F.—4,
4
Enclosure 2 in No. 5. Supplementary Order Paper.—House of Eepresentatives.—Friday, the 17th Day of August, 1888. Mr. Ward, in Committee of the whole House, to move the following amendments to Sir H. A. Atkinson's proposed resolutions : — 1. That, in the opinion of this House, a two-weekly mail-service should be continued between New Zealand and Great Britain, but that the szibsidy to the San Francisco mail-service should be discontinued. 2. That the Government be authorised to enter into negotiations with the Governments of New South Wales, tao L T nited-gtates-ei-Amme% Canada, and Great Britain, with the view of ebtaiaiag-a ascertaining what support 'would be given to establish a four-weekly Pacific mail-service, under which the main boats will call at some New Zealand port for the delivery and receipt of mails. The time occupied in transit to be not more than twenty days between New Zealand and San Francisco or Vancouver, Tho totaf-ftaeuat-tQ-be-pakl-hy-New-Zealaad-ia-feepeet-ef carriage-ei-ffi-ails-fe , 9m-aad4e-Great-Bi;itain not-te excood £l&QQO-por annual —TftaVii-eegefeatieao bo Government be-aataericod to call far-teßde¥&-fe>E-fte porieHaaaee— fivo y T ears ; and that on receipt of such ■information, that the same be submitted to the House for consideration. 3. That the Government be also authorised (1) to call for tenders for a leas-weekly fortnightly mail-service by direct steamers between New Zealand and Great Britain upon the basis of payment by weight, the aggregate amount of such payments not to exceed in any one year. The time occupied in transit of the mails to be not more than forty days from New Zealand to Plymouth, and forty-three days from Plymouth to New Zealand. The tenderers to state at what rate per pound they will convey the letters, books and packets, and newspapers, aad a^wliat-H«ed-sabsidy-pe¥-aaaa»-tftoy-wiH-j3erf6fm-the-se¥¥ieer—Aad- (S) -te-eah-fer-teeders-ieF-a -jertnightly aaail-ser-¥ico by-diroct steaHtera-ea-tbo-saaifr-tefma-aad-eeaditiefts-ao for tho fear wookly sorvioo. The term of contract not to exceed five years. 4. That no bonus be paid for the mails being delivered in less than contract time. 5. The steamers to be efficient screw steam-vessels of the first class, and fully equal to Class 100 Al, Lloyd's Eegister, and of not less than 2,500 tons gross, having spar decks and large capacity for passengers and cargo, and ample ventilation for passing through tropical latitudes. The vessels to be fitted up with refrigerating-chambers, and also chilled chambers for fruit and dairy-produce. 6. That, in event of a suitable tender not being received for the Paeiae-servico wiiaia-tae-feait-ei 6afesidy4e-fee-aaid-fey-New-Zealaad; direct mail service, the Government be authorised to aeeept-saea tender, in ceajaaetiea-w-ita-aey-saitablo offer roeetved-i;or a fear— arrange for a iveeMy mail-service via Brindisi, also on the basis of payment by weight, and at an aggregate cost not exceeding that named for the direct service — viz., in any one year. £— gaeald-tae-teader-ie? tho Paeiae-seraee-aet-be-within tho limit fixed by Parliameatj-tae-Geyepameat be-aafeeri6ed49-aeeeßt-tae-leweflt4eader--ier--a~i&FtaAgh^ly—d4reet-s6gv4e6;—pfe¥tded the-saboidy or-cootdooo eat-oseeed-ifegOjQOO per-aaaaah
No. 6. Mr. Gray to the Agent-General, London. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 4th September, 1888. Eeferring to my letter to you of the 22nd ultimo, on the question of ocean mail-services, I now forward you, in a separate parcel, copies of Hansard, Nos. 28 and 29, containing the complete report of the debate on the subject in the House of Eepresentatives on the 16th and 17th idem. I have, &c, W. Gray, (For the Postmaster-General.) Sir F. D. Bell, K.C.M.G., C.8., Agent-General for New Zealand, London.
No. 7. Mr. Gray to the Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, sth September, 1888. I have the honour, by the direction of the Postmaster-General, to request that you may be good enough to inform the Hon. Mr. Eoberts that the House of Eepresentatives, by a majority of eighteen, has decided that this colony shall not continue to subsidise the San Francisco mail-service after the expiration of the existing agreement in November, 1889. Separately I have forwarded you a copy of the resolutions submitted to the House of Eepresentatives by the Postmaster-General on the general question of ocean mail-services, and also Nos. 28 and 29 of Hansard, containing the report of the debate, from which may be gathered the reasons which brought about the decision to discontinue the San Francisco service. Although the House decided not to renew the San Francisco service, it at the same time authorised the Government to negotiate for a four-weekly Pacific-Canadian service. From information received through the Agent-General, it is apparent that the Imperial Government would probably render assistance to a Canadian service, while it would not be disposed to recognise a service via San Francisco. The Agent-General has already been requested to place himself in communication with the Imperial and Canadian Governments, and to ascertain definitely what