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[General Conditions oe Contract.] 1. In the construction of these conditions, the words and expressions hereinafter mentioned shall have the meanings respectively assigned thereto, unless there shall be something in the context or subject-matter repugnant or contrary to such construction, that is to say, — " Agent-General " means the Agent-General of the Government of the Colony for the time being, in London, in England; and whenever under these conditions any act or thing is required to be done or any power exercised in the United Kingdom by or on behalf of tho Queen or the Government of the Colony in respect of the said Colony, it shall be sufficient and binding if done by such AgentGeneral as aforesaid. " Contractor " means the person or persons or company tendering or contracting to carry out this contract. " Emigrants " mean any passengers or persons who may be sent out or be emigrating to the colony aforesaid under the provisions of any regulations or authority in force for the time being and relating to the conduct of emigration to New Zealand. " Statute adult" has the same meaning as the like expression has attached thereto in the Act of the Imperial Parliament of which the Short Title is " The Passengers Act, 1855." " Cargo " means any goods, chattels, wares, or merchandise of any kind or description soever (not specially excepted by this contract), except live animals. " Delivery of cargo " means delivery of cargo at the ship's slings or side, according to the custom of the port. " Ordinary dead-weight" means such weight as in no single piece weighs or measures over three tons. " Ordinary measurement" means and includes all goods usually taken by measurement. Except where expressly provided to the contrary, whenever any act or thing is required to be done or any power exercised in New Zealand on behalf of the Queen, such act thing or power may be done, exercised, or performed by the Governor or the member of the Executive Council of the Colony for the time being administering the Immigration Department (hereinafter termed the Minister), on behalf of the Queen, or by such other person as the Governor or Minister may from time to time appoint. 2. All emigrants and cargo, which the Agent-General shall send or be desirous of sending from the United Kingdom (except as hereinafter provided) to the said colony, shall be sent or forwarded by the ships or vessels of the Contractor: Provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the Agent-General from sending or forwarding any emigrants or cargo in fulfilment of any contracts entered into by him on behalf of the Queen before the commencement of this contract, nor affect or prejudice any contract, act, or thing hereinafter expressly exempted from the operation of these conditions. 3. The conditions hereinafter set forth, and every part thereof, shall have the same force and effect as they would have if embodied in a charter-party on the employment or engagement of each ship by the Queen or the Agent-General. 4. Subject to such conditions, the Contractor shall find and provide such ships as may be required by the Queen from time to time for the conveyance of emigrants and for the carriage of cargo, or for only one of such purposes, or for both such purposes; and the Contractor shall be entitled to be paid for the same as and in the manner particularly mentioned herein. 5. All ships engaged in the conveyance of emigrants or the carriage of cargo hereunder shall proceed from the ports of London, Plymouth, in Great Britain, as the Agent-General may require, and upon such dates as the Agent-General shall appoint in accordance with those conditions, and such ships shall be prepared and fitted for sea subject to and according to the terms hereof; and on embarking the emigrants, or completing taking in cargo (or both of these, if carrying both emigrants and cargo), shall proceed to such port in the colony as the Agent-General shall direct, being one of either of the Ports of Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, or Port Chalmers : Provided that the Agent-General and the Contractor may from time to time agree for the conveyance of emigrants or the carriage of cargo from any other port in the United Kingdom of Great Britain or Ireland, upon such terms and conditions as may be arranged; but every such agreement shall be made subject to these conditions so far as applicable, and shall be deemed to be part of this contract. 6. If so required by the Agent-General, ships may be required to go to Bluff Harbour, Nelson, and Napier in the said colony, provided the Agent-General is able to give a fair number of emigrants, or of emigrants and cargo, or cargo ; and in such case the Contractor shall be paid for the conveyance of the emigrants by such ship or the carriage of cargo therein at the like rates respectively as if the same were conveyed or carried to one of the first-mentioned ports; and the Queen shall be the sole judge as to the number of emigrants, or the quantity of cargo, or of both emigrants and cargo, to be conveyed under this condition. The Agent-General may also require such ships as may be necessary for the conveyance of emigrants or cargo to proceed direct to the Port of New Plymouth, in the said colony; and iv such case there shall be paid, to the Contractor an additional sum for the conveyance of every emigrant landed at such port at the rate of twenty shillings per statute adult, and for the carriage of cargo an additional sum to the rates mentioned in his tender at the rate of ten shillings per ton. 7. Any emigrants may be despatched by the Agent-General from any port in the United Kingdom of Great Britain or Ireland, irrespective of the locality from which they have emigrated, and may bo so despatched by any ship which is under contract with the Government of New Zealand, whether subject to these conditions or under any other contract. 8. The Agent-General shall not be entitled to require the Contractor to provide a ship for the conveyance of a less number of emigrants than one hundred and fifty (150) statute adults (except in the special cases provided for under clause six hereof), nor to provide a ship capable of carrying more than three hundred and fifty (350) statute adults : But nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prevent the Agent-General sending a less number of statute adults than 150 if the Contractor is willing to convey them.