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the circumstances to work at it all to-morrow; but then, without you and Mr. Worley at my elbow, I am practically powerless. I am, Ac, Robert Cunliffe. To the Honourable Crosbie AVard. No. 60. General Post Office, 12th December, 1863. Sir, — Having submitted to the Postmaster General your letter of 4th instant, I am directed to inform you that his Lordship wdl be happy to request the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to cause any vessel proposed to be employed by the Inter-Colonial Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, under their Contract with the Government of New Zealand for the Panama Alail Service, to be surveyed when offered by the Company, and that the result of the survey will be communicated to the Colonial Government and to the Contractors, in compliance with your request. I am, Ac, F. Hill. Crosbie AVard, Esq., No. 61. London, 14th December, 1863. Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, relative to the practicability of making Taiti one of the ports of call on the line of steam communication about to be established between New Zealand and Panama. I have informed His Excellency the Af mister ot Foreign Affairs at Paris, of the opinion of the contracting company on the matter, and I shall not fail to acquaint you as to the tenor of his reply. Accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest esteem. I have, Ac, Fleury, To the Honourable Air. Crosbie AVard, Consul-General of France. Representative Agent of New Zealand, 3 Adelaide Place, King William Street, London. No. 62. London, 17th December, 1863. My Lord, — Agreeably with the request of the Board, I undertake and agree, on the part of the General Government of New Zealand, — First. That the Time-table for the Panama service shall always be so arranged that the vessels engaged in that service may r continue their voyage from Wellington, or other the port of arrival in New Zealand, to Sydney, in performance of the inter-colonial service to be performed under the agreement of the 28th May, 1858 ; and may return from Sydney to Wellington, or other the port of departure in New Zealand, in time to perform the service to Panama, thus making one continuous through line between Sydney, New Zealand, and Panama. Secondly. That the port of arrival in New Zealand for such inter-colonial service, to be performed under the agreement of 28th Alay, 1858, shall always be the port of departure for Panama, and that such port shall be the only port in New Zealand to which the Inter-Colonial Service, under the said agreement of 1858, shall extend. Thirdly. That when a fine shall be imposed under the original contract of 1858, in connection with the inter-colonial service between Sydney and New Zealand, a fine is not to be imposed for any consequent delay or breach in the performance of the Panama Service, and vice versa, —that is to say, when a fine is imposed for a breach in the performance of the Service between Panama and New Zealand, a fine is not to be imposed for any consequent breach of any Service to be performed under the original contract of 1858. Fourthly. That the Company shall be allowed seven days for the performance of the Service between New Zealand and Sydney, and for stoppages in New Zealand. Fifthly. That the existing Inter-Colonial and Inter-Provincial Services shall continue on their present footing until the Ist January, 1865. It is also agreed between us that all the vessels now belonging to the Company are accepted for the performance of the present mail services, and the contemplated extra Inter-Provincial Service, subject to their being provided from time to time with certificates from the Steam Navigation Board of New Zealand or Sydney. I have, Ac, Crosbie AVard. The Right Honourable Lord Claud Hamilton, M.P., Chairman I. C. R. Al. Company, 41, Moorgate Street, London.

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