H.—l7

12

for the safety or benefit of such live-stock, the time lost on such voyage by reason thereof shall, for the purpose of every provision of this agreement, be deducted from the actual time occupied by the steamer on such voyage; and the entries duly and properly made by the captain of such vessel in his log-book of the circumstances aforesaid and of the delay thereby caused in such voyage shall be received as conclusive evidence thereof. 21. Provided always that no such sums shall be paid or received by the Contractors in respect of any voyage made during the first twelve months if the Contractors shall exercise the power of determination expressed in the 26th paragraph hereof; but if such power of determination shall not be exercised, such sums shall be paid or received by the Contractors, as the case may be, at the same time as the subsidy of £30,000 is payable to them under the provisions of this agreement, and during the residue of the term of three years herein provided such sums shall be paid or received by the Contractors, as the case may be, at the conclusion of each such voyage. 22. The Contractors will convey all mails which the Postmaster-General shall at any time require the Contractors to convey between the said colony and Western Australia, and between the said colony and Natal and Cape Colony : provided that all matter sent by the Postal authorities by parcel post shall be paid for by the Government at the same rates and upon the same terms as are now payable in respect of such matter per direct steamer from New Zealand to London. 23. No payment shall be made to the Contractors in respect of the carriage of mails, or of any service tendered in connection therewith other than as provided by the preceding paragraph, and other than the subsidy hereinafter mentioned. 24. The Contractors shall be responsible for all damage or injury to the mails placed on board however the same may be occasioned—the act of God and the King's enemies, fire, restraints of princes rulers or people, shipwreck, accidents, and dangers of the seas and of navigation of whatever nature or kind, excepted. 25. The rates of freight from New Zealand ports to South Africa are to be not more than as follows:— General Cargo. £ s. d. Wheat ... ... ... ... 110 0 per ton of 2,2401b. Flour ... ... ... ... ... 110 0 Barley ... ... ... ... 1 12 6 Oats, oatmeal, and wheat-meal ... ... 115 0 „ Bran ... ... ... .. ... 2 0 0 Potatoes, in sacks ... ... ..200 Hay, oaten or meadow, pressed in bales ... 117 6 per ton of 50 cubic feet. Potatoes, in boxes ... ... ... 1 17 6 „ Tallow, oleo, mutton-fat, &c. ... ... 2 0 0 per ton of 2,2401b. Grass-seed ... ... ... ... 3 0 0 „ Clover-seed and shelled fog, in bags ... 2 0 0 „ Case-goods —milk, extract of meat, cheese, &c, incases ... ... ... ... 250 per ton of 40 cubic feet. Preserved meats ... ... ... 1 15 0 „ (All above plus 10 per cent, primage, of which 5 per cent, is to be returned to shippers.) Freezing-chamber. Butter in boxes, frozen before shipment ... fd. per pound net weight, without primage. Butter in kegs, frozen before shipment ... per pound more, without primage. The Contractors to pay coastal freights from grading-ports to loading-ports (if the steamer does not load at a grading-port) up to 10s. per ton weight, the balance (if any) being paid by shippers. The following scale of summer rates now ruling is fixed for the purposes of this contract, namely : — Poultry, in cases, frozen before shipment ... ... Is. 6d. per cubic foot. „ [Packed in cases, and thoroughly frozen 5- am l ,1 before shipment ... ... ... Is. 3d. Boned meatj (All above plus 10 per cent, primage, of which 5 per cent, is to be returned to shippers.) Mutton, pork, or veal ... ... ... ... ... fd. per pound. Mutton, haunches, legs, or mutton in crates ... ... „ Lamb ... ... ... ... ... ... ffd. „ Beef... ... ... ... ... ... ... fd. Kidneys and sweetbreads ... ... ... ... Jd. „ (All above less 5 per cent.) Horses and cattle, full-grown ... ... ... ... £12 10s. (This rate provides for fittings, water, and accommodation for fodder to the extent of half a ton weight per animal, but not to exceed 60 ft. measurement.) Bull, stallions, and other descriptions of live-stock, as per special agreement. All other cargo, both general and refrigerated, at summer rates ruling at the date of this contract. 26. At the expiry of twelve months from the date hereof the Contractors, if they shall be of opinion that the trade does not offer sufficient inducement to them to continue the service, may, by giving one month's previous notice in writing to the Minister of Industries and Commerce to