3

F.—6a

No Discrimination. 7. No discrimination shall be made as regards tariff rates for either freights or passengers in any manner directly or indirectly against any New Zealand ports, or against any New Zealand railways, or against New Zealand merchants or shippers; but New Zealand merchants and shippers shall at all times have preference for the carriage of their goods over other merchants and shippers as far as regards the New Zealand connection, save as herein otherwise provided. Mails. 8. During the continuance of this agreement the said steamships shall, at the cost and expense of the said Contractor, receive and carry on each and every voyage all such mails as shall or may be tendered for conveyance to the said steamships, or to the masters or any officers on board of the same, at the port of Auckland aforesaid by or on behalf or under the direction of the Minister for the time being, his officers, agents, or servants, and shall deliver such mails at their proper ports of destination upon the sailing route of the said steamships as herein indicated ; and in order to the due and proper performance of this covenant the said steamships shall each be provided with sufficient and convenient accommodation and protection for a.ll such mails to the satisfaction of the Minister for the time being ; and the Contractor shall further take all reasonable and necessary precautions for the protection of such mails while upon the said steamships from loss, damage, or injury in any way, and shall be responsible for any loss or damage thereto caused by the negligence or want of proper care or accommodation on the part of the Contractor or its agents or servants, or on the part of the officers or employees or crew on board of the said steamships. Accommodation for sorting Mails. 9. The Contractor shall provide to the satisfaction of the Minister all the necessary and suitable accommodation, including lights, for the purpose of sorting and making up the mails on board the several vessels employed under this agreement; and on being required to do so by the Minister shall at its own cost erect or set apart in each of the said vessels on the spar deck a separate and convenient room for such purposes, and all the furniture, lamps, fittings, and other conveniences in and about such room shall be from time to time cleaned and kept in repair, and the oil for the lamps supplied, by the servants and at the cost of the Contractor. The master or commander of each of the said vessels shall also if required provide assistance for conveying the mails between the mail-room and the sorting-room, and also render such other assistance as may from time to time be needed without charge. Custody of Mails. 10. If the Minister shall think fit to intrust the charge and custody of the mails to the master or commander of any vessel to be employed under this agreement, and in all cases where the officer or other person appointed to have charge of the mails shall be absent to the knowledge of the master or commander of such vessel, such master or commander shall without any charge take due care of, and the Contractor shall be responsible for the receipt, safe custody, and delivery of, the said mails at the several appointed places on shore in the respective ports as part of the services hereby contracted to be rendered. The master or commander shall also make the usual Post Office declaration, and furnish such journal returns and other information and perform such other services as the Minister or his officers shall from time to time reasonably require. Landing of Mails. 11. The Contractor and all commanding and other officers in charge of the vessels employed under this agreement shall at all times punctually attend to the orders and directions of the Minister or his officers or agents as to the mode, time, and place of landing, transhipping, delivering, and receiving the mails subject to the special provisions herein contained, and so far as such orders and directions are reasonable and consistent, with the safety of the vessels. Government Official. 12. The Contractor shall provide .suitable first-class accommodation, including a cabin or stateroom, for the exclusive use of an officer or agent of the Minister, and for one or, if necessary, two assistants to the aforesaid officer or agent, on board each of the vessels employed under this agreement, who shall be at liberty to use such accommodation as may be required ; and such officer or agent and assistant shall be victualled by the Contractor as chief-cabin passengers, without charge either for their passage or victualling ; and whilst the vessel stays at any port, excepting the ports of Vancouver and Auckland, to and from which the mails are conveyed such officer, agent, and assistant shall be allowed to remain on board and shall be victualled as aforesaid. Recognition of Government Official as Minister's Agent. 13. Every such officer or agent and assistant shall be recognized and treated by the Contractor, its officers and agents, as the agents of the Minister and as having full authority in all cases to require a due and strict performance of this agreement : Provided that no such officer, agent, or assistant shall have power to control or interfere with any master, commander, or officer in the performance of his duty; and every such officer, agent, and assistant shall be subject to all general orders issued by the master or commander for the good order, health, and comfort of the passengers and crew and safety of the said vessels.