OCEAN MAILS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 274, 25 November 1897, Page 8

OCEAN MAILS.

'the government proposals.

'FRISCO SERVICE OF NINETEEN

DAYS,

VANCOUVER SERVICE TWENTY

ONE DAYS.

'FRISCO BOAT TO CALL AT

AUCKLAND.

WELLINGTON, Nov. 23

The Premier, in Committee of the whole House, to-day moved the following resolutions regarding the San Francisco mail service :—

1. That this House authorises the Government to extend the San Francisco mail service for twelve months from the 31st March, 1898.

2. That the basis of payment for conveyance mails from New Zealand to San Francisco shall be at the rate of 10s 5d per pound for letters, Is per pound for books, packets, etc., and 6tl per pound for newspapers, with a guaranteed minimum payment of £7,500. 3. That the port of call in the colony shall be Auckland.

4. That the time between San Fancisco and Auckland shall not exceed nineteen days. ..■..'■•"

5. That no bonus shall be paid for early arrival, and penalties at the rate of £4 an hour to be enforced only when late delivery exceeds forty-eight hours. 6. That at least one New Zealand owned steamer shall be employed in the service. 7. That all payments or contributions from Great Britain and other colonies shall be receivable by the contractors. 8. That passenger rates and rates for freight be fixed and embodied in the contract. 9. That the provisions of existing agreement, where not at variance with these conditions, shall apply to any new contract made under this authority. THE VANCOUVER MAIL SERVICE. 1. That this House also empowers the Government to establish a four-weekly mail service between New Zealand and Vancouver, British Columbia, by way of Fiji and Honolulu, from the Ist December, 1897, to the 31st March, 1599. 2. Payment for conveyance of mails from New Zealand to Vancouver to be at the rate of 10:s 5d per pound for letters, Is per pound for books, packets, etc., and (5d per pound for newspapers, with a guaranteed minimum at the rate of £7,500 per annum. 3. That the port of call in New Zealand shall be Wellington. 4. The steamers to be employed to be of not less than 3,300 gross registered tonnage, and the time between Wellington and Vancouver not to exceed twenty-one days. 5. No bonus to be paid for early arrival, • a penalty at rate of £4 an hour to be enforced when late delivery of mails exceeds forty-eight hours. 6. All payments or contributions from other countries to be receivable by the contractors.

7. The passenger accommodation to he of the best description, and suitable for a voyage through tropical latitudes. The contractors to convey all mails tendered at Wellington and Vancouver by or on behalf of the Postmaster General, and to provide sufficient and secure accommodation for the same.

9. The contractors also to provide suitable accommodation and lighting for the purpose of sorting mails on board contract vessels. First-class accommodation is required to be provided for a mail agent and assistant without charge. 10. The rates for passengers and cargo to be mutually agreed upon and embodied in the contract, the terms of which, where not inapplicable, to be similar to those set out in the provisional agreement entered into between the Hon. J. G. Ward and Mr James Huddart at London on the 19th April, 1895 (vide f. 91,895).