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weather, charging for such chief-cabin, fore-cabin, and deck passengers, the fares or rates charged by the said contractors for ordinary passengers of a similar description ; a fortnight's notice being given to the agent of the contractors at the port of embarkation. Whenever the contractors shall convey any soldiers as deck passengers, other than those specially provided for by this contract, the contractors shall provide them Avith adequate protection from rain, sun, and bad weather, and they shall not be exposed ou deck without such competent shelter. 19. When a passage has been ordered for any person at the expense of the public, the payment shall only be made on the production of the order for the passage, and certificate from the person in the following form, viz. :- — '' I hereby certify that on the I embarked at as a passenger on board the mail steam packet for passage to and landed at on the ." To this certificate the following addition is to be made in every case of a male cabin passenger, viz.:— " I further certify that the first dinner meal taken on board Avas on the and the last dinner meal on the " Dated this day of And the correctness of the dates must be corroborated by the master of the packet, adding underneath the passenger's signature,— " The dates inserted in this certificate are correct." (Signature.) " Master of the Packet." The passage-money for the families and wives of officers shall be paid to the contractors by the officers themselves. All children under three years of age to be conveyed free. 20. The contractors shall receive on board each and eA-ery of the said vessels employed in the performance of the contract, any number of small packages, not exceeding 20 feet, containing astronomical instruments, charts, wearing apparel, medicines, or other articles, and convey and deliver the same to, from, and between all or any of the ports or places to or from which the said mails are to be conveyed, in the performance of the contract, when and as often as directed by the said Commissioners, their agents, or by the British naval officer in command of the station, free from all costs and charges ; and shall also receive on board each and every of the said vessels, and convey and deliver to, from, and between all or any of the said ports or places, any naval or other stores not exceeding 10 tons in weight, at any one time, in any ono vessel, at the rate of freight charged by the contractors for private goods, on receiving from the said Commissioners, or any of their officers, or agents, two days' previous notice of its being their intention to have such stores so conveyed; and the said contractors shall in all cases be strictly responsible for the due custody and safe delivery of the said packages, articles, and stores. 21. The contract to continue in force for seven years from the day on which the first vessel shall commence her voyage. The Board of Admiralty will be empowered to determine the contract in the event of repeated irregularities. 22. Payments will be made by bills on her Majesty's Paymaster-General, payable in seAen days from and after the respective dates thereof, on the production by the contractors, from time to time, to the Accountaut-Generalof the Navy of certificates from the proper officers that the se\eral voyages have been duly performed, and the contract strictly and punctually carried out. 23. The contractors shall undertake for themselves all arrangements relative to quarantine, as connected with the due and regular performance of the conditions of the contract. 24. The contractors shall not assign, underlet, or dispose of the contract, or any part thereof, n ithout the consent in Avriting of the said Commissioners ; and in case of any deliberate or wilful breach thereof, by the contractors, the said Commissioners may terminate it without any previous notice to them, nor shall they be entitled to any compensation in consequence of such determination. 25. No Member of the House of Commons shall be admitted to any sharo or part of the contract, or to any benefit to arise therefrom, which is not permitted by Act of Parliament now in force. 26. The contractors to be bound Avith two sureties in £25,000 for the due performance of their contract. N.B.—Tenders will be received for a service subsidiary to that now existing between this country and the Isthmus of Panama, — e.g., one between Panama and the Australian ports, subject to the foregoing conditions so far as they aro applicable—and it is to be understood that the said Commissioners do not engage to accept the lowest tender irrespective of all other considerations, and are not bound necessarily to accept any of the tenders that may be sent in.

No. 16. SIB F. ROGEBS TO Tit.: BEOBSTABT TO THE POST OFFICE. DoAvning Street, 31st January, 1863. Sia, — I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the informaliou of the Postmaster-General, copies of the under-mentioned document. I am, &c, F. ROGEBS. The Secretary to the Post Office.

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PANAMA MAIL SERVICE.