F.—(3a

2

have the most approved triple-expansion machinery refrigerators for the ship's use, duplicate electriclight engines, special ventilation for tropical voyages, ample saloon and cabin accommodation for at least one hundred and thirty passengers, and to be provided with every comfort and convenience that is to be found in the best Atlantic liners of its size. Each of the said steamships is further warranted to be of the highest class at Lloyd's or British Corporation, and to comply in every respect with the requirements of the shipping laws and regulations of New Zealand ; and each of the said steamships shall during the continuance of the agreement be at all times tight, sound, staunch, and strong, and well and sufficiently manned, victualled, and equipped, and in every respect seaworthy, and shall further at all times during the continuance of this agreement retain the qualification and class which it is hereinbefore warranted to possess ; and the vessels aforesaid and every other vessel used under this contract shall be fitted with cool-storage chambers in which fish-ova, dead meat, or other natural products may be conveyed, and such cool-storage chambers shall be fitted with all necessary appliances and machinery for working and keeping the same effective. Voyages. 3. The round trip for each of the said steamships shall begin and end at Auckland, in New Zealand, calling as aforesaid at Suva, Honolulu, and the outer wharf in the City of Victoria on each and every voyage as aforesaid. The first voyage in performance of this agreement shall commence and be made from Auckland on the fourth day of August, one thousand nine hundred and eleven, and subsequent voyages after the first shall commence and be made from Auckland aforesaid on dates and at times to be from time to time appointed for that purpose by the Minister. The duration of each, voyage from Auckland to Vancouver and from Vancouver to Auckland shall not exceed nineteen days, including one day's detention at Honolulu on each voyage both outward and homeward. Service to be Four-weekly. ' . .. 4. The said service shall be four-weekly, and the said steamships shall leave the said ports of Auckland and Vancouver on the days and at the times to be from time to time appointed for that purpose by the Minister after consultation with the Minister of Trade and Commerce of the Dominion of Canada. Each voyage shall be deemed to commence as soon after the completion of the embarkation of the mails intended to be thereby conveyed as, having regard to practical considerations, the anchor of such vessels can be weighed or the vessel can be loosed from its moorings, and each such voyage shall be deemed to be completed when the vessel has arrived and been anchored or moored at some position in the port of destination from which the mails can be conveniently disembarked ; and the times of the commencement and completion of every voyage shall be ascertained and recorded by the officers of the Minister in pursuance of arrangements to be made from time to time by him for such purpose, and the decision of the Minister as to all questions relating to any such times or periods shall be final and conclusive. Foreign Ports. 5. The said steamships shall not during the continuance of this contract call at any port in or of the United States of America (Honolulu only excepted). Freight and Passenger Rates. 6. The said steamships shall each according to its capacity carry both outward and homeward all the freights and passengers which may be reasonably offered and obtained, and at tariff rate both as to passengers and freights not exceeding the rates hereinafter set forth, that, is to say : — Passenger Mates from Auckland. To Suva. —Saloon—single £10, return £15 ; second class—single £7, return £10 10s. ; third class —single £4 10s., return £9. To Honolulu. —Saloon —single £30, return £45 ; second class—single £20, return £30 ; third class—single £12 10s., return £22 10s. To Victoria and Vancouver^ —Saloon—single £40, return £60 ; second-class—single £25, return £40 ; third class —single £16, return £30. Freight from. Auckland. To Honolulu, Victoria, and Vancouver, not to exceed —For general cargo, 50s. to 60s. per ton of 40 cubic feet; skins, dumped, 50s. per 3,000 lb. ; butter in refrigerator, Id. per pound gross ; meats in refrigerator, fd. per pound gross ; wool, greasy, |d. per pound dumped; wool, scoured, fd. per pound dumped; phormium-fibre, 60s. per ton of 2,240 lb. dumped. If the Contractor is required by shippers to carry cargo from or to any other main port in New Zealand than Auckland, an additional rate to include expenses of transhipment at Auckland, and not exceeding 12s. 6d. per ton weight or measurement at Contractor's option, may be charged for such carriage. The rates of passages above mentioned are applicable to the vessel's ordinary accommodations only, and the rates of freights, except where specifically mentioned, do not provide for cool or other special storage; and the Minister, if of opinion that any disturbance of normal conditions has increased the expense of running vessels used for services under this contract, may authorize a percentage increase of the foregoing fares and freights.