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time and at all times afterwards to the appro-
val of the said Commissioners and of such other
persons as shall at any time or from time to
time have authority under the said Commis-
sioners to inspect and examine the same

That the said Company shall and will du-
ring the continuance of this Contract in every
case diligently faithfully and to the satisfac-
tion of the said Commissioners and with all
due speed convey Her Majesty's Mails on
board the said Vessels respectively as herein-
after mentioned

That one of such Vessels so approved of
and equipped and manned as aforesaid shall
within 24 hours after the Mails from England
have been put on board once in every Calendar
Month put to sea from Panama and proceed
to Callao where the said Vessel is to arrive
under ordinary circumstances (and after cal-
ling at the intermediate Ports) within 300 hours
after the time of departure from Panama but
should the Mails from England not have arri-
ved at Panama at the time appointed or here-
after to be appointed for their arrival the said
Vessel is to remain there 120 hours from the
time so appointed before proceeding to sea

That one of such Vessels so approved of
and equipped and manned as aforesaid and
with Her Majesty's Mails on board shall within
444 hours from the time of the departure of
the said Vessel from Panama put to sea from
Callao and proceed to Valparaiso where the
said Vessel is to arrive under ordinary circum-
stances and after calling at the intermediate
Ports within 300 hours after the time of de-
parture from Callao

That one of such Vessels so approved of
and equipped and manned as aforesaid and
with Her Majesty's Mails on board shall with-
in 800 hours from the time arranged for the
departure of the said Vessel from Panama
once in every Calendar Month put to sea from
Valparaiso and proceed to Callao where the
said Vessel is to arrive under ordinary cir-
cumstances and after calling at the interme-
diate Ports within 276 hours after the time of
departure from Valparaiso

That one of such Vessels so approved of
and equipped and manned as aforesaid and
with Her Majesty's Mails on board shall with-
in 1100 hours from the time arranged for the
departure of the said Vessel from Panama
once in every Calendar Month put to sea from
Callao and proceed to Panama where the said
Vessel is to arrive under ordinary circumstan-
ces and after calling at the intermediate Ports
within 976 hours after the time of departure
from Callao

That should it be deemed by the said Com-
missioners or by any of their authorised Agents
requisite for the Public service that any Ves-
sel employed under this Contract should delay
her departure from any of the places herein
mentioned beyond the periods hereinbefore
agreed upon the said Commissioners or the
Naval Commander-in-Chief for the time being
in the Pacific shall have power and be at li-
berty to order such delay not however exceed-
ing 24 hours by letter addressed to the Master

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 20th September. 1846.

His Excellency the Governor has been
pleased to direct the publication of an
Agreement which has been completed between
Her Majesty's Government and the Pacific
Steam Navigation Company, for the Convey-
ance of Her Majesty's Mails, by the Vessels of
that Company, between certain of the prin-
cipal Ports in the South Pacific Ocean.

By His Excellency's Command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.

ARTICLES of Agreement made this 20th
day of August in the year of our Lord
1845 between the "Pacific Steam Navigation
Company" of the one part and the Commis-
sioners for executing the office of Lord High
Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Bri-
tain and Ireland (for and on behalf of Her Ma-
jesty) of the other part. Witness that the
said Company in consideration of the payment
hereinafter stipulated to be made do for them-
selves and their successors hereby agree with
the said Commissioners that they the said
Company shall and will during the continu-
ance of this Contract provide maintain and
keep sea-worthy and in complete repair and
readiness for the purpose of conveying as here-
inafter provided Her Majesty's Mails (which
term of Her Majesty's Mails is intended and
understood by the parties hereto to mean such
of Her Majesty's Mails and all Despatches
and Bags of Letters as shall at any time and
from time to time by the said Commissioners
or Her Majesty's Post Master General or any
of the Officers or agents of the said Commis-
sioners or Post Master General be required to
be conveyed and whether such Mails Des-
patches and Bags of Letters be intended for
any of the Ports or places mentioned in this
Contract or any other intermediate Ports or
places) a sufficient number not less than four
of good substantial and efficient Steam Ves-
sels to be employed between Panama and Cal-
lao and Callao and Valparaiso in South Ame-
rica and such other intermediate Ports only as
shall be approved of or directed by the said
Commissioners each and every of such Vessels
to be always supplied with first rate appropri-
ate Steam Engines of not less than 150 col-
lective horse power and that all the said Ves-
sels shall be also always supplied and furnished
with all necessary and proper machinery en-
gines apparel furniture stores tackle boats fuel
oil tallow provisions fresh water anchors ca-
bles fire pumps and other proper means for ex-
tinguishing Fire and whatsoever else may be
requisite and necessary for equipping the said
Vessels and rendering them constantly effici-
ent for the service hereby contracted to be per-
formed and also manned and provided with
competent Officers and Engineers and a suffi-
cient crew of Able Seamen and other men and
to be in all respects as to Vessels Engines
Equipments Engineers Officers and Crew sub-
ject in the first instance and from time to