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H .—27

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 what ever 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, per ton of 2,240 lb. ... ... ... ... ... 110 0 Flour, per ton of 2,240 lb. ... .. ... ... ... 1 10 0 Barley, per ton of 2,240 lb. ... ... ... ... ... 1 12 6 Oats, oatmeal, and wheatmeal ... ... ... ... 1 15 0 Bran, per ton of 2,2401b. ... ... ... ... ... 2 0 0 Potatoes, in sacks, per ton of 2,2401b. ... ... ... ... 2 0 0 Hay, oaten or meadow, pressed in bales, per ton of 50 cubic feet ... 117 6 Potatoes, in boxes, per ton of 2,240 lb. ... ... ... ... 1 17 6 Tallow, oleo, mutton, fat, &c, per ton weight of 2,2401b. ... ... 2 0 0 Grass-seed, per ton weight of 2,240 lb. ... ... ... ... 3 0 0 Clover-seed and shelled fog, in bags, per ton weight of 2,2401b. ... 2 0 0 Case goods —milk, extract of meat, cheese, &c, in cases, per ton measurement of 40 cubic feet ... ... ... ... ...250 Preserved meats, per ton measurement of 40 cubic feet ... ... 115 0 (All the 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, per poufld net weight with- s . d. out primage ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 Of Butter in kegs, frozen before shipment, per pound more, without primage 0 0£ The Contractors to pay coastal freight 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 : — s. d. Poultry, in cases, frozen before shipment, per cubic foot ... ... ... 1 6 Babbits, hares, and boned meat, packed in cases and thoroughly frozen before shipment, per cubic foot ... ... ... ... 1 3 (All the above plus 10 per cent, primage, of which 5 per cent, is to be returned to shippers.) Mutton, pork, or veal, per pound ... ... ... ... 0 0 Of Mutton, haunches, legs, or mutton in crates, per pound ... .. 0 0 OT\0 T \ Lamb, per pound ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 0 o^f Beef, per pound ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 0 Of Kidneys and sweetbreads, per pound ... ... ... ... 0 0 Of (All above less 5 per cent.) Horses and cattle, full grown, each ... ... ... ... 12 10 0 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. Bulls, 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 that effect, determine this contract, and thereupon the Contractors shall not be entitled to any subsidy for the service under this contract for such twelve months. 27. The Government will pay to the Contractors the subsidies following, that is to say :— (1.) At the expiry of the period of twelve months from the date hereof (if the Contractors shall not have exercised the power of determination provided for in the preceding paragraph) the sum of thirty thousand pounds (after making the deductions or additions, if any, authorised by this contract). (2.) During the residue of the said term of three years, a subsidy at the rate of £30,000 per annum, payable proportionately on the departure of each steamer on each voyage from the final loading-port in New Zealand. 28. This contract shall not be assigned, underlet, or disposed of unless the consent of the Government {by some Minister thereof) in writing has been first obtained. 29. From all the provisions of this contract there shall be accepted the act of God, the King's enemies, restraints of princes, rulers, or people, fire, shipwreck, and dangers and perils of the sea, and of navigation of every kind. 30. Any notice which may be given to the Contractors under the provisions of these presents shall be deemed to have been duly served if it has been sent to the Contractors or to their agents