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the adoption of which is considered essential to the satisfactory working of the proposed service, and I have to request that they may be forwarded to your principals for approval by the out-going mail. I have to add that I shall be glad if you will take an early opportunity of informing me of the final result of the negotiations opened by you with the Messrs. Brogden, having for their object the arranging for the collecting and distributing the English mails at the Manukau and New Plymouth, in connection with the proposed mail service. 1. That the detention at Hokitika shall not exceed twelve hours on either voyage. 2. That in the event of the European mails not reaching Hobson's Bay on the due date, the steamer appointed to convey the mails to New Zealand shall await, if necessary, a period of forty-eight hours without extra remuneration. 3. That all European mails landed, shipped, and transhipped in Hobson's Bay, shall be by and at the expense of the contractors. 4. That a safe and proper place of deposit for the mails shall be provided, and, if necessary, suitable accommodation be furnished to the satisfaction of the Postmaster-General for enabling the mails to be sorted on board each of the steamships to be employed in the service ; and should it be required, a chief cabin passage, free of cost either for passage or victualling, to be provided for an agent of the New Zealand Post Office. 5. That the sum of £100 shall be paid by the Contractors to the Postmaster-General, in the event of either of the steamers to be employed in this service not sailing at the appointed time, and a further sum of £2 per hour after the first twenty-four hours shall be also paid for every delay in sailing after the expiration of such first period of twenty-four hours. 6. That for the failure to deliver the outward mails at Hobson's Bay in time for the sailing of the P. and O. steamer, the Contractors shall forfeit the sum of £150 on account of each failure ; and 7. That the Contractors shall bind themselves in the sum of £1,000 for the due and faithful performance of the proposed service. I have, &c, W. Geat, W. Bishop, Esq., Wellington. (for the Secretary).

No. 13. Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, New Zealand. Sib, — Melbourne, 24th June, 1873. We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your communication of 2nd instant, and in turn cannot but express surprise at its contents. We are, and always have been, most anxious to give every possible accommodation and facility for the conveyance of mails between New Zealand and this port. The service we offered to perform as per our letter of Bth May ult., is one that would completely upset the present working arrangements of our steamers, and therefore could not be undertaken without an adequate remuneration. The terms named (£G,500 per annum) we consider very reasonable. We are willing to establish a service to and from Melbourne and Wellington, landing and receiving mails at Bluff Harbour, Port Chalmers, and Lyttelton, both up and down, for a period of three years, for the sum of £5,000 per annum, upon the following terms, viz., the down mails to be delivered at — Bluff Harbour in ... ... ... ... ... 7 days Port Chalmers ... ... ... ... ... 8 days Lyttelton ... ... ... ... ... 9a-days Wellington ... ... ... ... ... 10^ days from the arrival of the P. and O. Co.'s steamer in Hobson's Bay ; but should it arrive more than two days before its due date, an equivalent in time to be added to the days named. For example, if the P. and O. vessel arrives at Melbourne three days before her due date, then one day is to be added to the times above named in which we propose to deliver the English mails at the various -New Zealand ports. Our steamer to remain here two days beyond the due date in the event of the P. and 0. vessel being late, but not longer; and in case the latter has not then arrived, the mails to be forwarded by next first boat. The steamer with the up-mails to be despatched from Wellington eleven days before the time of the P. and O. steamer leaving Hobson's Bay, and to call at Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, and Bluft* Harbour, not less than six and a half clear days being given from the latter port to tranship the mails here. The steamers carrying the English mails to be free of pilotage and all harbour and light dues at whatever ports these mails are landed or received. Payment to be made monthly to our agent, Mr. Wm. Bishop, Wellington. In addition to the above offer we are also willing to convey the mails to and from Nelson, Greymouth, and Hokitika, landing and receiving at the two latter ports, weather permitting, but without detention, free of extra charge. We are prepared to commence this service so soon as we learn from you of the acceptance of our offer. We have, &c., . The Hon. the Postmaster-General McMeckan, Blackwqod, and Co. of New Zealand, Wellington.

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