H.—27.

successors is and are hereinafter referred to as "the King '), by the.Honourable William Pember Beeves of Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, the Agent-General for the Colony of New' Zealand, of the one part; and Harold 0 Sleigh, of , , of the other Par Witnesseth that it is hereby mutually covenanted and agreed between the said William Pember Keeves for and on behalf of the King, and in order to bind the Government of the said colony, and the said Harold C Sleigh, his heirs, executors, and administrators, as follows, that is to say :— Definitions. 1 In this indenture the following words and expressions shall, unless the context otherwise requires have the meanings herein given to them: "The Government" means His Majesty the King his heirs and successors, acting by His Majesty's Government in the said colony. 'Ine Contractor " means the said Harold C Sleigh, his heirs, executors, and administrators Ine Postmasters-General" means the Postmaster-General of the Colony of New Zealand, the PostmasterGeneral of the Colony of Western Australia, the Postmaster-General of the Colony of Natal, and the Postmaster-General of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope. " Mails includes all matter which under the law in force in the said colonies respectively may be transmitted by post. Duration. 2. This contract shall remain in force for the term of three years from the date thereof. Description of Steamers. Ships to be provided. 3 The Contractor will from time to time and at all times during the continuance of this contract provide and maintain in a thoroughly seaworthy condition, to the satisfaction of the Government and despatch on the voyages hereinafter mentioned, not less than four first-class modern steamers of a deadweight-cargo capacity of not less than 4,000 tons, upon a draught of water which will enable them to discharge alongside the wharves at the ports hereinafter mentioned or referred to where such facilities exist, for the purpose of maintaining a regular monthly service between New Zealand and South Africa in accordance with the terms and conditions hereinafter contained. . Passenger accommodation. 4 The said steamers shall contain passenger accommodation for not less than thirty saloon passengers and for such a number of second-class and steerage passengers as the Government may from time 'to time direct the Contractor to provide. Such accommodation shall be in every respect equal to the accommodation provided for the respective classes on board the first-class passenger steamers running to the said colony from the United Kingdom. Mail accommodation. The Contractor shall provide on board the said steamers such space for the carriage of mails as the Postmaster-General of the Colony of New Zealand may from time to time require. Refrigerating-machinery and insulation. 5 The said steamers shall be properly insulated for the carriage of about 500 tons of refrigerated produce, and shall be fitted with modern refrigerating-machinery which shall be at all times maintained in efficient working-order by the Contractor. Fittings for horses and live-stock. 6. The said steamers shall have permanent fittings of approved modern design built upon the upper deck for the carriage of horses and live-stock. Gear for loading and discharging cargo 7 The said steamers shall be fitted with approved modern steam or hydraulic appliances for loading and discharging cargo, capable under ordinary conditions of discharging not less than tons of cargo in every twelve hours. Steamers to be registered in New Zealand. 8. The said steamers shall be registered at a port in the said colony, and shall as far as possible be victualled, docked, repaired, and refitted in the said colony. Voyages. Monthly sailing. Loading-ports. Date of first sailing. 9 The Contractor shall despatch one of the said steamers once in each calendar month from a port (hereinafter called " the port of departure ") from time to time named by the Government, and shall call in geographical order at three other ports in the said colony (hereinafter called " the loading - port ") appointed by the Government from time to time: Provided always that the Government shall not alter the port of departure or the loading-ports unless the Government shall, not less than four weeks prior to the intended departure of any ship, inform the Contractor or his agent in New Zealand in writing of the ports at which the said ship is to call. The first steamer shall leave the port of departure on the day of , 19 . Sailings to be advertised. 10. The Contractor shall, at his sole expense, advertise the proposed dates of the sailing of each ship in such newspapers or in such other manner as may be agreed upon, or, in default of agreement, may be appointed by the Government.

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