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6. The steamships shall, each according to its capacity, carry both outward and homeward all the freight and passengers which may be reasonably offered or obtained, and at tariff rates, both as to passengers and freight, which shall be approved by the Governor in Council. 7 No discrimination shall be made as regards tariff rates for either freights or passengers in any manner directly or indirectly against any New Zealand port or against the New Zealand Government railways, or against any New Zealand merchant or shipper, but New Zealand merchants or shippers shall at all times have preference for the carriage of their goods to and from New Zealand over other merchants and shippers as far as regards the Australian connection; but, in the event of a subsidy from New South Wales or other colony being received, space shall be provided pro rata to the respective subsidies. 8. During the continuance 'of this contract the steamships shall, at the cost and expense of the said contractor, receive and carry on each and every voyage all such mails as shall or may be tendered for conveyance to the steamships or to the masters or any officer on board the same at the ports of Auckland or Wellington aforesaid, by or on behalf of or under the direction of the Honourable the Postmaster-General of New Zealand for the time being, his officers, agents, or servants, and shall deliver such mails at their proper ports of destination upon the sailing route of the steamships as hereinbefore indicated , and in order to the due and proper performance of this covenant the steamships shall each be provided with sufficient and convenient accommodation and protection for all such mails to the satisfaction of the Honourable the Postmaster-General of New Zealand for the time being , and the said contractor shall further take all necessary and reasonable precautions for the protection of such mails while upon the steamships from loss, damage, or injury in any way, and he shall be responsible for any sucn loss or damage thereto caused by negligence or want of proper care or accommodation on the part of the said contractor, or his agents or servants, of on the part of the officers, employes, or crew on board the steamships. 9. The contractor shall provide to the satisfaction of the Postmaster-General of New Zealand all necessary and suitable accommodation, including lights, for the purpose of sorting and making, up the mails on board the several vessels employed under this contract, and, being required to do so by the Postmaster-General, shall at his or their own cost erect or set apart in each of the said vessels on a suitable deck a separate and convenient room for such purposes , and all such furniture, lamps, fittings, and other conveniences shall be from time to time cleansed and kept repaired, and the oils for the lamps supplied by the service and at the cost of the contractor The masters or commanders of the steamships shall also, if required, provide assistance for the conveying of mails between the mail-room and the sorting-room, and also render such other assistance as shall from time to time be needed without charge. 10. If the Postmaster-General shall think fit to intrust the charge and custody of the mails to the master or commander of any vessel to be employed under the contract, and in all cases where the master or other person appointed to have charge of the mails shall be absent to the knowledge of the master or commander of such vessel, such master or commander shall without any charge take due care of, and the contractor shall be responsible for the receipt, safe custody, and delivery of the said mail at the several appointed places on the shore in the respective ports as part of the service hereby contracted to be rendered. The master or commander shall also make the usual Post Office declaration, and furnish such original returns and other information, and perform such other services, as the Postmaster or his officers shall from time to time respectively require. 11. The contractor and all commanding or other officers in charge of the vessels employed under this contract shall at all times punctually attend to the orders and directions of the Post-master-General, or his officers or agents, as to the mode, time, and place of landing, transhipping, delivering, and receiving the mails subject to the special provisions herein contained, and so far as such orders and directions are reasonable and consistent with the safety of the vessels. 12. The contractor shall provide suitable first-class accommodation, including a cabin or stateroom, for the exclusive use of the mail officer or agent of the Postmaster-General, and for one assistant, on board each of the vessels employed under this contract, who shall be at liberty to use such accommodation as may be required for the performance of their duties , and such officers or agents and assistants shall be victualled by the contractor as chief cabin passengers without charge either for their passage or victualling, and whilst the vessels stay at at any port, except in New Zealand and except at British Columbia, to and from which the mails are conveyed, such officers, agents, and assistants shall be allowed to remain on board, and shall be victualled as aforesaid. 13. Every such mail officer or agent and assistant shall be recognised and treated by the contractor, his officers and agents, as the agents of the Postmaster-General, and as having full authority in all cases to require due and strict performance of this contract Provided that no such officer, agent, or assistant, shall have power to control or interfere with any master, commander, or officer in the performance of his duty , and every such officer, agent, and assistant shall be subject to the general orders issued by the master or commander for the good health and comfort of the passengers and crew and safety of the vessels. 14. The expenses of conveying the mails to and from the said steamships or vessels from or tothe Post Office at the terminal ports, and the several ports at which the vessels call en route, shall be borne by the Postmaster or contractor as may be customary 15. The Postmaster-General shall, in case of need and for the purpose of duly forwarding such mails as may be required, have the right of delaying any of the steamers for a space of twenty-four hours. 16. The expression "mails" for the purpose of this contract shall be deemed to mean and include all boxes, bags, or packets of letters, post-cards, newspapers, parcels, books, or printed papers, and all other articles which, under the present Post Office Act and Postal Eegulations for the time being in force, are transferable by post, without regard to the places or origin or destina-