E.—No. 4.

12

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE

opinion in the Colony of Victoria confirms mo in the belief, that at no distant time application would be made to establish, in addition to the services now called for, a second monthly 'service via Suez and King George's Sound; for, without a second service, by this route Australia will soon be almost the only part not merely of Her Majesty's dominions, but of the whole civilized world, which has not a good post with this country, at least twice a month. Considering the circumstances I have enumerated, and having regard to all the interests concerned, to those of the mother country and to the general benefit, as distinguished from matters arising from rivalry and local consideration of tho Australian Colonies and New Zealand, I feel bound, in the discharge of my public duty, to recommend your Lordships not to comply with the present application.

Enclosure 2 in No. 5. Tendee for Conveying Her Majesty's Mails between Point De Galle and Sydney. Sic, — We hereby offer to convey Her Majesty's Mails by steam vessels between Point de Galle (Ceylon) and Sydney (New South Wales), and on the conditions marked A., once each way in each calendar month for the sum of £ per annum ; or in each month of four weeks for £ per annum ; or to convey them twice each way in each calendar month for the sum of £ per annum ; or once in each fortnight for £ per annum. Provided the time allowed be increased to hours, instead of 516 hours for the voyage from Point de Galle to Sydney, and to hours, instead of 564 hours for the voyage from Sydney to Point de Galle, wo will perform the service once each way in each calendar month for the sum of £ per annum ; or in each month of four weeks for per annum ; or to perform it twice each way in each calendar month for the sum of £ per annum ; or onco in each fortnight for £ per annum. Or, if the time from Point de Galle to Sydney be reduced to hours and from Sydney to Point de Galle to hours, wo will perform the service once each way in each calendar month for the sum of £ per annum; or in each month of four weeks for £ per annum ; or to perform it twice each way in each calendar month for the sum of £ per annum, or once in each fortnight for £ per annum. Provided wo be allowed the further annual sum of £ if the service be per calendar month; of £ if it be per month of four weeks ; of £ if it be per half calendar month ; or of £ if it be once each fortnight; and provided also than an addition of hours be made to the time for the voyage in each direction, we will agree that the packets to be employed in this service shall call off Kangaroo Island, to land and embark mails, on every voyage, whether outward or homeward. If the 15th condition be dispensed with at any time, we will agree to an abatement of £ per annum if the service be monthly, whether the month be calendar, or one of four weeks, and to an abatement of £ per annum if it be bi-monthly. We will agree to an abatement of £f in tho amount of the subsidy, on condition that the penalties for delays on tho voyage, instead of being absolute, shall not be payable when it is proved to the satisfaction of the Postmaster-General that the delay has arisen from causes beyond our control. We will further agree to an abatement of £f in the amount of the subsidy, if conditions 7, 8, 9, and 10 be omitted. We propose as our sureties, in the penalty of £25,000, Mr. of and Mr. of and we refer you to as persons of whom inquiry can be made as to the responsibility of such sureties. Wc engage that the vessels shall be complete and ready for sea on the in failure of which we agree to pay to Her Majesty the sum often pounds for every day's delay beyond that time. And should the 7th, Bth, 9th, and 10th conditions be retained,-we further engage that the hulls of the vessels shall be ready for survey on the and that the vessels shall be complete and ready for final survey on the ; in failure at either of which times we agree to pay to Her Majesty a like sum often pounds for every day's delay, but so that these penalties shall not in the aggregate exceed the sum of £25,000. We agree to commence tho service on the J, and in the event of such service not being commenced on such day, or on the first day thereafter which the Postmaster-General may fix as the day of sailing, wc agree to pay to Her Majesty the sum of one hundred pounds for every day from that time until the said service shall be begun by us, but so that the whole amount of penalties for such failure shall not exceed £25,000. And we agree to execute a contract for the performance of the said service, according to the said conditions marked A. We are, Sir, your obedient servants, (Signature) (Address) The Secretary of the Post Office. * All tenders must be addressed to the Secretary of the Post Office, with the words " Tender for the conveyance of Mails between Point do Galle and Sydney," in tho left-hand corner of the envelope. Other things equal, a preference will be given to a tender made upon this printed form and in exact accordance therewith. Even, however, when this form is used, the parties tendering may, in a separate letter, to be forwarded with the tender, suggest, for consideration, any alteration in the conditions, or otherwise. The Postmaster-General does not engage, irrespective of other considerations, to accept the lowest tender, or even to accept any tender. t It is not compulsory to fill up these blanks. % It is desirable that the service should commence in February, 1866, but the parties tendering are at liberty to name a later day for the commencement, should they be unable to begin the service at the time named.