ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE CHIEF POSTMASTER OF COOK ISLANDS

(Wellington/Rarotonga – 1 October 1893)

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1 OCTOBER 1893

Article I

1. There shall be a regular exchange of parcels by parcels post between the Post Office of New Zealand and the Post Office of the Cook Islands.

Article II

The rates of postage for the conveyance of parcels by parcel post between New Zealand and Cook Islands shall be as follows: - 

For a parcel not exceeding one pound avoirdupois in weight, eightpence.

For each individual pound or fraction of a pound up to and including eleven pounds, sixpence.

New Zealand shall credit Cook Islands

	1st rate	Succeeding rates	
	1b.	Per 1b.	
a. On prepaid parcels despatched from New Zealand to Cook Islands
	
3d.	
2d.	
b. On unpaid redirected parcels received in Colony from Cook Islands
	
3d.	
2d.	
Cook Islands shall credit New Zealand:-			

a. On prepaid parcels despatched from New Zealand

5d. 	

4d.	
b. On unpaid redirected parcels received at Cook Islands from New Zealand	
5d.	
4d.	

Each country shall retain its own postages			

New Zealand shall defray all transit cost of parcels between Cook Islands and New Zealand and vice versa.

Article III

The Chief Postmaster of Cook Islands may forward parcels enclosed in the parcel mails for New Zealand, for any of the countries with which New Zealand has parcel post exchanges (see pages 104 to 115 of the New Zealand Postal Guide for the current quarter).

The transit rates payable by Cook Islands on parcels so sent forward on New Zealand shall be those from time to time published in the New Zealand Postal Guide (pages quoted as above) as applicable to parcels sent from New Zealand to the countries therein named plus 2d. per 1b. for conveyance from Cook Islands to New Zealand.

Article IV

The two Post Offices will indicate the offices or localities which they admit to the exchange of postal parcels; they will regulate the mode of transmission of these parcels, and fix all other measures of detail and order necessary for ensuring the performance of the present agreement. It is understood that these measures may be modified whenever the two offices shall agree that an alteration is necessary.

Article V

The exchange of parcel mails shall be subject to the General Regulations annexed to the present agreement. 

PART II

GENERAL REGULATIONS

I

Parcels shall not exceed 11lb. in weight, 8ft. 6 in. in length, or 6ft. in length and girth combined, except in the case of parcels addressed to or posted at the Post Offices in New Zealand which are not served by railway, coach or steamer.

(A list of those offices is published quarterly in the New Zealand Postal Guide, a copy of which is attached hereto.).

The maximum dimensions and weight admissible to and from these offices are: - Length 2ft., breadth or depth, 1ft., weight 5lb. The contents of such parcels must not be too fragile to permit of their safe transmission in mail bags. (See also Article VII of General Regulations). 

II

Only fully prepaid parcels shall be admitted for transmission, except redirected parcels, which may be re-posted wholly unpaid.

III

Irregularities in parcel mails shall be immediately reported to the office of origin by verification certificate on the usual Postal Union form.

IV

Auckland and Rarotonga shall be the only offices of exchange for the present.

V

Each parcel shall be accompanied by a parcel bill, similar to the one attached hereto, C & F. P.P. No.12; such bills to be numbered in an annual series.

VI

The Accrued Charges column under “unpaid redirected parcels” is only intended for entering surcharges due on a parcel for pervious redirection, and not the charge for redirection from Cook Islands to New Zealand. For instance a 2lb. parcel redirected from the United Kingdom to Cook Islands on which the sum of 2s. is due for such redirection, if subsequently redirected from the last-named place to New Zealand would be entered as follows:-

1 first, 1 succeeding rate, accrued charges due Cook Islands 2s.

VII

The General Conditions of transmission, as to limits of weight and dimensions, and prohibited articles, &c., applicable to parcels from New Zealand to foreign countries set forth at pages 101 to 126 of the New Zealand Postal Guide for the current quarter shall be applicable to parcels exchanged between Cook Islands and New Zealand.

VIII

The sender of any parcel will be required to sign a declaration to be attached to the parcel, stating its contents and value. Parcels in regard to which a false declaration has been made, may be confiscated. Parcels will only be forwarded at the risk of the owners.

IX

Should a letter or any writing in the nature of a letter be found in or on any parcel, such enclosure or prohibited writing will be charged double letter rate as from the office or despatch, the minimum charge to be 5d.

X

Parcels on arrival in New Zealand will be examined by the Customs Officer at Auckland. 

In cases where Customs duties are payable, the duties must be paid before the parcels are delivered.

XI

The necessary Customs entries will be passed free of cost to the addressees of parcels.

XII

When parcels are ready for delivery addressee will be advised of the fact.

XIII

When a parcel cannot be delivered for any reason whatsoever the fact should be intimated to the office of despatch by first opportunity on a form similar to the attached C&F P. P. No. 9.

XIV

Unclaimed parcels shall be returned to country of origin free of charge, if no directions as to disposal have been received at the end of 6 months after notice No. 9 has been forwarded. The word “Undeliverable” must be inserted in the margin, and number of rates left blank.

XV

Parcels returned or redirected by request will be surcharged with the ordinary parcel postage. Such charge, together with any others to which the parcel has become liable will be collected on delivery unless paid by the sender or the addressee returning the parcel. 

XVI

Parcel hampers shall be returned to office of origin by first return boat.

XVII

New Zealand to render accounts for received and despatched parcels to Cook Islands half-yearly.

XVIII

The balance of accounts shall be remitted by the country indebted within one month after their verification.

XIX

The number of prepaid rates on parcels forwarded from Cook Islands for countries beyond New Zealand must not be indicated on the parcel bill but in lieu thereof the full amount due for onward despatch from Auckland to destination, computed at the rates shown in the N.Z Postal Guide, plus 2d. per 1b. for conveyance from Cook Islands to Auckland should be credited New Zealand in the Transit parcel column. For example:-

N.Z to be credited,
	For the 1st lb.	For each succeeding 1b.	
1. On parcels for the Australian colonies (Parcels may now be forwarded to all the Australian Colonies, except New South Wales, and it is expected exchanges with that Colony will be arranged for shortly).	

10d.
(8d. & 2d.)	

8d.
(6d. & 2d.)

	Not exceeding 1 lb.	Exceeding 1 lb. but not exceeding 2lbs.	For each succeeding 1b,	
2.On parcels for the United Kingdom 
	1/8d.
(1/6d & 2d.)	1/10d.
(1/6d, & 4d.)	11d.
(9d. & 2d.)	
3. On parcels for foreign countries sent via London	The rates set forth on pages 104 to 115 of the N.Z Postal Guide for the current quarter plus 2d. per 1b.	

This agreement shall come into force as from the First day of October 1893.

Signed in duplicate at Rarotonga this Seventh day of September 1893.

[Signed]

CHIEF POSTMASTER OF THE COOK ISLANDS	[Signed]

POSTMASTER-GENERAL OF NEW ZEALAND