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" (9.) That the passenger rates and rates for freights shall be mutually agreed upon, and be fixed and embodied in the contract. " (10.) That the provisions of the existing agreement, where not at variance with these conditions, shall apply to any new contract made under this authority. " (11.) That a clause be embodied in the contract providing that not less than the current rate of wages ruling in New South Wales for steamboat seamen shall be paid by the contractor." Now, therefore, these presents witness that for the purpose of giving effect to the said resolutions the Company doth, for itself, its successors and assigns (so far as the agreements and covenants hereinafter contained are to be observed and performed by the Company), hereby covenant with the Postmaster-General of the Colony of New Zealand and his successors in office, and the said Postmaster-General doth, for and on behalf of himself as such Postmaster-General, and his successors in office respectively, and the Government of the colony for which he is such PostmasterGeneral, hereby covenant with the Company and its successors in manner following, that is to say,— 1. The Company shall from time to time, and at all times hereafter, during a period of twelve calendar months, computed from the thirty-first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, unless previously terminated in pursuance of any provision of these presents, convey all Her Majesty's mails which, and all other mails of whatever country or place which, the Postmaster-General shall from time to time and at any time require the Company to convey from and to the following ports—that is to say, Sydney, Auckland, Apia, Honolulu, San Francisco, and any port or ports intermediate between Auckland and San Francisco at which the steam-vessels employed under this contract may call, or any of such ports, and within the respective times and in manner hereinafter provided for. 2. So long as the whole or any part of the services hereby agreed to be performed ought to be performed m pursuance of this contract, the Company shall and will provide and keep seaworthy and in complete repair and readiness for such purpose a sufficient number of, and not less than three, good, substantial, and efficient screw steam-vessels of the first class, and fuily equal to class 100 Al, Lloyd's Register, and of not less gross register tonnage than three thousand tons each, constructed of iron, and propelled by first-rate engines of adequate power for the performance of the voyages within the times hereinafter specified, and having spar decks and large capacity for passengers and cargo, and ample ventilation for passing through tropical climates. 3. At least one of the said steamers to be so employed in the performance of this contract shall be owned in the Colony of New Zealand, and all of such vessels so employed shall each, according to its capacity, carry all the freight and passengers which may be reasonably offered or obtained, and at tariff rates, both as to passengers and freight, not exceeding those hereinafter set forth, that is to say,— Passenger Rates. To and from Auckland and Apia and Honolulu. Apia. Honolulu. £ s. d. £ a. d. Saloon, single ... ... ... ... 12 10 0 ... 30 0 0 return... ... ... ... 20 0 0 ... 45 0 0 Steerage, single ... ... ... 610 0 ... 15 0 0 return ... ... ... 10 10 0 To and from Auckland and San Francisco. Saloon, single, £40 ; steerage, £16. return, £60; „ £30. From and to southern ports and Auckland : Ordinary coastal fares from or to Auckland, less 10 per cent., in addition to above. Freights. From Auckland to Apia'and Honolulu. Apia. Honolulu. General cargo ... 40s. per 40 cubic feet ... 40s per 40 cubic feet. Vegetables, in cases ... 255. „ ... 255. „ To Auckland, from Apia and Honolulu. General cargo ... 40s. per 40 cubic feet ... 40s. per 40 cubic feet. Fruits, in cases ... 255. „ Auckland to San Francisco. General cargo ... ... ... 50s. to 60s. per ton, 40 cubic feet. Skins ... 355. to 40s. „ of 2,2401b. Hides ... ... ... 325. 6d. : San Francisco to Auckland. General cargo ... ... $8 to $10 per 40 cubic feet measurement. Canned goods ... ... $8 to $10 Salmon ... ... ... $8 to $9 Hops ... ... ... $8 to $10 Wheat, flour, &c. ... ... $6 to $8 per 2,0001b. Bicycles ... ... ... $7 50 cents and upwards. An additional rate of 10s. 6d. per ton to and from main ports south of Auckland, which includes dues and labour at Auckland transhipping: Provided that 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.