13

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at the port of departure by registered post addressed to the Contractors' or their agent's last known place of business. 31. Any right, power, authority, or privilege conferred on the Government by this contract may be exercised or enjoyed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce for the time being or the person from time to time performing the duties of that office. And any written instrument or notice required to be served upon or given to the Government under or in pursuance of any provision herein contained shall be deemed to have been regularly served or given if the same is delivered or given to such Minister, unless express provision is made to the contrary. 32. The Government may at any time, and from time to time, delegate all or any of the powers vested in them by virtue of these presents to such person or persons as they may think fit. 33. If any doubt, dispute or difference of opinion touching any matter arising out of this contract, or in anywise connected therewith, shall arise between the Government and the Contractors the same shall be referred to arbitration, in accordance with the provisions of "The Arbitration Act, 1890," of New Zealand. 34. This contract shall be subject to confirmation.by the New Zealand and African Steamship Company, which confirmation shall be obtained within three months from the date hereof, otherwise this agreement shall be cancelled and determined. As witness the execution hereof by the parties hereto. J. G. Ward, Minister of Industries and Commerce. Kinsey, Barns, and Co., As agents for the New Zealand and African Steamship Company. Signed in the name and on behalf of His Majesty the King by the Hon. Sir Joseph George Ward, K.C.M.G., Minister of Industries and Commerce, in the presence of— Leod. G. Eeid, Solicitor, Wellington, N.Z. • Signed by Messrs. Kinsey, Barns, and Co., as agents for the New Zealand and African Steamship Company. C. P. Skerrett, Solicitor, Wellington, N.Z.

The contract, of which the above paper-writing is a copy, is hereby confirmed by the New Zealand and African Steamship Company (Limited), which is the party to such contract referred to therein as the " New Zealand and African Steamship Company." Dated at London, this nineteenth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and two. The common seal of the New Zealand and African Steamship Company (Limited) was hereunto affixed on the said nineteenth day of December, one thousand nine hundred andl [Seal.] two, at London, by the authority of the board of managers of the said company, in the presence of— Allan Hughes, ) ,„ A. F. HOULDER,) Mana S erS - Chas. F. Edney, Secretary. This is the confirmation of contract mentioned and referred to in the declaration of Charles Fleuret Edney, made and declared before me, this twentieth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and two. John A. Donnison, Notary Public, A Commissioner in England to administer Oaths in the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

I, the undersigned Charles Fleuret Edney, of No. 2, Fenchurch Avenue, in the City of London, England, do solemnly and sincerely declare— That I am the secretary of the New Zealand and African Steamship Company (Limited), having its registered office at No. 2, Fenchurch Avenue aforesaid: That I was present on the nineteenth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and two, and did see the common seal of the said New Zealand and African Steamship Company (Limited) affixed to the annexed confirmation of contract, and that the seal thereto affixed is the genuine common seal of the said company, and that it was affixed thereto by order of the managers of the said company, and that the said company is duly incorporated in England under the Companies Acts, 1862 to 1900; that the said seal has been so affixed as aforesaid, and the confirmation of contract executed under and in pursuance of the articles of association of the said company and by the authority of the board of managers of the said company : And that the names " Allan Hughes," " A. F. Houlder," and " Chas. F. Edney " thereto subscribed are of the respective proper handwritings of Allan Hughes and Augustus Frederick Houlder, two of the managers of the said company, and of me, the declarant. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the provisions of " The Statutory Declarations Act, 1835."