FRESH TENDERS TO BE CALLED (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2631, 17 September 1902, Page 27

FRESH TENDERS TO BE CALLED (From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, September 16. ■ The final draft of the advertisement for the bteam service between New Zealand and South Africa is as follows: — - " Tenders are invited by the New Zealand Government (1) for a direct steam service between New Zealand ports ?nd South Africa, via Frema-ntle; (2) for an alternative Berviee between New Zealand ports and South Africa, via Frenmantle, with permission, if necessary, to call at another p ort in Australia en rout?. Conditions, four loading ports in New Zealand in geographical order, and three port* of di c ch,arge in South Africa; — viz., Durban, Port Elizabeth, and Table Bay. The service, to be monthly ; the oontract to be for a period of two or •three years, at the contractor's option The steamers to be fitted with refrigerators to carry frozen meal and dairy produce The steamers to be not less than 4000 tons measurement capacity for cargo, and their draught when loaded must enable them to discharge at the wharves at the above porte, lighterage, when necessary, to be paid by the contractor.

" The steamers to have a minimum pasaccommodation for 30 eaJoon arid 50 steerage passengers, and to provide suitable space for mails. Speed of eteamers to be not less than 11 knote (ocean-going), with a penalty and bonus on a scale to be arranged but not to exceed £500 per voyage.

" The rates of freight from New Zealand porfcs to South Africa to be not more than *u» follows-.— Wheat, at per ton weight, 30s; flour, do, 30s; barley, do, 32s 6d; oat«, do, 35p; bran, do, 40s; potatoes (in sacks), do, *0s ; hay (oaten ot meadow, pressed, in bales) at per ton of 50 oubio feet measurement, 37s 6d ; horses and full-grown cattle, £12 10s each ; frozen meat and dairy pro.duoe, at current summer rates ruling between New Zealand and London ; other goods at rates current to London. The maximum cargo for Fremantlo which the contractor may be required to carry must not exceed one-sixth of the steamer's capacity, and the rates of freight from New Zealand to Fremantle must not exceed the

rate* ourrent from Sydney and Melbourne to Fremantle by more than 25 per cent. Tenderers are to state what period of time is required before berthing the first steamer in New Zealand, euoh time to date from the acceptance of tender. " Tenderers are required to state the different amounts of subsidy required per voyage for either or both of the services whenever possible consistent with ordinary prudence, and before commencing to load at New Zealand ports steamers are required to call at Westport for a full supply of bunker ooal, at which port steamers will be free of pilotage and all port charges except light dues. " A tender and its acceptance are to be considered the establishment of a contract .binding on both sides. The cardinal points are to be consistent with the advertisement, the tender, and the acceptance. Should any dispute arise over any minor points, the matter in dispute to be referred to arbitration. A deposit of £3000 ie to accompany each tender, marked. Written bendere to he addressed to the Secretary of Industries and Commerce, Wellington, or to the Agent-general, London, and will be received up to the 30th iaiEt., telegraphic tenders up to the same date."