80
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

formity with the provisions of the Constitution
Act, Her Majesty has been graciously pleased
to leave the same to its operation.

HENRY JOHN TANCRED.

General Post Office,
Auckland, 15th April, 1859.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been
pleased to direct the publication of the
following correspondence, respecting the alter-
ation of the present contract with the Inter-
Colonial Royal Mail Steam Packet Company,
and of the Time Table as approved by the
Government.

H. J. TANCRED.

Inter-Colonial Royal Mail Steam
Packet Company (Limited),
Auckland, April 2nd, 1859.

SIR,—In accordance with the desire express-
ed by yourself and the other Members of the
Colonial Government, with whom I had the
honour of an interview yesterday, I beg leave
most respectfully to reduce to writing the plan
agreed upon for re-constructing the route, and
extending the services to be hereafter performed
by this Company's steam vessels, —subject to
confirmation by the Board of Directors, London,
on behalf of the Company whom I have the
honor to represent.

1. The route prescribed in the Contract,
   and the Time Tables thereunto annexed, to be
   considered as annulled during the term of this
   agreement, and that instead thereof the Com-
   pany's steam vessels do perform the service
   hereinafter mentioned.

2. One steamship to run between Sydney
   and Auckland direct, and vice versa, monthly.

3. One steamship to run between Sydney
   and the Ports of Nelson, Wellington, Port
   Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers, and vice versa,
   monthly.

4. One steamship to run between the Manu-
   kau and Taranaki, Nelson, Wellington, Can-
   terbury and Otago, and vice versa, monthly.

5. That no other steam vessels but those of
   the Company be employed or subsidized by the
   General Government during the term of this
   agreement.

6. That either party be allowed to return to
   the status quo ante on giving to the other four
   calendar months' notice of their intention so to
   do; and at the termination of such notice, the
   original contract to resume its full force and
   virtue, with the proviso that the Company's
   steamers shall complete the Inter-Provincial
   link in such manner as to afford a direct monthly
   postal communication between all the said
   Ports of New Zealand, subject to the stipula-
   tion that the Colonial Government do not sub-
   sidize any other steam vessels but those of the
   Company.

7. Time Tables, showing the probable ar-
   rival and departure of the Company's steamers
   at and from all the said Ports, to be forthwith
   prepared by the Company and approved by the
   Government.

8. That in consideration of the extended

services hereinbefore mentioned, the Colonial
Government shall pay to the Company an ad-
ditional subsidy of £6,000 per annum, in
monthly instalments, over and above the sub-
sidy payable under the present contract.

9. The Company undertake to commence
   the amended and extended services as early as
   practicable, and the same to be considered as
   commencing on the day upon which the second
   Inter-Colonial steamer to be provided by the
   Company shall sail from Sydney for Auckland,
   or vice versa.

10. That the original Contract shall remain
    in full force and virtue, save and except so far
    as the service may be altered, affected, or
    amended by this agreement.

In assenting, on behalf of the Company, to
the foregoing terms for the settlement of the
long pending question of the steam route, I
trust I may be pardoned for expressing the
hope that the Government will readily acknow-
ledge that the Company has evinced an earnest
desire to meet, in a liberal spirit, the views and
wishes of the Government, and the increasing
requirements of these important Colonies.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) EDW. COLEMAN,
Manager for the Colonies.

To the Honorable
The Postmaster-General
of New Zealand.

General Post Office,
Auckland, 7th April, 1859.

SIR,—I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, trans-
mitting a proposal for altering the route at
present laid down for the Royal Mail Steam
Packet Company's steamers by the Contract
now in force.

In reply, I have to state that the Govern-
ment are willing to accept the proposals therein
made, subject to the following conditions:—

1. That the Auckland and Sydney boat
   shall, if practicable, without requiring the em-
   ployment of another boat, extend its voyage to
   Napier and back, the Government guarantee-
   ing a sum sufficient to cover the extra cost for
   coals and for reasonable wear and tear incurred
   by this addition, and undertaking, in case of
   the traffic on this part of the line not paying,
   to reimburse the company the deficiency.

2. The service to commence in Sydney on
   the 8th July next, in order to afford time for
   all four of the boats to be on the line, as well
   as for the necessary alterations to be made in
   the cabin accommodation of the "Lord Ashley"
   and "Lord Worsley."

3. The Government to be at liberty to sub-
   stitute Melbourne for Sydney as the Port of
   arrival and departure for one of the Inter-
   Colonial boats, the Government increasing the
   subsidy payable to the Company by six thou-
   sand pounds (£6,000).

I have, &c.,
(Signed) HENRY JOHN TANCRED.

Edward Coleman, Esq.
Inter-Colonial R. M. S. S. Company,
Queen-street.