When, as a general rule, an office has a large number of registered letters for another office with which it does not exchange a direct mail, the registered letters may be enclosed in a sealed registered packet, addressed to the office for which the letters are intended. The address of the packet, however, should, in all cases, be entered in the Letter Bill with which it is despatched.

When a packet is sent as above, it should be accompanied by a Letter Bill containing at foot an acknowledgment for registered letters. This acknowledgment should be filled up by the receiving office and returned to the despatching office by the first post.

6. Where large numbers of registered letters pass between two offices, it is desirable that bags secured with the lead seal should be used.

7. An Inspector should always be on the watch to ascertain what improvements can be made in the postal arrangements in his Division. It should be his aim to anticipate the wants of the general public, and to combine, as far as practicable, efficiency of service with economy of expenditure.

VIII.

MAIL SERVICE.

1. It is very essential that a strict supervision should be maintained over the performance of the mail service; that all delays and irregularities should be promptly checked, and, when necessary, fines imposed and enforced.

2. On all the important routes there should be suitable Time Bills, in which should be entered the hours of arrival and departure at each office, the names of the couriers, and the No. of the mails received and delivered.

3. These Time Bills should be carefully checked and fyled away, the check clerk affixing his initials to each bill.

4. You should be ready at all times to receive suggestions for improvements in the Mail Service, and, if desirable, submit them for the consideration of the Postmaster General.

5. Leather bags should, as a general rule, be used on stage routes.

On the outlying routes, where the mails are exposed to the weather, waterproof canvass bags should be used.

IX.

ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW ROUTES OR ALTERATIONS IN ROUTES ALREADY IN OPERATION.

1. In making reports on proposed new mail routes, or alterations of existing routes--state clearly--

Advantages to be obtained;

Additional cost per annum to be incurred;

Present revenue of the offices to be served;

Increased revenue which it is estimated would result from proposed additional mail facilities;

Give tables also of the present and proposed routes, showing offices served and intermediate distances. State, also, dates on which contracts which it is proposed to discontinue would terminate provided previous notice were not given by the Postmaster General.