19

F.—2a,

emigrants who may have died or left the ship before her arrival, or who may leave the colony by the same vessel: Provided also that any payment which would otherwise become due for passagemoney to the Contractors shall be forfeited if they or any person interested in such payment shall effect, or cause to be effected, an assurance against mortality resulting from disease upon the lives of any of the emigrants. 56. If any Immigration Officer at the respective ports of destination of the emigrants, or any officer acting in that capacity, shall report to the Minister that the emigrants have not been properly treated during the voyage, or that the stipulations in this contract do not appear to have been in all respects duly observed and fulfilled, it shall be lawful for the Minister, or in his absence for any other Minister of the Government of New Zealand acting on his behalf, to determine and direct what sum of money (if any) not exceeding the sum of one thousand pounds shall be deducted by the Government from the said second moiety of the passage-money, and the same may be deducted and retained accordingly, it being for such purpose assumed that the Government represents in the aggregate all the emigrants who shall have been improperly treated, or in respect of whom the said stipulations shall not have been duly observed and performed, and that the Government is entitled to compensation accordingly, and this notwithstanding any proceedings which may be taken by any of the emigrants on their own account and without prejudice thereto or any compensation having been paid to any of them. If the Contractors shall feel aggrieved by the determination of the Minister, or such other Minister as aforesaid, they may apply to a Judge of the Supreme Court to have the same reviewed by him, and if the said Judge or any one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of New Zealand shall think fit to vary or disallow the amount so to be deducted as aforesaid, a deduction from the said seoond moiety of the passage-money (if any) shall be made according to his decision, which shall be binding and conclusive on all parties concerned. As to the Conveyance, etc., of Mails. 57. During the whole of the period hereinbefore named for the performance of this contract, the Contractors shall convey all Her Majesty's mails which, and all other mails of whatever country or place which, the Postmasters-General, or either of them, shall at anytime and from time to time, require the Contractors to convey between England and New Zealand and vice versa, and between any port or ports at which the ships may respectively call, and within the respective times stipulated for the performance and completion of the voyages, and in manner hereinafter provided for. 58. The Contractors, at their own expense, shall deliver and take the mails to and from the shore, at convenient places to be from time to time appointed by the Postmasters-General respectively in the respective ports from and to which the mails are to be conveyed ; also shall convey the same and the officers having charge of them to and from the shore, as may be necessary, in suitable boats, furnished with suitable coverings for the mails, and properly equipped and manned; and shall from time to time convey the officers or agents of the Postmasters-General respectively to and from the shore at any of the said ports as often as may be necessary in the execution of their duties respectively in the event of a suitable boat not being conveniently obtainable from the shore for the purpose. 59. If either of the said Postmasters-General, or their respective officers or agents, shall at any time deem it requisite for the public service that any ship should be delayed beyond the appointed time of departure, it shall be lawful for either of the Postmasters-General, or such officers or agents, to order such delay not exceeding twenty-four hours at Plymouth or the port of departure in New Zealand, by letter addressed to and delivered to the master or commander of the ship, or the person acting as such, or left for him at the office of the Contractors in the port or on board the ship three hours at least before the hour appointed for departure. 60. The mails shall be safely conveyed from London or Plymouth to New Zealand and vice versa, within the period appointed for the performance and completion of the voyage of the ship conveying the same. In case of the loss of any of the mails by wreck of any ship or otherwise, the Contractors shall with all possible despatch, at their own cost, do all such acts and take all such measures as may be reasonably done and taken to recover the mails so lost; and the Contractors shall be liable for all damage or injury to any of the mails from whatever cause the same may arise or happen, except fire, the act of God, or the Queen's enemies. 61. The Government of New Zealand shall be entitled to retain to their use any subsidy allowed to them by the Government of the United Kingdom, and to retain any subsidy or payment which may be agreed to be paid by any other Australasian colony or dependency, or any of the Polynesian Islands, for the conveyance of mails under this contract. 62. The Contractors shall provide, to the satisfaction of the Postmasters-General respectively, on board all ships employed under this contract, proper, safe, and convenient places of deposit for the mails, which shall be fire-proof and vermin-proof, and have proper locks, keys, and secure fastenings. 63. The Contractors shall also provide, to the satisfaction of the Postmasters-General, all necessary and suitable accommodation, including lights, for the purpose of sorting and making-up the mails on board the several ships employed under this contract, and, on being required to do so by the Post-masters-General, or either of them, shall, at their own cost if so required, erect or set apart in each of -the said ships a separate and convenient room for such purpose, and all such furniture, lamps, fittings, and other conveniences shall be from time to time cleansed and kept in repair, and the oil for the lamps shall be supplied, by the servants of and at the cost of the Contractors. The master or commander of each of the said ships shall also render any asssistance respecting the mails required by the officer in charge thereof. 61. If the Postmasters-General, or either of them, shall think fit to entrust the charge and custody of the mail, or his respective mail, to the master or commander of any ship to be employed under this contract, and in all cases where the officer or other person appointed to have charge of ihe mail shall be absenfto the knowledge of the master or commander of such ship, such master or commander shall, without any charge, take due care of the same, and the Contractors shall be responsible for the receipt, safe custody, recovery, and delivery of the said mail at the several appointed places on