The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-24 00:00:00

The report of the Postmaster-General of Canada for the
year 1854-5 has recently been presented to the Governor-
General, and ordered by the Provincial Parliament to be
printed.
It commences by stating that the business of the depart-
ment has in every way largely extended during the year
ending the 31st of March, 1855. 131,new post offices have
been added to the 1,166 already existing, and deducting 4
closed, 1,293 wore in actual operation. 1,165 miles of new
post route were added to the establishment, and 543,945
miles to the annual total of mail travel, which, at the
late to which the report is made up, amounts to 4,559,761
miles. In 1851, the postage was reduced from a high pro-
gressive scale, according to distance, to a uniform rate of
id. currency (21d. sterling) per half-ounce. In the year
terminating the sth of April, 1851, the number of letters
passing by the post was 2,132,000. The reduction of the
postage charge was at once sensibly felt, for during the
year ending the sth of April, 1852, the number of letters
was 3,729,752, showing an increase of 75 per cent. over
1851 • year ending April 1, 1853, 4,258,51'2 ; 1854,
5,114,200 ; 1855, 6,066,692. It is estimated in the report
that the returns for the year 1855-6 will show that about 7
millions of letters will have passed through the Canadian
post.

The total postage revenue for the year ending Ist of
April, 1856, was 110,7471., from which has to be deducted
16,4491. for British !packet postage to Great Britain, and
2,2561. balance in hands of. postmasters, leaving the net
revenue at 92,0111. Th4o'total disbursements were
121,9621.
The available receipts of • postage were 11,0411. larger
than in the previous year; but, on the other hand, the de-
partment was called upon to meet an augmentation in the
expenditure of 31,4801., arising mainly upon the organisa-
tion of the new post-offices and routes established, the
large additional mail service provided to meet the urgent
requirements of the country, upon the progressive advance
in all parts of the nrovince, the cost of all descriptioncof
mail transport, the payments for railroad service, the
commission payable to postmallters—On-the increased'
stage collections, and the augmentation which it became
necessary to allow in thOcompensation paid to postmasters,
clerks, mail conductors, and other officers employed in the
department.

To meet the deficit of 29,2201., there remained upon the
grant 0f.1854 of 20,0001., after deducting the arrears of
7,1701. standing against the department on 31st March,
lelsl, a balance of 12,8291. applicablie to the purpose, leav-
ing yet to be provided for 17,0901.
Notwithstanding the important redaction made in the
postage rate between Canada and the United Kingdom in
Ifarch, 1854, the continual growth of the intercorrespond-
ence has been sufficient to maintain the collections at nearly
the same amount as before; for the British packet postage
collected in Canada in the year ending the Ist of April.
1854 (when the rate per half-ounce was is. 2d. sterling)
was 17,495/. ; whilst for the year ending Ist of April,
1855, during the whole of which period the half-ounce
postage rate was Bd. sterling, it was 16,4491.
The Book-post regulations, controlling the transmission
of books, pamphlets, and periodicals, between Canada and
the United Kingdom. received a very acceptable modifica-
tion in illarch, 1854, extending fresh facilities to this,
branch of intercourse, by removing foolish restrictions and
penalties, which had been imposed by the British Post-
office, and which had given occasion to much public in-
convenience and complaint in Canada.
In March, 1855, a reduetipn in the charge on letters
passing through the English posts between Canada and
France, from 2s. 8 d. cy. to is. Bd. cy. per ,} oz. letter,
was made, and a further ♦aluable improvement has since
taken effect under an arrangement concluded by the Bri-
tish and French Governments for the interchange between
Canada and France (and certain foreign countries through
France) of books, pamphlets, and other printed matter of
a like character, at reduced rates of charge.
The postal intercourse between Canada and the United
States continues to enlarge. In the year ending Ist April,
1852, it was 21,409/. ; 1'53, 26,2111. ; 1854, 32,4801.; 1855,
36,344/. The number of dead letters in the year 1854-5
was 151,504; in the previous year, 148,314.
On the Ist Feb., 1855, the Provincial Money Order system
was finally organised upon principles assimilating it in its
chief features to that of Great Britain, and commenced
operations at 81 of the principal post-offices in the country.
At first, as an experiment, the amount for which a money
order could be issued was 101., with an uniform charge of
Is. 3d. upon each order. The course of operations was
carefully watched during the three months following the
Ist of February, and the experience gained showed that an
increase might conveniently be made in the amount for
which orders were grante 1, and that the uniform charge
should give place to a scale equivalent to per cent. Ac-
cordingly, on the Ist of May, 1855, these alterations were
introduced and simultaneously the operation of the system
was extended to 73 additional offices. The propriety of
the modifications thus adopted has been apparent in the
impulse given to this branch of the Post-office department.

The operations of the let year to let Feb., 1.556, show a
tots' of money orders issued amounting to upwards of,
160,0001. ; and at the rate of business transacted at the
date of the report it may reasonably be anticipated that
the amount of transactions fur the second year will reach
the sum of 400,000/.
One-half of the charge made on issuing an order is re-
tsioed by the issuing postmaster (except at the city post-
offices), in compensation for his trouble, and the remainder
is appropriated to the general expenses of this branch of
the establishment. As yet the revenue thus derived has
been inadequate to meet these expenses - but this was to
have been counted on as inevitable on the commencement
of the undertaking. With the increase of business which
is now being realised, this state of matters will, it is ex-
peeted by the Postmaster-General, soon disappear.
At the same time that the operations of the Money Order
system were extended, a complete system of registration of
letters was carried into effect.

In July of last year an act of the Canadian Legislature
came into effect, by which the postage charge on all news-
papers passing by the post in Canada is abolished ; and as
there is no stamp duty on newspapers in Canada the Go-
vernment derives no fiscal benefit from their existence or
culation.
The Postmaster-General thus winds up his interesting

report :
I cannot conclude without testifying to the ability and
unwearied seal of W. 11. Griffin, Esq., in the discharge of
the varied and responsible duties which necessarily devolve
on the permanent first officer of this department.
I have also groat pleasure in stating that the other supe-
rior officers, inspectors, and deputies, in their ready efforts
to give effect to the improvements from time to time de-
vised by the department, and to carry out its instructions,
are justly entitled to my warmest thanks.
The duties imposed on deputy postmastels are always
onerous, and frequently call for the exertlise of great vigi-
lance and care, With an unceasing regard for the interests
of the department separate from the particular duties of
the local office. They form a chain of coremunie*tion by
which a gradual expansion of the postal system is effected,
and aro constantly found to be most useful in siding the
department to guard against the various accidents and
hindrances which must occur in a new country embracing
a territory of 1,300 miles in length. In the ordinary work-
ing of the system, information respecting missing mails and
lost letters, in the development of the Money Order branch,
these officers frequently supply most efficiently the place
of local inspectors, and confidentially communicate to the
department information of the most valuable character.
I desire the more particularly to make mention of the
services of this class of officers, because, in a majority
of instances, I am satisfied that the largest per cent-
age or money remuneration which can be allowed them is
wholly inadequate to compensate for their labours, and
that their devotedness in duties always responsible, and
frequently irksome, must result from higher motives than
those arising out of mere pecuniary coneiderations.