13

F;—3

and any substitute vessel shall not be of any less gross tonnage than two thousand five hundred tons : Provided further that in any special case, and with the written consent of the PostrnasterßGeneral, a vessel of less than two thousand five hundred tons gross register may be used as such substitute vessel as aforesaid, and every such vessel shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this contract for or in respect of any voyage as aforesaid so far as such terms and conditions are applicable. 3. The steam-vessels to be employed under this contract shall be always furnished with all necessary and proper machinery, engines, apparel, furniture, stores, tackle, boats, fuel, lamps, oil, tallow, provisions, anchors, cables, lire-pumps and other proper means for extinguishing fire, lightning conductors, charts, chronometers, nautical instruments, and whatsoever else may be necessary for equipping the said vessels and rendering them constantly efficient for the performance of the voyages within the times hereinafter specified, and for the service hereby agreed to be performed, and also manned and provided with competent and legally-qualified officers, the master or commander having ample experience in command of screw-steam-vessels, and with a sufficient number of efficient engineers, and a sufficient crew of able seamen and other men, and with a competent surgeon, to be in all respects, as to vessels, engines, equipments, and capacity, subject in the first instance, and from time to time and at all times afterwards, to the approval of the Postmasters-General or of such other person or persons as they shall jointly or severally at any time or times or from time to time authorize to inspect and examine the same ; and no vessel shall be employed or used for the purposes of this contract until approved as aforesaid. Every vessel used for the purposes of this contract other than those now or lately used in the existing San Francisco mail service, known as the " Zealandia " and "Australia," shall be fitted with refrigerators or icechambers, in which fish ova or other natural productions may be carried- or conveyed, and such refrigerators shall be fitted with all necessary appliances and machinery for working and keeping the same effective : Provided nevertheless, and it is hereby declared, that the Contractors, so long as they shall convey the mails within the times and in the manner hereinafter provided, shall not be required to keep more than four vessels actually engaged in conveying the mails, and furnished with stores, fuel, and provisions, and manned and provided with officers, engineers, crew, and a surgeon as hereinbefore provided for.4. The Postmasters-General, or either of them, shall have full power whenever and as often as they or he may deem it requisite, by any of their or his qualified officers or agents, to inspect the officers, engineers, and crow of all or any of the vessels employed or to be employed in the performance of this contract, and to survey all or any of such vessels, and the hulls thereof, and the engines, machinery, furniture, tackle, apparel, stores, and equipments of every such vessel; and any defect or deficiency that may be discovered on any such survey shall be forthwith repaired or supplied by the Contractors. And for the purposes aforesaid the said vessels shall (if necessary) be opened in their hulls whenever the said officers or agents may so require ; and if any such vessel or any part thereof, or any engines, machinery, furniture, tackle, apparel, boats, stores, or equipments, shall on any such survey be declared by any such officers or agents unseaworthy or not adapted to the service hereby agreed to be performed, or any such officers, engineers, or crow shall be so declared ineligible,- every vessel which shall be disapproved of, or in which such deficiency or defect shall appear, shall be deemed insufficient for any service hereby agreed to be performed, and shall not be again employed in the conveyance of mails until such defect or deficiency has been repaired or supplied to the satisfaction of the Postmasters-General or officer requiring the same, and any of such officers, engineers, or crew declared ineligible shall not be employed in the said service. 5. The mails shall be conveyed thirteen times in each year between San Francisco, Auckland, and Sydney by way of Honolulu, and at the same rate between Sydney, Auckland, and San Francisco by way of Honolulu, without transhipment except at Honolulu ; and the vessels respectively employed to convey the mails shall leave the said ports of Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu and San Francisco on the days and at the times to be from time to time appointed for the purpose by the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, who shall allow a sufficient time at the ports of Auckland and Honolulu for the delivery and receipt of mails, and the embarkation or landing of passengers and cargo, Sydney being the terminal port for all such voyages. The said vessels, on each voyage between San Francisco, Honolulu, Auckland, and Sydney, and between Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu, and San Francisco, shall call, if required, by the Postmasters-General, but not otherwise, off the Navigator Islands for the purpose of landing and receiving mails, and, with the consent in writing of the Postmasters-General, but not otherwise, at any other port intermediate between Sydney and San Francisco : Provided that, if any vessel shall be required as aforesaid to call off the Navigator Islands, and be detained for the purpose of receiving or delivering mails exceeding one hour, then such additional time beyond such hour shall be added to the duration of the voyage. G. The Contractors, at their own expense, shall deliver and take the mails to and from the steamers at Honolulu and to and from the shore at convenient places, to be from time to time appointed by the Postmasters-General respectively, in the respective ports from and to which the mails are to be conveyed; and also shall convey the same and the officers having charge of them to and from such steamers and to and from the shore as may be necessary in suitable boats, furnished with suitable coverings for the mails, and properly equipped and manned. And shall from time to time convey the officers or agents of the Postmasters-General respectively to and from such steamers and to and from the shore at any of the said ports as often as may be necessary in the execution of their duties respectively, in the event of a suitable boat not being conveniently obtainable from the shore for the purpose. 7. If either of the said Postmasters-General or their respective officers or agents shall at any time deem it requisite for the public service that any vessel should be delayed beyond the appointed time of departure, it shall be lawful for either of the Postmasters-General or such officers or agents