Post Office Act 1853 (SA)

No* 4.

An Act to consolidate and amend the Law for Conveyance and

Postage of Letters.

[Assented to 19th October, 1853.1

it Enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of South

Council thereof, as follows :-	Australia, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative From and after the passing of this Act, the following Ordi- nances, to wit, an Ordinance passed on the thirteenth day of July,
one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, intituled An Act to, vict., No.
regulate the Post OEce Department in South Australia;" an Ordinance passed on the twenty-fourth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and fortythree, intituled An Act to, Yict,, No,
amerrd. an Act, intitulcd bAn Act to regulate the Post Office Department in South Australia ;' " and an Ordinance pmsed on the thirty-first day of July, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six,
intituled An Ordinance furthcr to regulate the Post Office 1846, N ~, 8.
Department in South Australia," shall be and the same are hereby rcpcakd.
tive Council, to make rules and regulations for the establishing and tivc Council to lrmke 2. It shall be lawful for the Governor with thc advice of the Execu- Govenlor and Execu-

BE

M

rules for eetabl~sh ng

luanaqing of thc scvcral Post ~ f i c e s within the said Province, and the post arid delivery Offices, of rcc~ipt letters,

receiGng, dispatdling, carrying, and delivering of lettcrs, packets, and	a, , a.,
parcels, and the making, custody, and sale of stamps, and the receipt and payment of moneys in connection with the said Post Offices, andthe con- duct of all Postmasters and other officers of the department; and the said rules and regulations to alter, revoke, or vary, and such othcr rules and regulations to establish in their stead, as with the advice afore- said he shall deem expedient; and also to reduce the postage on letters, packets, or under any such special circumstances as
hall appear to the said Governor and Executive Council to render
such reduction expedient. 3. And

G o ~ e r n ~ r m ~ a p p o i ~ t

and remove Post- 3. It shall be lawful for the Governor, from time to time, to

mastet-~exlera~,	&C.	appoint and to remove a Poatmnster-General and an Inspector or Inspectors of Stamps, and to appoint and remove, or depute to the said Postmaster-General, the power to appoint and remove such officers, clerks, and servants, as may be required for the General Post Office at Adelaide; and it shall be lawful for the said Post- master-General, from time to time, to appoint and to remove Postmasters for the various post towns and places out of Adelaide, and to require and take from such Postmasters such security as
the Governor, by any regulations published in the South Australz'urr
Government Gazette, shall from time to time fix.

made by Postmaster- 4. The Postmaster-General, and every other Postmaster, letter	l)eclwstion to bc
Genertll, Po~tmMep., carrier, or other person appointed under this Act, shall, before the
letter carriers* exercise by him of the duties of his ofice, take and subscribe a decla-

ration for the due execution of such duties before one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace (which declaration such Justice is hereby autho- rized and required to adrniiiister) in the words following, that is toesay-

" I, A.%., do solemnly and sinccrely declare, that I will not willingly

or knowingly open, detain, return, or delay, or cause or suffer to be

opened, detained, returned, or dela2yed, any letter or packet which shall come into my hands, power, or custody, by reason of my employment relating to the Post Office, except by the consent of the person or persons to whorn such letter or packet shall be directed, or by an express warrant in writing for that purpose under the hand of the Gsvernor, or unless otherwise in pursuance and under the authority of any of the provisions in that behalf contained in any Act, Law, or duly authorized regulation of the Province of South Australia, now or hereafter passed and made, or to be passed and made for or in relation to the postagc and conveyance of letters."

Every parcel or

packet sent hy post, 5. Every parcel or packet whatsoever, by whatever name called,

01.' however made up, which shall be sent by post, or put or received

if not a lettrbr, to be

hemed sparket,	into any Post Office for transmission or delivery by the post, shall, if not a letter, be deemed to be a packet within the meaning of this
Act.

~ e t t e r s to be charged 6. All letters and packets transmitted or received by post, except as hereinaftbr excepted, shall from and after the commencement of this Act be charged by weight only, according to the following scale, ",at is to say-for any weight not exceeding half an ounce avoirdupois, one rate of postage; for any weight exceeding half an ounce and not exceeding one ounce, two rates of postage; and for each additional ounce or fraction of an ounce beyond one ounce, two additional

by weight.

proviso BB to when	rates of postage: Provided always, that the Postmaster-General or
they may be refused.	other Postmaster shall bc at liberty to refuse to receive or to transmit
by post any letter or packet exceeding sixteen ounces in weight, or
of inconvenient form or dimensions, or containing or reasonably suspected to contain any article likely to injure the other contents
of the mail bags.

~ w t c s of ~ o, t ~ g a 7. The following shall be the rates of postage payable, according

to

to the scale aforesaid, upon letters and packets (except as hereinafter

excepted) transmitted or received by the post, that is to say-upon all TOW letters.

letters and packets received at any Post Office for delivery at such Post Office, or at any place within the limits of the city or town in

such Post Office is situated, the sum of Twopence; upon all Drlilnd Icttcrs.

letters and packets to be transmitted by post between separate Post Towns or places within the said Province, tLe sum of Twopence; and upon all letters and packets to be transmitted by ship or Foreign lcttcrs.

otherwise, to places beyond the limits of the said Province, the sum

of Sixpence.

8. The sum of Twopence only for any weight not exceeding four p o ~ t w e on parcels.

ounces, an3 the additional sum of One Penny for any additional ounce or fraction of an ounce, shall be paid on packets of the

following descriptions, that is to say-bankers' parcels contain- Eal.kers7 rjnrccls.

ing notes, orders, specie, cheque books or pass books, sent by or

to any bank or banker; parcels containing patterns or samples of merchandise, bona$de sent as such; parcels, open a t each end, con- taining prices cumnt and catalogues of merchandize; parcels con- n- I ..& I,$ or I'rocecclingq

taining writs and proceedingn of any Court of Justice, deeds, con- z2rJ"'3	Of Justi''e'.
veyances, affidavits or letters of attorney, or depositions, or recogni-

zances, sent by or to any Justice of the Peace or Coroner; parcels Lc~islatire	papers.
open at each end, containing printed Votes and Proceedings of

Parlianieiit, and of Colonial Legislatures, or pamphlets, or any Periodical publicu-

magazines, reviews; or periodical publications (newspapers ex- tionS,

cepted); cases or covem enclosing maps or plans transmitted by, Y I R ~ S sent by or to

or addressed to, the Surveyor-General or Deputy Surveyor-General; Sur'eyo'-"cneraL

or returns made from or to any department of the public service,

pursuant to any law or duly authorized regulation: Provided that P ~ J \; S O as t o form.

there shall not be in or upon any such packet,s or parcels any letter or epistolary communication or intelligence, and that on the outside thereof, in addition to the rianle and address of the person to whom the same is to be delivered, the sender thereof s2dl subscrihc, with his name and address, a statement of the contents

thereof, in the following form, that is to say, "Bankers' Parcel," or	"Patterns of Merchandize " (or other proper description, within
the terms of this Enactment), without letter :" And provided enii ss to Postmartoia
also, that the Postmaster-General, or other Postmaster, sliall be libcrty to refuse.
at liberty to refuse to transmit, by post, any sucli packet or parcel, when of the weight of more than sixteen ounces, or of inconvenient form or dimensions; or containing, or reasonably suspected to contain any article likely to iujure the other contents of the mail bags.

9. All newspapers printed in the said Province, and all printed C o ~ ~ ~ ~ i ~ l n ~ w ~ r a ~ ~ r s ~ and nenrspnpers

newspapers received from abroad, shall, if unenclosed, or enclosed ,,iVed from &rod,

b an envelope, open at both ends, be received, conveyed, and de- if lllbder open

livered, within the said Province, free of all postage whatever: Pro- excqting ,~d,,, and not written upon,

vided also, that no such newspaper shad1 contain any note, letter, exempt.

~nernorandum, or other thing. or writing therein or thei*eon, excepting

only the direction on the o&ide thereof: Provided that the exemp- tion from postage shall not extend to newspapers posted at any Post

Office

Office for delivery at such Office, or at anv place within the limits of the city or town in which such Ofice ;S situate, but that the sum of One Penny shall be prepaid for every such newspaper as last mentioned.

Petitions to the

Governor or Execu-	10. Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils may and to His Excellency the Governor, and petitions addressed to either tlie Executive or Legislative Council, not exceeding thirty- two ounces in weight, exempt from postage: Provided such petitions and addresses be sent without covers, or in covers open at both ends.
tive or Lefiid~tive	receive by the post, petitions and addresses to Her Majesty,
Councils exempt, if
unrlcr opon covers.
sary in respcct of

No prepayment neces- 11. I t shall not be necessary to prepay, by stamp or otherwise,

ret llrus of' births, BC. the postage upon letters or packets containing only returns of births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths, transmitted in compliance with

* -	the provisions of the law in that behalf, by ministers of religion or other parties, whose duty it may be to transmit such returns to any
officer appointed to receive the same; but the postage thereon shall
be paid by the said officer on delivery of such letters or packets respectively: Provided that the same shall, on the outside thereof, be stated to conbin such returns only, and be signed by the minister or other person transmitting the same.

Letters of sailors and	12. The following classes of persons may both send and receive letters, not excee&ng half an-ounce in %eight, by the Post, on their own private concerns, ou pxepayment of a postage of One Penny for each letter, either in the said Province, or elsewhere (as the case ma,y be), namely, every seaman employed in Her Majesty's Navy, whilst such seaman shall be actually employed in Her Majesty's service; every serjeant, corporal, drumnler, trumpeter, fifer, and private soldier in IIer Majesty's Kegular Forces, Militia, Fencible Iiegirncnts, Artillery, or Koyal Marines, whilst actually employed in Her M,?,lesly's service; every serjeant, corporal, drummer, trumpeter, fif'er, and private soldier in the service of the
soldiers.
East India Company, whilst actually employed in the service of tlie Company; but the letters of commissioned officers, or warrant
officcrs, whether in the Army or Navy, or midshipmen, or mates of the Navy, are not included in this provision; and with respect to letters sent by any such privileged persons? the following conditions shall be observed, that is to say, the postage of each letter, unless sent from parts bepad the seas as hereinafter mentioned, shall be paid on being put into a Post Office; and upon such letter shall be superscribed the name of the writer, and his class or description in the vessel, regiment, corps, or detachment to which he shall belong; and upon every such letter there shall be written, in the handwriting of, and signed by tlie officer having at the tinie the co~nrnand of the vessel, or of the regiment, corps, or detachment to which the pri- vileged person belongs, the name of such officer, and the name of such vessel, or of such regiment, corps, or detachment; and with respect to letters received by the post by any of the said privileged

persons,

say-

persons, the following conditions shall be observed, that is to the superscription thereof the vessel, or the regiment, corps, or detach- ment, to which he shall belong; and whenever the letters sent or received by any such privileged persons sllall be sent from parts beyond the seas, and s21all appear to have had any postage what- soever prepaid thereon, no colonial postage sbdl be charged on delivery thereof within the said Province.

the postage of each letter, unless sent from parts beyond the seas as

hereinafter mcntioued, shall be paid upon its being put into a Post

13. Tt shall bc lawful for the Governor, with tile idvice of the Govcmor and Execu- tive Council may

Executive Council, to make, or cause arrangements to be made with arr,n,, . , ,, ,W-

the Postmaster-General of Engla8nd, and with the constituted autllo- merit-of letters to Britain or Foreign

l,o,,,

rities in fo re ip ports and separate Colonies, for the prepayment or for the entire postage between the place atwllicll the letters orpackets, cllarged~le therewith, shall bc postcd, to the place of delivery; and also to malre, or cause to be made, a,rrnngeinents for the prepayment or for the optional p~cpaymcrnt in thc said l'roviocc, on letters or packets, to be sent from the said Prorii~cc to Great Jhitaiil, or to such foreip ports or separate Colonies, of' the postages payable in Great Britain, or in any such foreign port or separate Colony, or for the payment of such eritire sum as may be agrcecl upon as the ostage between

for the optional prepayment thereat,, by stamps or otherwise, of the

postages papnble under the provisions hereof, or of such sun1 as

may form a fair proportion, or an equivaleut for suc11 proportion

of wch a rate of postage as sliall be arranged to be payable in

the place at w11ich any such 1et.ter or packet shn l be posted and Y

the place of clelivcry thereof, m~tl 21s to the proportion of or

equivalent for such proportion of such entire sun, which shall be

retained for the use of the said Province.

14. Any packet containing a s h g k priuted book of n h t nature ~ ? t ~ h b w t exccedins

three p o ~ ~ n d s in

Rower, and placards and prospectuses when transniitted by post .,,, ,,,...

froln one part of the said Province to anotlw, shall Bc liable to the m t c " b r P U L ~.

like rates of postage and no more, ancl to the like conditions and restrictions which arc herclinbcfbre fixed and in~posed in rec; l~ct to pamphlets, niagazines, 2nd revicwfi, cxccpt oidy that it sl~all uot be competent to any postmaster to rdim to tranmit any such packet by reason of its wight only, if it cllnll not cxceccl t h e pounds weight on the wllole: Provided alaays, that no pacliet containing books s l d l Fe tramnittecl by post to R Y ~ Y place to which the mail shall be conveyed on horseback, unless the said Lieutenant-Goyer- nor, with the advice of the Executive Council, shall otherwise direct.

15. It shall be lawful for the Governor, with the advice of the Governor with advice

Executive Council, to make, or cause to be made, arrangements with of Executive Council rimy make arrnngs-

authorities in Foreign Ports and separate Colonies, for the tram- of postage of book@. the Postmaster-General of England, and with the constituted merit for p r e w m e n t

N missiou

mission by post of books, whether British, Colonial, o r Foreign, and for the proportion of the charge, in respect of such tmnsmis- sion, to be retained for the use of the said Province, provided the postage to be charged on any such packet, from the place at which the same shall be posted unto the place of delivery, shall not exceed the following rates:

For a single volume not exceeding half a pouucl in weight,

Sixpence

For a single volulne exceeding half a pound, and not exceeding

one pound, One Shilling

For a single volume exceedillg ono pound, and not exceeding

two pounds, Two Shillings

For a single volume exceeding two pounds, and not exceeding

three pounds, Three Shillings.

Re~ la t ions for post-

ing of books. 16. Packets containing any such books, transmitted by post w i t h

the said Proviuce, to or from Great Britain, or to or from any

Foreign Country, or separate Colony, shall be subject to the follow- ing conditions:

The charge will be the same whether such packets are posted or delivered at thc port of dispatch or arrival, or at any place in the interior of the country, and whether seut by packet or private ship.

The postage must in every case be prepaid by means of

stamps.

No such packet shall be scnt by any route which wo~dd entail

the expense of transit postage through my intermediate

Country or Colony.

To prevent the inconvenience which iiiigllt otherwise ensue, any Postmaster may delay the dispatch of such packet to or from the iutcrior of this Province for such periods as may from time to time be fixed by the said Governor and Executive Council, in consideration of tlrc distance, the means of carriage, and the time occupied in the convey- ance of mails in different localities.

No single packet containing a book must excecd three pounds

in weight.

~8 to nmking and	17. The Postmaster-General, or Inspector of Stamps, shall, with
sale of poatage

$tamps.

the approval of the Governor, cause stamps to be made or procured

and sold, indicating such amounts of postage as may be dirccted in

that behalf by the Governor.

18. Any person who shall fraudulently forge or imitate, or assist in forging or imitating, any stamp made under the authority of this -4ct, or shall offer, utter, or dispose of, any forgery or imitation of

~'oo.lt~	for forging
stamps.

my such stamp, with intent to defraud the revenue, or any person

or body corporate or politic, shall be guilty of felony, and on conviction, shall be liable to imprisonment, with or without hard

labor, or to hard labor on the roads or other public.works of the

said

impressed upon the outside thereof, and above the address written affixed. 19. The stamps upon all letters and packets shall be affixed or How stamps shall be

thereon, and no Postmaster shall be bound to take any notice

of stamps which shall be affixed elsewhere upon any such letters or

pckets.

20. From and after the first day of January now next, or AII letters, packeta, and parcels-mu~t be

such other day as shall be appointed Ly the ~ o v e b o r, by any Pro- p repaid, except as

clamation to be pulnlished in the South A rutralinn Government hereinafter excepted.	--
Gazette, fourtcen l a y s at the lcast before such first day of January, the postage upon all letters and packets, which shall be posted at
my Post Office within the said Proviuce, excepting in cases in
which the prepayment shall be optional, under any arrangement to he made as hereinbefore authorized, s l i d be prepaid by the person who shall desire to have the same tmnsmittcd by post,
and such prepayment shall (esccpt as hereinafter provided) he made by the affixing thereon of stainps issued by the Post-
master-Gcncrd or Inspector of Stamps: Prrvided always, that it sllall be incumbent on every Postnlaster to procure :ud keep on
hand a sufficieut supply of Post Office stamps for sale, without pre-
mium, and in wch quantities as the Postmaster-General may Postmasters to keep a

Of

autl~olize or direct, to all persons desirous of purchasing the same; :	:F	:	;
aud that whenever it shall happcn that any such Postmaster shall not have any stamps of the requisite v&e for sale as aforesaid, then and in such case prepayment on any such letter or packet may be made in coin, and shall be aclcnomledged by the said Postmaster upon the face of the letter or paclrct so prepaid: And provided also, that no prepayment of Colouial postage s l d l be required on letters received from beyond sea, for dclivcry to any part of the said Province: Provided further, t11a.t from and after the conimencement of this Act, in all cases in which letters and packets posted in, and addressed to, places within the Province, sllall be posted witli-

out the postage beinq- prepaid, either by stamp or otherwise, there

shall be charged 01; such letters or packets a postage of double

the amount to which such letters or packets would otherwise be

liable under this Act.

2 1. From and after the said first day of January now next, or Pofitmters to see thnt stamps of proper A

such other day to be appointed as afbresaid, it shall be the duty of amount are sfixed. every Postinaster to see that evwy post letter or packct bears ad -- W-

--

or stamps ol'X'EZ ropcr amo~uit. according to the 6 t c foi

e * beinq cr6&iisi;e$ by law; but rrerertheless every letter gfiz:;j;z;;hen

or wacket uu& which a stamp or stamas shall have been affixed. affixed.

a h b be transmitted throughL the post; and shall be delivered td

the party to whom it is addressed upon payment by him of double

the amount of any postage deficient.

22. The sender of any post letter or packet shall be entitled ~ ~ ~ r ~ ~ J ' "

to

to have the same registered at the Post Office, upon payment of the sum of Skpence,.as a fee for such registration; but such registration shall not render any Postmaster, or the Post Office revenue, in any manner liable for the loss of any such post letter, or packet, or the contents thereof; and all registered le t t~rs

and packets shall be received at any Post Office, and also be delivered at the place of delivery, at or between such hours in the clay, and under such regulations in every respect as the Postmasterl

re@trati~n fee General shall from time to time appoint; and such registration fee

to be paid.

shall be prepaid by stamps.

23. In case any Postmaster shall S U S ~ C C ~ and bclicve that

llOwPostna"er

act in regard to letters

p& in as bcing any letter or packet put into his office, or received by him

able at a lower rate as such Postmaster, and purporting to be a letter or packet	exempt, or as churge-
of postage. coming within any of the exen~ptions hereby created, or belonging in rcsmct of' its contents. to one of the classcs in which tlle I I

the lower rate of postage hcreinbcfore mcnt:oncd is chargeable,

*.	does not in fz~ct contain solely and only that which the same shall so purport to contnin as afbrcsnid, or contailis some paper, note, or other thing in writing, which under this Act would subject such lcttcr or packct to postage? or to the higher rate of as the case may be, it shall be lawful for such Yostnlaster, and he is hereby required, to mark upon such letter or packet the arnount of such postage, and such amount shall be demanded autl received accord- ingly: Provided always, that in every such case of surcharge, if it shall at any time within ten days next f'ollowing the delivery of thc letter or psclrct bc made to appear to the satisfaction either of the Post- master by whom such lettcr or pncket was so delivered, or of the Post- master-Gcncral, that the same was not in fiict liable to postage, or to a higher rate of post~ge, tllen the amount of such surcharge shall be re- turned to the party who shall have paid the s:me: And provided, that
if the person to whom the letter or packet is delivered s l d l so require,
the Postmaster by whom the same shdl be so delivered shall, at the time of such delivery thereof, examine not only the outside, but the contents of the said letler or packet, in t la t person's presence, and
thereupon denland awl take only the postap lawfully due on every such letter or packet, according to the provisions of this Act.
Penalty on persons

putting in or sending 24, If any person shall knowingly send or put, or cause to

letters as exempt	be sent or put, to or illto any Post Ofice, any ietter or packet
from postage, or as
liable to the lower	purportiug to come vithin any of the exemptions aforesaid, or to
rate only, when they	belong, in respect of its contents, to one of tlle classes in wMch
ought to be subject
to the higher rate.	such lower rate of postage as aforesaid is chargcablc, but which letter or packet shall, to the knowledge of such person, not contairl solely and exclusively that which the samc is by this Act authorized to contain, or skill, to the knowledge of such person, contain or have written thereon or therein some lctter, paper, note, coxumu~icrrtion, writing, or thing which under this Act would subject the same to postage, or to the higkcr rate of postage, the person so offending shall forfeit and pay a fine of not pore than Twenty Pounds.

25. Letters

Letters bearing stamps which have been previously obliterated or defaced shall be treated as unpaid letters; and if any person shall wiLfdy and fra~zdulently remove from any Post OEce stamp, which has been prcvicrusly used, any mark which shall have been made thereon at any Yost Office by way of obliteration or defacement, for the purpose of indicating that such stamp has been once used, or shall knowingly and fraudulenty put off or use any such stamp, shall bc deemed guilty of a misdcmeanor, and shall be liable to be im- prisoned with or without hard Iabor, for any period not exceeding three years.	Using stamps which
have been defaced.
26. I t shall be lawful for the Postmaster-General to detain or cause to bc detained, any letters or pnckets, which shdl be posted contrary	Letters pofited
~ ~ $ ~ ~ ~ ~ a ~ A C t
to the provisions of this Act; and every othcr Postmaster shall
forward such irregularly posted and a11 refused letters or ptlclrets to the General Yost Office, at Adclnidc; and all such irregularly posted and refused letters or packets sl-m11 be iininediately opened at the said General Post Offir:e, at Aclelaicle, in manner hereinafter pro- vided, for the purpose of ascertaining the writer or sender tl~ereof.

25.

27. Except in the case of ~wclaimed, refused, undelivcrecl, and No letter be

returned to the writer -

i i~egdarly posted letters, no letter or packet, whatsoever sl~all, or sendcr thereof

under any circuuistances, be returned to the writer or sender ; ~; ~ ~ c ~ ~ ~ e a ~,

tlweof, witlmxt the express corlsent of the Person to whom t,he

same iidirected; nor, exEcpt as hereinnftcr provided, unless by virtue

of m express warrant in ~vritir~g under the hand of the Governor,

or of some person by hini duly authorized to sign such warrant,

shall a m letter or packet be seht or delivered to any other than the

person to vl.~om it is addressed, or his agent; or, in case of such

person's death or absence, to his personal or other lawful repre-

sentative or assignee.

28. All unclaimed and uiidclivered letters and packets, which ~nc~n i rned and

shall have been received at any Post Wfice, shall be kept threa t C., to be kept for undelivercd lcttcrs,

for a pmiod of thirty days, during which a list thereof shall be tllirts days, during wl~ich, list tliercof'

exposed in a conspicuous place ill such Post Office, md at the expi- o be exposed at the ration of such period of thirty days tlle same slial be forwarded to pO"tfice. the General Post Office, at Adelaide; and thc Post$n~aster-Central

shall, forthwith, cause the addresses of all such letters and packets, so forwarded to him, to be inserted in a list to be openly exposed in the Post Office, at Adelaide.

29. The Postmaster-General shall, once in every month, or ~ o s t m a s t e r - ~ e n e r o ~ to publish in the

oftener if he shall think fit, cause a list to be published in the Garrnnmf

South Australian Goveirnment Gazette, of all detained, unclaimed, a list of ~ r l c l ~ l m e d

and undelivered letters and packets (newspnpcrs excepted) which letterg, &C.

shall have been received at tlic Gcncral Post Ofiice, at Adelaide, since the last preceding publication of the like kind; and after a.

period of one month from the date of such publication in respect of idand letters and packete, and of' six monthq in respect 01

o ship

ship letters and packets, from any of the Australian Colonies, and of twelve months in respect of other ship letters and packets, such

of the letters and packets mentioned therein, as shall not in the

meantime have been claimed and delivered, may be opened, in manner

hereinafter mentioned.

unclaimed letters, 30. All letters and packets, which shall be required to be anay

&C., mny be opened. opened, s b u be opened by the Postmaster-General or by an

officer of the Post Office, at Adelaide, to 'be specially nominated for that purpose by the Postmaster-General; and that such officer shall, before he shall enter upon his duties in this re- spect, make oath or affirmation before the Postlnaster-General (who is hereby authorized to administer such oath or affirmation) that he will not intentioi~ally read the contents, or any of the con- tents of any letter or packet which he shall open, except so far as it may be necessary so to do for the purpose of ascertaiiiing the name and address of the writer, and that he will not divulge to ally person whatsoever, except to the Postmaster-General upon demand by I h n, any of the contents of any such letter or packet which may have come to his knowledge in the course of opening and examining the same for the purpose aforesaid; and if any such officcr shall act in contravention of this enactment, or of his oath or affirmation, he shall for every such offence forfeit and pay to Her Majesty, for the

Penalty.	public uses of the Province, a penalty of not less than Five Pounds, and not exceeding One Hundred Pounds, to be recovered in a sum- mary way before any two Justices of the Peace, upon the complaint
of the Postmaster-General, or by information of debt i11 the Supreme
Court by Her Majesty's Advocate or Attorney-General.

DetainedoruncIaimed 31. The Postmaster-General shall cause all detained, unclaimed,

letters, piwcels, & c, to

be returned to writers and undclivered letters and packets whatsoever, which shall have

payment of postage or senders theroof on been so opened as aforesaid, to be returned to the writers or

thereof. senders thereof, if the name and address of the writer or sender can be ascertained by examination of such letters or packets, and

* original postage payable thercon, if not prepaid; and if any such	such writers and senders shall thereupon be liable to pay the
writer or sender shall refuse to receive any such letter or packet, the same may be forthwith destroyed, but he shall nevertheless be liable to pay"such postage as aforisaid thereon.

Poatmmr-Cfeneral	32. I t shall be lawful for the Postmaster-General to cause
may destroy all

g w d aocumwta, to be destroyed or sold all pamphlets, magazines, reviews, and

patterns, &C.,

remaining unclaimed periodical publications, and all printed Votes and Proceedings

for three months or of Parliament and of Colonial Legislatures, and all prices

U P W ~ ~ ~ S ; current, catalogues of rnerchandize, and patterns and samples

of merchandize, which shall continue to be unclaimed or un- delivered after the lapse of six months from the date of the pub- lication of the list in which they shall have been advertised; and it

shall be lawM for the said Postmaster-General to cause to be

destroyed all newspapers which shall have remained unclaimed for

And !m r e m h i ~ the period of six months; and also all unclaimed, refused, W*

unclslmed for one

year. delivered,

delivered, and irregularly posted letters and packets, of which he shall have been unable to ascertain the senders so as to return them, and which shall have continued to be so unclaimed and un- delivered for the period of one year a h r the advertisement thereof as aforesaid: Provided that in such last rnentioncd case, a list shall be preserved, showing the date of every such letter or packet, the address thereof, and the name of the writer, and of the place a t which the same purports to have been written.

33. I t shall be lawful for the Postmaster-General for the Contracts for con- veyance of mails.

time being, under such instructions as shall be from time to time in that behalf given to him by the Governor, to enter into any contract or contracts, in writin, from time to time, in his riage or conveyance of the several mails throughout this Province, own name, on behalf of Her Majesty, 9 or or in respect of the car-

or any or either of them, and to sue and be sued upon such contracts

accordingly; and if' any person having entered into ally such con- Penalty ox con-

tract with the Postmaster-General shall, during the continuallee tractors

"fault.

thereof, unlawfully refuse or neglect to perforin the same, or shall in any manner omit to comply with any stipulation or provision therein, he shall forfeit and pay a penalty or sutn of not more than One Hundred Pounds, over and above the penalty recoverable upon such default, by virtue of any bond into which such person, or his surety or sureties, may have entered for the due performance of the contract.

54. In any suit or other proceeding for the recovery of any In suits for recovery of postage, onus

postage, payable under or by virtue of this Act, the person pTobandi to on rile

from whom any letter or packet, in respect of which any postage P:LW proceeded	shall be sought to be recovered, shall purport to have come, shall against.
be deemed the sender thereof, and the onus shall lie upon the party proceeded against, to prove that such letter or packet did not come from, and was not sent by him.

35. In all proceedings whatsoever fox the recovery of any postage, post Office tax on

- any letter to be

the Post Office charge upon any letter or packet shall, in all cases evidence.

be evidence of the liability of such letter or packet to be so charged,

and that the sum so charged thereupon is payable, as and for the

postage thereof.

36. All mails, bags, boxes, or packets of letters or newspapers, ~ 1 1; ~ letters inward3

and also all loose letters and newspapers which at the time of to be delivered on arrival and demand,

the arrival of any ship or vessel within the limits of any port under a penalty.

or harbor in the said Province shall be on board of such ship

or vessel, directed to any person or persons within the said Pro- vince or its dependencies, shall be delivered immediately on demand to the Postmaster-General or any Postmaster or port officer of such port or harbor, or to any person duly acting for such Post- master-General, Postmaster, or port officer; excepting always letters Exception%

concerning goods on board such ship or vessel, and to be delivered with such goods and letters containing any conveyance or other deed, commission, writ, or affidavit, and letters sent by way of in-

troduction

troduction only, or concerning the bearer's private affairs; and any master, passenger, or other person on board of such ship or vessel, who shall delay the delivery of or shall knowingly or negligently detain on board of such ship or vessel, or keep in his pos- session, any mail bag, mail box, packet of letters, letter, or news- paper (except as aforesaid), after such demand made as aforesaid, shall forfeit and pay far every letter or newspaper so delayed, de- tained, or kept, a penalty or sum not exceeding Fifty Pounds.

Declaration to be

made by masters of	37. The master or commander of any ship or vessel arriving Post Office at such port, as soon after his arrival as shall be practicable, and shall then subscribe a declaration in the presence of some person authorized by the Postmaster-General to take such declaration; which declaration shall be in the form or
vessels, on arrival, as	at any port or harbor in the said Province sliall repair to the
to letters.
Form of Declaration.	to the effect following, that is to say-"I, A. B., commander

-:	of (state .the name of' the ship or vessel) arrived fiorn (stute
the place), do as reGired by law, solemnly dcclarc, tlmt I
have to the best of my knowledge and belief delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the person duly authorized to receive delivery thereof, every letter, bag, package, or parcel of lettcrs, or
packets that were 01.1 board the (state t7~e name of the ship or
vessel), cxcept such letters as are exempted by law from postage;"

Penalty, if no decla-

ration made, or if	and that until such declaration shall have been made, and a certifi-
false.	cate of the n~ttkir~g thereof, uuder the haud of the officer taking the same, shall have been produced to the Collector, Comptroller, or principal officer of Customs at such port or harbor, he shall not permit such ship or vessel to report, and any master or comn~ander
failing or neglecting to make such declaration, or making a false declaration, shall forkit and pay a penalty or sum not exceeding
Fifty Y ounds.

Mails conveyed	coastwise by steamers 38. All mails, bags, boxes, or packets of lettcrs or newspapers,
or other vessels to be which are conveyed, or required by law to be conveyed by post On arLiv'l from one part of the Province to the other, and which at the
and demand ;

limits of any port, post town, or other place at which mails or	time of the arrival of any steani boat or other vessel within the	mail bags are to be delivered, shall be on board such steam boat or other vessel, shall be delivered, on demand, to any port officer or Postmaster of such port, post town, or other place as aforesaid,
or to any person duly authorized to act for them or either ofthem;

"der apna'ty* and any master, commander, or other person belongins to any such steam boat or other vessel, having charge of such mails, who shall refuse or neglect to deliver the same on denland as aforesaid, or shall detain or permit the detention of the same on board such steam boat or other vessel, or sliall not usc due diligence in the delivery thereof, as well as for the secure and dry custody of the same whilc they shall be in his charge, sliall forfcit and pay for every such offence a penalty or sum not exceeding Fifty Pounds.

Remuneration to

patera of ships, &c. 39. Every master or other person in charge of any such ship

or vessel arriving from parts beyond the said Province, or conveying

letters

letters from one part to anothd of the said Province, shall be entitled at any time after the expiration of twenty-four hours next after the arrival of such ship or vessel, to receive from the nearest Postmaster (who is liereby required to pay such master or person) the sum of One Penny for every letter or packet, newspapers excepted, so delivered on demaud as aforesaid, or delivered voluntarily to any Postmaster, or port officer, or at any Post Office, excepting only mail bags and packages received from the General Post Office, in England, by Government vessels or packets having contracted with the Government for carrying mails; and every such master or person shall give a receipt for the money so received, which receipt shall be to the Postmaster obtaining such letters or packets a suffieicnt voucller, aud the same shall be allowed him in his account accordingly: Provided that it shall be lawf'ul for the said Postmaster-General to withhold the said gratuity, or a part thereof, in cases when the master of such vessel shall have been guilty of any neg- ligence or delay in the delivery of the mails forwarded by such vessel.

40. It shall be lawful for any merchant or brolwr, residing beyond	Xlcl*clm~tu
brcrkcrs may certify

nnd

the limits of the said Province, who may have made up a mail bag	scaling of letter bags.
or letter bag to be convcyed on board of any steam boat or
other vessel, to be delivered at any port or place within tlie
limits of the sdd Province, t o seal the same bag,. and to forward to
the Postmaster-General a certificate of the niakmg, up and sealing
of such bag, and of the contents thereof, and of tlie day of the
month and year of the delivery thereof to the master or person	Penalty for opening
having the command of such steam boat or other vessel; and in	t llc same.
every such case, any snch master or person in command who dial1 open, or cmse, or permit, or suffer to be opened, any such mail bag or letter bag, or shall b re~k? or cause, or permit, or suBer & be broken, any snch seal, shall for every such offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding One Hundred Pounds, to bc recovered at the suit of the Postmaster-General, or any person authorized by him to slie iii that behalf, in a summary way, before any two or

more Justices of the Peace for the said Province.

41. If any mnster or person having the command of any ship Mnstcrs of veeselrr

or vessel about t,o depart from this Province s11all (after bcing	departing from the
Pro~4nce compelled to
tEtereto required by the Postmaster-General or by any such Yast-	taho ~nailp, under a
master or port officer, or by any person duly authorized to act for	penalty.

tliem, or either of them) refuse or wilfully neglect to receive on board such ship or vessel, any mail, or bag, or box of letters or news- papers, or to @ve a receipt for the same,-or shall refuse or neglect carefully to deposit such mail, or bag, or box, or newspapers, in some secure and dry place on board of such ship or vessel, or to convey the same upon heir then intended voyage, such master or person sha& for every such offence, forfeit and pay a penalty or sum not exceeding One Hundred rounds: Provided always, that every such master or Allowances t o masters

person in command, who shall receive on board any such mail, or bag, i ' ~ t ~ ~ ~ $ ~ & ~ ~ ~, ~

or box, or newspapers, for the purpose of conveying the same, ac-

~ording to the direction thereof, shall be entitled immediately to

P demand

demand and receiw from such Postmaster or port officer, for the carriage thereof, One Pemg for every letter or packet contained tl~erein, newspapers excepted, such master or person giving a receipt for the amount so received by him, which receipt shall be a sufficient voucher for such payment, and the same slrall be allowed such Postmaster or port ofticer in his account accordingly.

Mastcrs of etcumm 42. If any master, commander, or other person having the

or other sessels	charge of any steam boat or other vessel proceeding or about
to tulce mails, un(lcr	to proceed from any port or place within the Province to some
a penalty.	other port or place witliin the same, s l d l refuse or ne~lect to receive any such Post Office mail on board such steam boat or other vessel, or to give n receipt for the same, being thereto required, he shall forfeit and pay a penalty or sum not exceeding Fifty Pounds.
Allownnre to masters
of steamers, &C., fi~r	43. For the conveyance of any mails by watcr from one port, post place, within the said Province, the master, or colnnlauder, or any other pcrson having the charge of any such steam boat or otller vessel, shall be entitled to denland aud receive at the rate of One Penny for every letter or packet cl~xgeabie with postage contained in such ulail; and such payments shall be made at such place and time, and under such r&plations, as the Postmaster-General shall appoint; a i d every such master, corn- mander, or other person as aforesaid, s h ~ l l give a receipt for the
letters convryed	town, or otller pla& to any other such port, post town, or other
C ~ ~ ~ W I Y C.
Exemption aa to	amount so received by him, which receipt s11:ill be to the I'ostrnaster-
newsp;rpero.	General, or to any Postmaster or other person as afbresaid, making such payment, a full and valid discharge for the same; and the said Postn~a,ster-General, and every sucli l'ostmaster and other person, in passing his accounts, shall receive credit for every such sum or sunis wl~ich shall be therein mentioned accordiriglp: Provided thxt such master or other person having the clwge of any such steam boat or other vesscl sllall not be entitled to demxucl or receive any such payment in respect of any newspaper or newspapers placed on board such vessel by the Postmaster-General or other person duly authorized in that behalf.
Vesse l not sniTing

pwsuant to notice, 44. Whenever the master or person having the comniand of any

mails and gratuities steam boat or other vessel shall have received mails fion~ anv I'ost- J

may be recobercd	nlaster, for coriveyance on board of sr~ch	steamboat or othcr vessel,
back.

and such steamboat or other vessel shall not depart on her voyage according to the time fixed for the departure thereof; by any notice given as herein provided at or before the receiving of such mails, ~t shall be lawful for the said Postmaster-General to recover back from such master or person having the commaud as aforesaid, such mails, and also any gratuity which may have been paid for the conveyance of the same in a summary manner, befbre any two or more Justices of the Peace for the said Province.

Penalty on Post-

masters, &., retarding 45. If auy port officer, Postmaster, or other person duly authok

ddirery of mails, &c. r i d

rized to receive or dispatch any such mails as aforesaid, shall neglect or fail to deliver, or shall retard the delivery of, any bag, box, mail, letter, pixcket, or newspaper, he shall, for every such offenc8, forfeit and pay a penalty or sunl iivt exceeding Fifty Pounds.

46	After t l ~ e	con~rnencement of this Act, no letter or ~ a c k e t	Isttennottobe
conveyed other wise

chargeable with postage (except newspapers as aforesaid) shall thau by post, under

a~euul ty.

be carried for hire or reward otherwise tban by post; and if or conveying mch letter or packet, or taking charge of the same for such carriage or conveyance shall, for every such letter or packet, forfeit and pay a or sum not cxceoding 'l'wenty Pounds; and every sue'h lctter and packet sent or carried, or taken charge of to be carried, otherwise than by post, shall be deemed, in any prosecution for this offence, to have been for hire or reward, unless the contrary shall be shewn by the defeirclant.

any such letter or paclret shall Be so carried or conveved, or be

sent or talren cllarge of for the purpose of being so Earried and

conveyed, by auy person (not being a person employed in the Post

47. Nothing in the last preceding clause contained shall extend to Proviso RS to lettern exceeding sixtee11

any letter or packet exceeding sixteen ounces in wei&t, nor to any ou,,,,,in weight,

lettcr or packet conceniing ~oods, sent with such goods, and to be 0. sent wit" euuds~ or writs, &c.

delivered tllerewith, or contniniug any writ or proceeding out of any Court of Justice, or deed, conveyance, affidavit, or letter of attorney, nor to any letter or packet nentaby any person concerning his or her private affairs by ilw special messenger, nor to m y letter or packet

lona$de sent or cxr&d to or froni the nearest Post Office.

48. Any Postmaster, or other officer belonging to the Post Penalty on I'cst- mnstor, &C., ufindinp;

Ofice, or any person employed by or under a Postmaster, or in ztg,,i,,, p r ~ r i ~ i u n s	ol
the receiving, sortin$, carrying, conveying, or delivering of post thilAct- letters, or otherwise In the business of the Post Ofice, who shall offend against, or wilfully neglect or oinit to comply with, any of thc rules and reguli~tiom so froni time to time to be made as	afbresnid, or any of the provisions of this Act, shall for every such	offence, aeglect, or omission, forfeit and pay a penalty or sum not
exceeding Fifty Pounds.

49. If the driver of any mail coach or other carriage used PanaI1ir.s on mail

for the conveyance of the mail, or the guard, or any person in	coach drivere,
charge of a mail, whetlwr conveyed by any such carriagq, or on horschack, or toot, shall loiter on the road, or wilfully mis-spend or lose time so as to retard the arrival of the mail at its proper destination, or shall not in a11 possible eases, convey such mail at the speed of such a number of miles an hour as are fixed by
the Postmaster-Geueral for the conveyance thereof, unless the
circumstances of the weather, or the badness of the roads, or the occurrence of any accident, shall prevent the same, then and in
every such case the driver or guard, or person in charge, as the w e may be, so offending, and being convicted thereof, by his own

confession, on view of a Justice, or the oath or oaths of one or more' credible witness or witnesses, shall forfeit and pay a sum not ex- ceedihg-Five Pounds for every such offence.

Penaltics on persons

fraudulently retaining 50, And whereas post letters are sometimes, by mistake, de.

t n g

livercd to the wrong person, and post letters and post letter bags are lost in the course of conveyance or delivery thereof, and are detained by the finders in expectation of gain or reward, every person who shall fiauduleotly retain, or shall wilfully secrete, or keep, or deulin, or being- required by an officer of the Post Office, shall neglect or refuse to deliver up a post letter which ought to have been delivered to anv other person, or e post letter bag or post letter which shall Gave been sent, whether the same shall have been found by the person secret- ing, keeping, or detaining, or neglecting, or refusing to deliver up the same, or by any other person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof, shall be liable to be punished by fine

- -

and imprisonment.

Preveution of	51. And to prevent obstructions opposite the General Post the Geneml Post Office, and every driver or person having the management of any hackney carriage, who shall permit the same to
obstructions oppoaite
the General post	Office, no hackuey carriage shall stand or ply for hire opposite
Ofice.
~ m ~ l t y.	stand or ply for hire opposite the said Post Office shall fbrfeit for every such offence a sum not exceeding Five Pounds; and every hawker, newsvendor, or idle or disorderly person, who shall stop or loiter on the flagway or pavement opposite the General Post Office shall forfeit, for every such offmce, a sum not exceeding Two Pounds.
Penalties on post-	52. If any person, whether employed in the Post OEce or otherwise, s l d l fraudulently ta'kc from the possession of

masters, BC, stealing

auy

0,- secreting larrors,

&C.	Postrnastcr or person employed to convey post letters, or from out of any Post Office or place appointed for the receipt or delivery
of post letters, or shall steal, or shall for any purpose embezzle,
take, secrete, or destroy any letter or packet, or mail of letters, or newspaper, or other printed paper, or any matter or thing
enclosed in any such letter, packet, or mail seat or to be scut by such post, every such person SO offending shall be deemed guilty of felony, and on conviction thereof, shall be liable to be imprisoned, with OS without hard labor, for any term not exceeding seven years, as the Court shall award.
Money indead letters

and parcels to be paid 53. If upon the opening -of any dead letter or parcel, the same

to Treasurer.	shall be found to contain .any money or article of valuc, thcn the Postmaster-General shall pay the same money or the price of such article of valuc, after disposing of the same, to the Colonial Trea- surer, to be repaid to the person entitled thereto, upon proof being given to the satisfaction of such Treasurer.
Letten of insolrents

to be delivered to 54. Whenever any person shall be declared insolvent within the

~ f f i c d Assignee. meaning

meaning of the Ordinances for the time being in force in the said fiovince, it shall be lawful for the Postmaster-General, upon an order made in that behalf by the Commissioner of Insolvency for the time being, during the period named in such order, to deliver any letter addressed to such insolvent to the Official Assignee or other person in such order named.

55. Every master of any vessel not carrying mails under a F o * ~ - e i @ t h ~ ~ r s ' notice of time of sail-

contract with Her Majesty's Government, or with the Governor inglobe giwn.

for the time being of this Province, shall before sailing give, to

the Postnlaster at Port Adelaide, forty-eight hours' notice, in

writing, of the time or intended time of salling of such vesscl,

and shall also from time to t,inle give l~otice to such Postmaster

at Port Adelaide of any postponement of such time of sailing;

and every master of any vessel who shall omit to give such notice,

or who shall sail from tlrc said Port before the expiration of the

time mentioned in slxch notice, sliall, for every such offence, forfeit

and pay the sum of Fifty Pounds.

56. Every master of any vcssel who sllnll refuse to heave-to for ~enn l ty for not henumg-to for mail

the mail boat, when required by the person in charge of the same botct.

such mdl-boat, carrying a distihg~~islling flag with the words lLMail

Boat" inscribed thcreon, shall for every such offence, forfeit and pay

s sum not exceeding Ten Pounds nor less than Forty Shillings.

mitted against the Post Ofice, in any indictment or informatiou offenceo. 57. And for tllc inore cffcctual prosecution of offences corn- Prosecution of

for any offeuce conmiittecl upon or in respect of m y property which 'may be laid in, or stated to belong to, the Postmaster- General, it shall be sufficicnt to state any such property to belong to, and to lay it iu tlrc Postmaster-GcrleraIIGral of the mid Province, and it shall not be necessary to specify the name or addition of any such Postwaster-General; and that whenever in any indict- ment or information for any offence committed against this or any

for any purpose whatever the said Postmaster-General, it shall be other Act relating to the Post Uficc, it shall be necessary to mention	sufficient to describe such Postmaster-General as the Postnlaster-
General of the said Province, without any further or other name, addition, or description whatsoever.
gulation made under this Act as afbresaid, in respect of which said penalties 58. All off eiices against this Act, or against any rule or re- Proceeding= fm
otfcnces any pecuniary finc or penalty is by this Act imposed (where no other provision for the recovery thereof is in that behalf made), shall be heard and determined, and such fines and penalties be awarded and imposed in a summary way, by and before any two or more Justices of the Peace, upon complaint in that behalf made: Provided that all such proceedings shall be taken in the name of Her Majesty's Advocate or Attorney-General, or of the Postmaster-General, or of some otlier officer employed in the Post Ofice department of the said Province.

Q 59. If

Limitation of actions. 59. If m y action or suit shall be commenced against any person

or persons, for anything done in pursuance of this Act, the

same ~ ~ 1 1 be commenced within twelve months after the fact committed, and not afterwards; aud the defendant or defendants in such action shall and may plead the general issue, and give the special matter in evidence, under such plea; and if it slid appear that the act was done under this Act, or that the action was commenced after the time before limited for bringing the same, the jury shall find for the defendant or defendnnt,~; a i d upon a. verdict for the defendant, or if the plaintiff or plzintigi sllall be nonsuited or discontinue his, her, or their action or suit after the defendant or defendants shall have appeared, or if upon demurrer judgment shall be given against the plaintiff or plaintiffs, the defendant or defendants shall and may recover costs, and have the like remedy for the same as any defendant or defendants hath or have by law

in any other cases.

Arnmpriation of	60.	The moneys to arise by and from thc several rates and duties
postage dutics,

penalties, &c. as aforesaid, and also all sun~s of money imposed and levied by way of penalty under the provisions of this Act (except such part thereof as may be payable to the party suing or informing in respect thereof), shafl respectively be paid to Her Majesty, 1-Ier heirs and successors, for the public uses of the said Province, and in support of the Government thereof; and shall be applied thereto in such manner as sliall be directed by any Act to be passed by the Go- vernor and Legislative Council of the said Province.

Commencement of 61. This Act shall commence and take effect from the passing

Act. thereof,

-p.

ADELAIDE: Printed by autbority, by W. C, Cox, Qovernmenb Printer, Victoria-square.