P.—2a,

2

The ships will not be allowed, in performing the service, to touch at any port other than those aforesaid, unless from unavoidable circumstances. If any service be not performed within the period of time contracted for, the sum of £100 will be deducted from the one twenty-fourth part of the subsidy payable in respect of such service ; and if the time occupied in performing any service be twenty-four hours in excess of the number of hours contracted for, a further deduction will be made at the rate of £4 per hour in respect of such excess, which deductions respectively, however, the Government may remit or reduce if satisfied that the delay shall have arisen from causes over which the Contractors had no control. A bonus of £5 will be paid by the Government for every hour by which any service shall be performed before the contract-time, Any deductions as aforesaid are not to relieve the Contractors from liability for default, or to affect the right of the Government to determine the contract. The Contractors will not be required to pay pilotage, tonnage, lighthouse, or harbour dues in New Zealand. As to the Conveyance, etc., op Passengees. The tender must state the maximum rates to be charged to second-cabin, third-cabin, and steerage passengers who pay their own fares respectively to New Zealand, and no higher rates respectively for such passengers will be permitted. Such sum is to be per statute adult, and is to include proper cabin or berth accommodation, and proper dietary and other supplies for such passengers respectively (such dietary and supplies for third-cabin and steerage passengers not being less in quantities and quality than for Government emigrants), from the date fixed for the vessel's departure until the time of her discharge in the passengers' respective ports of destination in New Zealand. Children under one year of age at the time of embarkation, who accompany such passengers, are to be conveyed and dieted free of charge. Second-cabin passengers are to be allowed not less than 25 cubic feet of luggage, and third-cabin and steerage passengers not less than 15 cubic feet of luggage, per statute adult, free of charge, paying for any excess at the rate of 2s. 6d. per cubic foot. The said rates are to include the taking on board and the landing of such passengers and their luggage. In a ship which carries Government emigrants, passengers paying their own fares may not be berthed in that portion of the between-decks reserved for the emigrants without special permission in writing from the Agent-General, and steerage passengers, not being Government emigrants, may not be taken in the ship unless approved in like manner, and all passengers to whom such permission shall be granted will be required to sign an undertaking to conform to the regulations established by the Government. As to the Conveyance, etc., of Emigrants. The Government do not undertake to send any emigrants by any ship, or, if any shall be sent guarantee any particular number; but all emigrants which the Government shall deem it convenient to send from the United Kingdom to the colony by the ships of the Contractors are to be conveyed by any ship as they may require. The Government are not, however, to require less than 150 nor more than 300 statute adults to be conveyed in any one ship, unless by agreement with the Contractors. Each ship is to be provided with the necessary quantities of provisions and other articles and things to enable the stipulations hereinafter contained to be observed and complied with, and also with all necessary and sufficient provisions and stores for the officers and crew, and of not inferior quality to that of the like articles provided for the emigrants, besides what may be required for any other passengers, if any. Each ship is to be fitted and provided with sufficient scuttles, deck-lights, and ventilation ; also with proper bed-places, seats, tables, water-closets, urinals, and shoots, hospitals and dispensary, issuing-room, &c.; pump and hose for drawing water from the hold ; cooking apparatus, oven, baking troughs, and other requisites for baking bread, to the satisfaction of the Government; also with the articles mentioned in the Schedules marked A, B, C, D, and E, hereunto annexed, and with whatever else the Government may deem necessary for the cleanliness of the ship, and the convenience and safety of the emigrants. The fittings of the ship are to be approved by the Government. Notwithstanding the provisions of "The Passengers Act, 1855," a space of 18 clear superficial feet, at the least, of deck is to be calculated and allowed for the use of each statute adult, including the space allotted for hospitals. The space between decks is to be divided for emigrants into three compartments only—that is to say, for single men, married couples, and single women ; and there is to be at least one separate hatchway and ladderway from each compartment to the upper deck. An issuing-room of such dimensions and in such part of the ship as shall be approved by the Government is to be provided, but not on the passenger-deck, from which room the provisions are to be issued daily to the emigrants as hereinafter provided. The issuing-room is to be fitted with counter, scales and weights, and all other requisites, to the satisfaction of the Government. Three separate hospitals are to be provided —one for men, one for women and children, and one for single women —which are to be of the form and dimensions, and placed in such positions, and to be furnished with such bedding and requisites, as shall be required by the Government. Bath-rooms, with baths and proper appliances for obtaining a sufficient supply of water, are to be provided for use by women and children, to the satisfaction in all respects of the Government. A bath-room, or requisite appliance for bathing, is also to be provided for use by men. The Contractors are, at their own expense, and to the satisfaction of the Government, to provide and fit up an apparatus,for distilling fresh from salt water, of a size calculated to supply not less than 500 gallons of water in twenty-four hours, and to be approved on behalf of the Government; and to provide a person competent to manage such apparatus, and to keep the same working throughout every day at the slap's expense so long as there shall be any emigrants on board, and to make all issues of water to the emigrants, as far as practicable, from the water so distilled.