New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-18
posrlL cH1NGEs IN EyGLAvD.

Interesting details Oh tie Idice's oS', ""i"i
will be in operation throughout the United
Kingdom on August /, are furnished by our
London exchanges. Mr.. fawcett, VINO mas
shown more practical intelligence IN adapting
the Post Office to public requirements than any
other administrator of that department since
Rowland Hills time, has completed arrange
ments whereby parcels of considerable weight
and bulk NAV be transmitted by post. Parlia-
m.ntary approyal of contracts with the railway
companies was given year ago, but the new
service has involved the introduction OF 80
much new mechanism in the department and
tho enlargement of so many local Offices that
the Postmaster GENERALS scheme Is now barely
IN readiness to be carried into effect The
opening of fourteen thousand post offices to a
new class of traffic was an administrative ex-
periment that required deliberatlon, fore
thought and practical ability of high order.
The limitations OF weight and sizs Of parcels
10 be sent under the new regulations, aud the
schedule OF charges, will bear close scrutiny.
Seven pounds ia the maximum weight, ana
the limitations of dimension are three and a
half feet in length and six feet in length and
girth combined A pair of scales and tape
measure will enable the sender of parcel to
Judge for himself whether or not it will be re-
ceived by the post-olice. If the parcel be
three feet long it cannot exceed three feet In
eirth and if it measure four feet around II
cannot be longer than two feet. The charge
on a parcel not exceeding one pound in weight
will be thi eepence; on weights ranging be-
tween one.and three pounds, sixpence; between
three and five pounds, nineIence; and between
five and seven pounds, shilling. Packages
will not be forwarded unless the postage be
prepaid in full. nor will they be received ut n
post-offce unless handed to clerk, who can
weigh and measure them and see that they are
correctly stamped. Parcels will not be re-
ceived at post-offices on SUNDAYS.
The regulations relating 10 the character of
parcels to be sent by post are exceedingly lib
eral. Fish and game will be received, il prop
erly packed, so that spcrtsmen in Scotland can
send grouse home to their friends during the
shooting season, and fishermen can afford their
friends in London ocular demonstration OF the
three FOUNDERS which they bring to kId.
Meat can also be transmitted, and liquids in
glass bottles as well, il packed 80 as to avoid
the risk OF breakage. The list of prohibitions
includes com bustibles, live animals, bladders
or other membraneous substances containing
liqnids, and in general anything that in the
course of transmission will be likely TO prove
injurious TO other contents of the mails or TO
those who handle them. Obscene prints, books
aud articles are also excluded. Articles of q
perishabe nature, like grouse or fish, are re-
ceived on the condition that they may be dis
posed of mt the discretion of the officials, il
they become offensive and are not promptly
called for at the place OF destination. Parcels
which cannot be delivered for want of o true
direction will be returned upon the receipt of
proper postage to the senders when their adj
dresses can be asce tanned. Packages marked
TO be callel for will require the payment Of
an additional fee from those who receive them,
and will not be kept at places Of delivery
longer than three woeks No receipts are given
for parcels when they are posted, and neither
the department nor the officials can be held
liable for the loss of OF any damage to anything
transmitted under the new regulations
The success of the Parcels Post in England is
a foregone conclusion. The railway companies
there have never afforded the public adequate
facilities for the transmission of small parcels,
and the adoption of cheap system of carriage
and delivery can scarcely fail to be one of the
most popular features Of tho English postal
system. 1t will facilitate the exchange Of pres
ents between families, will promote the conven-
fence and comfort of the public in many re-
spects, and prove of signal advantage to all
branches of trade.