Situation.
A Post Office should be in a convenient and central situation, and must not be removed from one part of a town, village, or settlement, to another without the approval first obtained of the Postmaster General.
Protection.
Postmasters are required to take every precaution to secure their offices against burglary and fire.
Principal offices.
At the principal Post Offices in Canada the hours of opening and closing are regulated by the Postmaster General.
Country offices.
In country places Postmasters are required to keep their offices open during the usual hours of business in the locality, and to attend at such other hours as may be necessary to receive and despatch the mails.
Sundays, Canada West.
On Sundays Postmasters in Canada West are at liberty to close their offices to the public.
When an office in Canada West is closed to the public on Sunday it must be closed to all persons alike, and no exceptional or partial delivery to particular persons can be allowed.
Sundays, Canada East.
In Canada East, Postmasters keep their offices open on Sundays at least one hour either before or after Divine Service, as may be most convenient to the public generally.
Notice of hours.
A Notice, stating the hours at which the office is opened and closed, should be posted in every office, in such a position as may be readily observed by the public.
Canada railways.
Mails are conveyed twice each way every day, except Sunday, over the principal lines of railway in Canada. Over the less important lines of railway they are carried only once each way every day, except Sunday.
Canada common roads.
Mails are also conveyed once each way every day, except Sunday, over the principal lines of common road, and once, twice, or three times per week over the less important lines of common road.
Lower Provinces.
The postal communication between Canada and the Lower Provinces is three times per week each wayviâQuebec, and once per fortnight each way by Cunard SteamersviâBoston and Halifax. Also twice per week each way in summerviâPortland.
Postal routes to the several portions of the world
The most speedy and direct postal route from Canada to almost every portion of the globe, with the exception of the Continent of North America, the Isthmus of Panama, and a portion of the West India Islands having direct communication with New York, is by way of England, from whence mails for the several British Colonies and Foreign Countries mentioned in the tables at pages 36, 37, 38, and 39, are regularly despatched.
Do. to North American Continent, Isthmus of Panama, W. Indies, &c.
The most speedy and direct postal route from Canada to all parts of the Continent of North America, the Isthmus of Panama, and a portion of the West India Islands having direct communication with New York, isviâNew York.
Mails for England.
Mails for England are despatched twice in each week from Canada, viz.: once by Canadian Steamer sailing every Saturday, from Quebecin Summer and from Portland in Winter; and once by Cunard Steamer, sailing every Wednesday, either from New York or Boston.
The following Post Offices in Canada make up mails direct for certain Post Offices in the United Kingdom, viz.:—
Hamilton,Montreal,Toronto,Quebec.Kingston,
Mails for United States.
Mails are exchanged daily with the United States post offices at all the principal frontier points, and closed mails are exchanged daily between the principal cities of Canada and New York and Boston.
Mails for Lower Provinces.
Mails are also made up at Quebec, Montreal, and Toronto, for Halifax, Nova Scotia, and for St. John's, Newfoundland, and despatched to destination by Cunard Steamer, sailing from Boston, every alternate Wednesday.
Canada and other parts of B. N. America.
The rate of Postage onpre-paidLetters between any place in Canada and any other place in Canada, and onpre-paidorunpaidletters between any place in Canada and any place in British North America (except places hereafter mentioned), including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton, is regulated by weight, irrespective of distance, and is as follows:—
Scale of charge.
On a letter weighing not more than ½ an oz.,5 cents.""more than½oz. but not ex. 1oz.,10 cts."""1oz."1½"15 cts."""1½oz."2"20 cts."""2oz."2½"25 cts.
And so on, 5 cents being charged for every additional ½ oz., or fraction of a half ounce.
Excess of weight.
If the weight be exceeded to the smallest extent, even though the balance be merely turned, the letter becomes liable to an additional rate.
Unpaid letters.
Letters addressed to any place within the Province of Canada, if sent unpaid, are liable to a charge of 7 cents per ½ oz.
Drop letters
The charge on local or drop Letters, viz., letters posted at an office in Canada for delivery from that office, is one cent for each letter.
Letters delivered by carriers.
The charge on letters delivered by Letter Carrier, in Canada, is two cents for each letter in addition to the ordinary postage.
Nova ScotiaviâHalifax.
Letters for Nova Scotia, specially addressed by "Cunard Steamer," sailing from Boston to LiverpoolviâHalifax, every alternate Wednesday, are liable to 12½ cents per ½ oz., which can be pre-paid or not at the option of the sender.
Newfoundland.
Letters for Newfoundland are liable to a rate of 20 cents per ½ oz., which must be pre-paid.
British Columbia.
The rate of postage on letters to British Columbia and Vancouver's Island is 25 cents per ½ oz., which must be pre-paid.
Red River.
The rate of postage on letters to Red River,viâthe United States, is 10 cents per ½ oz., which may be pre-paid or not at the option of the sender.
United States.
The rate of postage on letters between any place in Canada and any place in the United States, except California and Oregon, is 10 cents per ½ oz., which may either be pre-paid or not, at the option of the sender.
California and Oregon.
The rate of postage on letters between any place in Canada and any place in California or Oregon is 15 cents per ½ oz., which may be pre-paid or not at the option of the sender.
Scale of weight.
The scale of weight under which the above letters are charged is the same as the scale under which letters passing between places in Canada are rated.
United Kingdom.
The single rate of postage on letters between any place in Canada and any place in the United Kingdom, is as follows:—
Canadian Steamers.
By Canadian Steamer, sailing every Saturday from Quebec in Summer and from Portland in Winter, 12½ cents.
Cunard Steamers.
By Cunard Steamer, sailing either from New York or Boston every Wednesday, 17 cents.
Scale of weight.
Letters addressed to the United Kingdom and forwarded by either of the above routes, will be charged according to the following scale, which it will be seen differs from the scale of weight under which letters passing between places in Canada are taxed:—
Letters not weighing over ½ an oz., 1 rate."weighing more than ½ oz. and not exceed. 1 oz. 2 rates."""1 ""2 " 4 """"2 ""3 " 6 """"3 ""4 " 8 "
And so on, adding two rates for every additional ounce orfraction of an ounce.
Pre-payment required.
The postage on all letters posted in Canada for the United Kingdom, and in the United Kingdom for Canada, should be pre-paid.
Unpaid letters.
If sent unpaid 6d. sterling will be charged on each letter on delivery in addition to the ordinary postage rate.
Despatch by Canadian and Cunard Steamers.
Letters posted in Canada for the United Kingdom, and in the United Kingdom for Canada, unless specially addressed "By Canadian Steamer" or "By Cunard Steamer," are despatched in the first mail that is made up—whether for the Canadian or Cunard line—after the letter is posted, so that letters intended for the Canadian Packets must either be posted on the proper days for the Canadian Packet Mails or bear the words "By Canadian Mail Steamer" on the address.
Twopence sterling, equal to 5 cents, will be charged on the delivery of letters which have been forwarded as above by Cunard Steamers, but on which 6d. sterling or 12½ cents, only per ½ oz. have been pre-paid.
British Colonies and Foreign Countries
The rates upon letters for British Colonies and Foreign Countries will be found in the tables at pages 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40. These tables give the rates: 1, by Canadian Ocean Steamers; 2, by Cunard Steamers; and 3, by United States. It will be desirable always to mark on the letter the route by which it is intended to be sent.
The charge on dead letters returned to the writers is 3 cents on each letter in addition to the postage.
Rate.
Non-Commissioned Officers, Embodied Pensioners, Seamen, and Soldiers, and Army Schoolmasters of all but first class, while they are employed in Her Majesty's Service, can send and receive letters at the rate of two cents each under the following regulations:—
Conditions.
1. The two cents must be paid at the time the letter is posted.2. The name of the soldier or sailor, his class or description,and the name of the ship, corps, or detachment to which hebelongs, must be specified in the direction of the letter; andin the case of letterssentby soldiers or seamen, theofficer in command must sign his name and specify his rank,and the name of the ship or regiment, corps or detachment,which he commands.3. The letter must not exceed half an ounce in weight.4. The letter must refer solely to the private affairs of thesoldier or seaman.
All the foregoing descriptions must be fully written in the address in the following form, the initials of the name of any ships or regiments being insufficient:—
Address.
SEAMAN.SOLDIER.From A. B.—Seaman ofH.M.S.____________(Here insert direction of the letter.)C. D., Captain (or other commanding Officer)H.M.S.____________From A. B., Sergeant,____Regiment________(Here insert direction of the letter.)C. D., Colonel (or other commanding Officer)____Regiment________To A. B., Seaman,H.M.S.____________(Here the direction to be finished.)To A. B., Private (Serg. or Corp'l)____Regiment________(Here the direction to be finished.)
Subject to pre-payment of foreign transit rates.
Letters for soldiers or seamen may be forwarded at the above rate to or through any country requiring the payment of any foreign or transit rate, but subject to the payment of such foreign or transit rate, as may be chargeable thereon.
Re-direction.
Soldiers and seamens letters are not liable to any additional rate on re-direction.
Conveyance.
All soldiers' and seamens' letters are conveyed between Canada and the United Kingdom by the Canadian line of steamers.
Letters for commissioned officers, &c.
Letters sent to or by commissioned or warrant officers, midshipmen or master's mates, engineers in the navy, captain's clerks or first-class schoolmasters, or commissioned or warrant officers in the army, are not included in the privilege attached to letters of soldiers and seamen, but are chargeable with the same rates as ordinary letters.
Letters posted without compliance with regulations.
Soldiers and seamens letters posted in Canada without a compliance with the above regulations are liable to full postage. If posted in accordance with the above regulations but without pre-payment of 2 cents they are liable to a charge of 2d. sterling on delivery in the United Kingdom.
Definition.
The law declares that for post office purposes a newspaper shall be held to mean a periodical published not less frequently than once in each week, and containing notices of passing events, that is to say, general news.
Can be sent otherwise than by post.
Although provision is made for forwarding newspapers through the post, it is not compulsory on any one to employ this mode of transmission; everything except letters may be sent in any other way.
Restrictions.
A newspaper to pass at the undermentioned rates is subject to the following restrictions:—
1. It must have no cover, or a cover open at both ends.2. It must not contain any enclosure.3. It must have no writing or mark thereon but the name andaddress of the person to whom it is sent, nor anything on thecover except such name and address.
Newspapers which are not posted in accordance with these regulations are not forwarded.
Extra or supplement.
An extra newspaper or a supplement to a newspaper is deemed a distinct newspaper, and charged accordingly.
Canada commuted rate when sent from office of publication.
Newspapers published in Canada may be sent by post from the office of publication to any place in Canada at the following rates, if paid quarterly in advance, either by the publisher at the post office where the papers are posted, or by the subscriber at the post office where the papers are delivered.
For a paper published 6 times per week, 40 cents per quarter."3"20""2"13""1"6½""Semi-Monthly,3¼""Monthly,1¼"
If commuted rate not prepaid.
When the above rates are not paid in advance by either the publisher or subscriber the papers are charged 1 cent each on delivery.
Payment of commuted rate.
It is not necessary that the commuted rate on newspapers should be paid absolutely on the first day of each quarter. The regulation is intended to be carried out with all possible consideration for the convenience of the public, and it will be sufficient if the person desiring to pay the commuted rate declares his intention and offers the payment when first calling at the office within a reasonable time after the commencement of the quarter; but after having made his option to pre-pay the commuted charge, or to pay for his papers as received at one cent each, as the case may be, postmasters are not expected to alter their newspaper accounts to allow of a change until the commencement of the next quarter.
The commuted rate of payment can be accepted from new subscribers during a quarter for any unexpired period of the quarter not less than a month.
Transient papers.
Newspapers published in Canada which are not posted from the office of publication, must be pre-paid one cent each by postage stamps, otherwise they will not be forwarded.
Publishers subscription accounts and receipts.
Publishers of newspapers in Canada are allowed to enclose in copies of their papers sent to subscribers, subscription accounts, and receipts for the same, without rendering them liable to any additional postage.
Packets of returned papers.
Packets of unbound newspapers published in Canada may be returned by a subscriber to the office of publication, at the rate of 2 cents per 8 oz. or fraction of 8oz., which must be pre-paid.
Rate to United States.
Transient newspapers addressed to the United States must be pre-paid one cent each by postage stamp, otherwise they will not be forwarded.
From United States.
Newspapers posted in the United States and addressed to Canada are liable to one cent each on delivery. The stamppaidon these papers indicates that the United States postage only has been pre-paid, the Canadian rate of one cent remaining to be collected.
American papers.
American newspapers posted or re-posted in Canada must be prepaid one cent each, by stamp, otherwise they will not be forwarded.
Commuted rate not applicable to U.S. papers.
The option of paying the commuted rate on newspapers does not apply to papers published in the United States: they must be paid for at the full rate of one cent each.
News agents.
Canadian news agents and booksellers may post American newspapers unpaid, when addressed to regular subscribers in the Province; but such newspapers are chargeable on delivery with one cent each.
Rate to U. Kingdom.
Newspapers posted in Canada and addressed to the United Kingdom must be pre-paid by stamp, one cent each.
By Canadian Steamers.
Newspapers forwarded by Canadian Steamer are delivered in the United Kingdom without additional charge.
By Cunard Steamers.
Newspapers forwarded by Cunard Steamer are liable on delivery to one penny each, being the American transit rate.
From U. Kingdom.
Newspapers posted in the United Kingdom for Canada should be pre-paid one penny each, by stamp.
By Canadian Steamers.
If forwarded by Canadian Steamer they are subject on delivery to no additional charge.
By Cunard Steamers.
If forwarded by Cunard Steamer they are subject on delivery to two cents each, being the American transit rate.
Brit. papers reposted.
British newspapers re-posted in Canada must be pre-paid 1 cent each, by stamp.
Brit. papers posted by agents.
British newspapers distributed to regular subscribers by Canadian booksellers or agents pass free in the same way as if received by the Canadian Steamers.
Commuted rate on newspapers to places out of Canada.
Canadian newspapers addressed from the office of publication to subscribers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Lower Provinces, &c., may be forwarded on pre-payment of the commuted rate, applicable to subscribers within the Province; but they cannot be forwarded if unpaid.
Exchanges free.
Exchange papers passing between publishers in Canada and between publishers in Canada and publishers in the United States, are carriedfreethrough the post.
No other exemption from charge.
No newspaper, properly so called (except exchanges), whether devoted to education, temperance, agriculture, or to any branch of science, is entitled to exemption from charge. The law exempts only periodicals, other than newspapers, printed in Canada, and devoted exclusively to the above objects.
Newfoundland.
Newspapers addressed to Newfoundland must be pre-paid two cents each, by stamp.
British Colonies and Foreign Countries
The rates on newspapers addressed to British Colonies and foreign countries will be found in the tables at pages 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40. These tables give the rates: 1, by Canadian Ocean Steamers; 2, by Cunard Steamers; and 3, by the United States.
No United States paper exempt.
No United States newspapers of any kind or description (with the exception of exchange papers) are on any ground entitled to pass through the Canadian mails free of postage.
How to be forwarded from publication office.
In cities and towns where newspapers are published, the printers and publishers should send them to the post office put up in a manner to admit of their being readily counted, and if necessary withdrawn from their covers for examination. The newspapers for each office also should be made up in strong paper in a separate parcel, which should be plainly addressed.
Notification to publishers of non-delivery.
When the numbers of a newspaper published in Canada or in either of the other British North American Provinces, or in the United States, and issued daily, have remained in a post office in Canada uncalled for during two weeks; of a newspaper issued semi-weekly, or tri-weekly, during three weeks; of a newspaper issued weekly, during one month; and of a monthly periodical during two months, or when such newspapers and periodicals have been refused to be taken by the party to whom addressed, the postmaster is instructed to notify therespective publishers in the proper form, which is to pass free of postage. If the newspaper or periodical continues to arrive after the notice has been sent, the postmaster is instructed to notify the publisher in the same way a second time, specially calling his attention to the first notice given.
Enclosures in newspapers.
To enclose a letter, or any writing, or to make any written marks to serve the purposes of a letter, or to enclose any other thing (except publishers' accounts and receipts, as before mentioned) in a newspaper posted to pass as a newspaper, is a misdemeanor. Postmasters are requested at once to transmit all newspapers containing such writing, marks, and enclosures to the Postmaster General.
Definition.
Periodical Publications are publications issued at regular intervals, but less frequently than once per week.
Rate to Canada and U. States.
Periodical Publications can be transmitted by post to any part of Canada and the United States at the following rates:—
For every periodical publication weighing not morethan 3 oz. in weight .................................... 1 cent.Over 3oz. in weight .................................. 4 cents.
Pre-pay'mt
The above rates must invariably be pre-paid by postage stamps.
Sent from publication office.
If pre-paid by postage stamps and sent from the office of publication, periodicals published in Canada weighing over 3 oz. pass for two cents each.
From United States.
Periodical publications received from the United States are liable to the rates above mentioned, viz.: If not exceeding 3 oz. 1 cent; if exceeding 3 oz. 4 cents.
If posted by booksellers or news agents.
Canadian Booksellers and News Agents may post British, American or Provincial periodicals for distribution to regular subscribers unpaid. If sent unpaid they will, when exceeding the weight of 3 oz., be subject to 4 cents.
Small periodicals posted by booksellers and news agents.
Canadian Booksellers and News Agents may also post for transmission by mail in Canada small periodicals, whether Canadian, British or United States, weighing less than 1 oz., such as the Children's Paper, Child's Paper, The Play Hour, The Carrier Dove, The Sabbath School Visitor, The Evangelizer, The Gospel Message, The Good News, and others of a like description, in packages to one address, at the rate of 5 cents per pound, or fraction of a pound bulk weight, provided that the said News Agents and Booksellers pre-pay such packages by postage stamps. This must not be understood as imposing a charge on Canadian periodicals entitled to pass free.
Periodicals exempt from postage.
Periodicals printed in Canada other than newspapers when specially devoted to education, meaning the instruction of youth, (both religious and general), to agriculture, to temperance, or to any branch of science, and addressed directly from the office of publication to be transmitted to any post-office in Canada, are conveyed by mail free of charge. Such periodicals must not contain general news or advertisements or they forfeit their claim to exemption.
A periodical devoted to education to pass free must be either strictly scholastic in its subject matter, or manifestly adapted and intended for juvenile as distinguished from adult instruction. It is in this primary sense that the word Education, whether religious or secular, is understood to be used. Religious publications are not as a class entitled to exemption from charge. The law exempts only those which come within the foregoing definitions.
U.S. periodicals not exempt.
No United States periodical of any kind or description can, upon any ground, claim exemption from Canadian postage.
Returned periodicals.
Parcels of unbound periodicals may be returned by a subscriber to the office of publication at the rate of two cents per 8 oz. or fraction of 8 oz.
Conditions
Periodicals to pass at the above rates must be put up in covers open at the ends or sides, and if these regulations are not strictly complied with, or if such periodicals are found to contain any writing other than the address, they are liable to full letter rates of postage.
Not to exceed 48 oz.
No packet of periodicals can be forwarded through the post if exceeding the weight of 48 oz.
Bound periodicals.
Bound volumes of any periodical published in Canada may be forwarded at the rates and under the conditions described under the articleBook Post.
Canada, B. N. America, and United States.
Books bound or unbound posted in Canada, and addressed to any office in Canada, British North America and the United States, are chargeable with a rate of 1 cent per oz., which must be pre-paid by postage stamps.
United Kingdom.
Book packets are forwarded by post from Canada to the United Kingdom, andvice versâ, by Canadian Steamers only, at the following rates:—
Scale of charge.
Scale of charge.For eachpacketweighingnot more than4 oz.,7 cents.""exceeding4 oz.and not exceed.½ lb.,12½ cts."""½ lb."1 "25 """"1 ""1½ "37½ """"1½ ""2 "50 "
And so on, adding 12½ cents for each additional half pound, or fraction of half a pound weight.
France.
Book packets, printed matter, or single newspapers, can be forwarded from Canada to France, orvice versâ, by Canadian Steamers only, at the following rates:—
Scale of charge.
If not exceeding2 oz.in weight5 cents.If exceeding2 oz.and not exceeding4 oz.10 ""4 "" "8 "20 ""8 "" "1 lb.40 "
And so on, adding 20 cents for each additional ½ lb. or fraction of ½ lb.
Conditions
The following conditions must be carefully observed:—
1. Every book packet must be either without a cover or in a coveropen at the ends.2. It must not contain any letter open or sealed, or any sealedenclosure whatever.3. It must not exceed two feet in length, breadth, or width.4. The postage must be pre-paid by stamps.
Contents of a book packet.
A book packet may contain any number of separate books, publications, works of literature or art, almanacs, maps or prints, photographs, daguerreotypes, when not on glass or in frames containing glass, and any quantity of paper, vellum, or parchment (to the exclusion of letters); and the books, maps, paper,&c., may be either written, printed or plain, or any mixture of the three, and may be either British, Colonial or Foreign.
All legitimate binding, mounting, or covering of the same, or a portion thereof, will be allowed as part of the packet, whether such binding, &c., be loose or attached, as also rollers in the case of printsand maps, and whatever may be necessary for the safe transmission of literary or artistic matter, or whatever usually appertains thereto, and the postage is rated upon the gross weight of the packet.
Sender's address permitted on cover.
The name and address of the sender, and anything else not in the nature of a letter, may also be written and printed on the envelope or cover of the packet, in addition to the name and address of the person to whom it may be forwarded.
Books carried at parcel rates.
Books addressed to places in Canada can be sent through the mails in closed packets for the same rates of postage as parcels.
Cannot be sent by Cunard Steamers.
Books cannot be forwarded except at letter rates of postage by the mail made up for the Cunard Steamers sailing from New York and Boston.
Bound volumes of newspapers or periodicals.
Bound volumes of any periodical or newspaper published in Canada, if bound in a form to come within mailable dimensions, that is to say, not exceeding two feet in length, breadth or thickness, nor exceeding 4 lbs. in weight, may be sent from the office of publication to any place in Canada at a charge of two cents per 8 ozs. or fraction of 8 ozs.
Book packets for United Kingdom improperly posted.
Should a book packet addressed to the United Kingdom be posted unpaid, or with a pre-payment of less than 7 cents, or be enclosed in a cover not open at the ends, or should it exceed the dimensions specified, it will be sent to the Dead Letter Office.
Do. insufficiently paid.
If a book packet addressed to the United Kingdom be posted insufficiently pre-paid, and it appears that at least the single rate of 7 cents has been pre-paid, such packet will be forwarded to its destination charged with an additional postage equal to the deficiency, and another single rate as a fine.
Letters enclosed in book packets.
Letters, whether sealed or unsealed, or any enclosure found in a book parcel, are liable to rates as unpaid letters, and the packet in which enclosed to an additional rate of 12½ cents, as a penalty for a breach of the regulations.
British Colonies and Foreign Countries.
The rates of postage on books to British Colonies and Foreign Countries are given in the tables at pages 36, 37, 38, and 39.
Canada, British America and United States.
Printed circulars, prices current, hand bills, and other printed matter of a like character, posted in Canada, and addressed to any place in Canada, British North America, or the United States, are chargeable with a rate of one cent per oz., which must be pre-paid by postage stamp.
School Returns.
The half-yearly School Returns made by School Trustees to the Local Superintendants of Schools, may, though the printed form be partly filled up in writing with the names of the pupils and days of attendance, be transmitted by post in Canada at the rate of one cent each, to be pre-paid by stamp.
When not filled up the above forms are printed matter, and liable as such to one cent per oz. postage.
Military Returns, &c.
Military returns, states, and rolls, containing written figures and signatures, may be forwarded as printed matter on pre-payment of one cent per ounce.
Circulars to United Kingdom.
Printed circulars may be transmitted by post to the United Kingdom under the regulations and charges of the Book Post. They must be forwarded, however, open at the ends, or sides. If sent in envelopes, sealed or unsealed, they are liable to letter rates of postage.