The postal communication between Canada and the Lower Provinces is three times per week each way via Quebec, and once per fortnight each way by Cunard Steamers via Boston and Halifax. Also twice per week each way in summer via Portland.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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, is via New York.

[Sidenote: Mails for England.]

Mails for England are despatched twice in each week from Canada, viz.: once by Canadian Steamer sailing every Sat.u.r.day, from Quebec in 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,

[Sidenote: Mails for United States.]

Mails are exchanged daily with the United States post offices at all the princ.i.p.al frontier points, and closed mails are exchanged daily between the princ.i.p.al cities of Canada and New York and Boston.

[Sidenote: 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.

RATES OF POSTAGE ON LETTERS.

[Sidenote: Canada and other parts of B. N. America.]

The rate of Postage on pre-paid Letters between any place in Canada and any other place in Canada, and on pre-paid or unpaid letters 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:--

[Sidenote: Scale of charge.]

On a letter weighing not more than 1/2 an oz., 5 cents.

" " more than 1/2 oz. but not ex. 1 oz., 10 cts.

" " " 1 oz. " 1-1/2 " 15 cts.

" " " 1-1/2 oz. " 2 " 20 cts.

" " " 2 oz. " 2-1/2 " 25 cts.

And so on, 5 cents being charged for every additional 1/2 oz., or fraction of a half ounce.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: Unpaid letters.]

Letters addressed to any place within the Province of Canada, if sent unpaid, are liable to a charge of 7 cents per 1/2 oz.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: Nova Scotia via Halifax.]

Letters for Nova Scotia, specially addressed by "Cunard Steamer,"

sailing from Boston to Liverpool via Halifax, every alternate Wednesday, are liable to 12-1/2 cents per 1/2 oz., which can be pre-paid or not at the option of the sender.

[Sidenote: Newfoundland.]

Letters for Newfoundland are liable to a rate of 20 cents per 1/2 oz., which must be pre-paid.

[Sidenote: British Columbia.]

The rate of postage on letters to British Columbia and Vancouver"s Island is 25 cents per 1/2 oz., which must be pre-paid.

[Sidenote: Red River.]

The rate of postage on letters to Red River, via the United States, is 10 cents per 1/2 oz., which may be pre-paid or not at the option of the sender.

[Sidenote: 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 1/2 oz., which may either be pre-paid or not, at the option of the sender.