D—No.l

29

with Messrs, Pearson, Coleman, and Co., for the conveyance ot Her Majesty's Mails between Australia and New Zealand. I am, &c, (Signed) 11. Corky. The Under- Secretary of State for the Colonies, &c, &c, &c, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND MAILS. ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT made this twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, between Zachariah Charles Pearson and James Coleman, of Great St. Helens, in the City of London, Shipowners and Copartners, hereinafter styled the Contractors of the one part, and the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (for and on behalf of Her Majesty), of the other part. Witness, that in consideration of the sum of twenty-five thousand pounds, lent and advanced to the Contractors by or on the part of Her Majesty, and of the sums of money hereinafter agreed to bo paid to them, the receipt of which said sum of twenty-five thousand pounds by the Contractors, at or immediately before the execution of these presents, they, the Contractors, do hereby acknowledge, the Contractors do for themselves, their heirs, executors, and administrators, and each and every of them doth for himself, his heirs, executors, and administrators, hereby covenant, promise, and agree with the said Commissioners, for and on behalf of Her Majesty, that the Contractors shall and will, at all times, during the continuance of this Contract, provide, maintain, keep seaworthy, and in complete repair and readiness for the purpose of conveying, as hereinafter provided, all Her Majesty's Mails, in which designation all despatches and bags of letters are agreed to bo comprehended, which shall at any time or times, and from time to time by the said Commissioners, or Her Majesty's PostmasterGeneral, or the Colonial Post-Office authorities, at any of the places to or from which Her Majesty's Mails are to be conveyed under this Contract, or any of the officers or agents of the said Commis-, sioners or Postmaster-General, or such Colonial Post-Office authorities bo required to be conveyed to, from, and between the several places in Australia and New Zealand mentioned in the tables hereunder written or hereto annexed, on the days respectively mentioned in such tables, by means of a sufficient number (not less than four) of good substantial and efficient steam-vessels, one of such vessels to be. of not less than eight hundred tons burthen builders' measurement, and supplied with first-rate appropriate steam-engines of not less than one hundred and forty horse-power nominal—two of such vessels to be of not less than five hundred tons burthen, each builders' measurement, and each of them to be supplied with first-rate appropriate steam-engines of not less than eighty horse-power nominal, and the other of such'vessels to be of not less than three hundred and fifty tons burthen builders' measurement, and supplied with first-rate appropriate steam-engines of not less than seventy horse-power nominal. That the Contractors shall and will, during the continuance of this Contract, in every case diligently, faithfully, and to the satisfaction of the said Commissioners, and with all possible despatch, ] and in a direct course, convey the said Mails on board the said vessels, as mentioned in the said Tables, and the said vessels shall leave and reach the several places as mentioned in such Tables on the days therein respectively mentioned or specified, and there deliver and receive Her Majesty's Mails. That all the vessels employed under this Contract shall be always supplied and furnished with all necessary and proper machinery, engines, apparel, furniture, stores; tackle, boats, fuel, oil, tallow,' provisions, anchors, cables, fire-pumps, and other proper means for extinguishing fire, lightning-con-, ductors on Sir Snow Harris' or other approved principle, charts, chronometers, proper nautical instruments, medicines, medicaments, and whatever else may be requisite and necessary for equipping the said vessels, and rendering them constantly efficient for the service hereby contracted to be performed, and also manned and provided with competent officers with appropriate certificates, granted' pursuaLt to the Act 17 and 18 Victoria, cap. 104, or to the Act or Acts in force for the time being, relative to the granting certificates to officers in the merchant-service, and with a sufficient number of efficient engineers and a sufficient crew of able seamen and other men, to be in all respects as to vessels, engines, equipments, engineers, officers, and crew, subject, in the first instance, and from to time, and at all times afterwards, to the approval of the said Commissioners, and of such other t persons as shall at any time or times, or from time to time, have authority under the said Commissioners» to inspect and examine the same, and the Contractors phell previously to any vessel being built for, or ' which is intended to be employed in the performance of this Contract, submit the designs, plans, and s sections of each and every of such vessels to the said Commissioners. ' That all the vessels which are to be employed under this Contract may be tried under the direction - of an officer, to be appointed by the said Commissioners, and unless it be shown to the satisfaction of the said Commissioners that each of such vessels on being tried for a measured mile attains the speed of ten knots an hour with coals on board, and loaded so as to float down to the load-line of the hull, and without the aid of sails, the same shall not be employed in the service hereby contracted to be performed.

Contractors t convey Mails

1 According to . Tables annexed 'by not leas than ; 4 steam-vessels. ! Tonnage of steam-vessels, [fee.

Mails to be conconveyed to the satisfaction of the Admiralty.

Vessels Kvbe furnished witli proper machinery., uckle, &c.

And manned with certificated .officer!

Vessels, officers, and c:ew. subject to Admiralty approval. Designs, c, of vessels to be submitted to Admiralty.

Trial of vessel!.