378
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
day the time for such departure may be exten
ded to the ensuing Monday at ten o'clock in
the forenoon.
3. That the "Aldinga," or such other ship
as aforesaid shall punctually on the eighteenth
day of every calendar month during the con-
tinuance of this contract at three o'clock in the
afternoon leave Port Chalmers on her voyage
to Melbourne but in case the "Aldinga," or
such other ship shall in any month have been
detained at Melbourne in manner mentioned in
the preceding clause of this contract then her
departure may on the voyage from Port Chal-
mers suceeding such detention be delayed by
James McMeckan and John Hutchison Black-
wood for a time corresponding with the period
for which she may have been so detained at
Melbourne as aforesaid Provided always that
she shall in no case depart from Port Chalmers
later than three o'clock in the afternoon of the
nineteenth day of each month.
4. That in every month of February during
the said contract the day for departure from
Port Chalmers shall be the sixteenth in lieu
of the eighteenth of the month and that the pro
viso in the last clause that the vessel should in
no case depart from Port Chalmers later than
three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth
of each month shall in every month of February
be and apply to the seventeenth day of that
month.
5. That the "Aldinga," or such other ship
as aforesaid shall in every voyage to and from
Melbourne during the continuance of this con-
tract when the state of the weather will permit
call at the Bluff Harbour in the Province of
Southland and receive and deliver Mails there
as may be required by the Postmaster-Gene-
ral and if the state of the weather shall not
permit such call to be made then every exertion
shall be used to procure such mails to be deli-
vered or received in such other manner as may
be possible or expedient.
6. That the said James McMeckan and
John Hutchinsen Blackwood shall cause the
Mails to be taken from and delivered to the
English Mail Steamer in Hobson's Bay if such
steamer be in the said Bay at the time at which
the vessel performing this contract may arrive
there and shall cause the Mails to be landed or
placed in a boat or delivered on board any
steamer or vessel in Port Chalmers as the Post-
Office authorities may direct but if no such
direction shall be given or if the English Mail
Steamer shall not be in Hobson's Bay as
aforesaid then the Mails shall be forthwith land-
ed and delivered to the Post Office authorities.
7. If the English Mail shall not arrive before
the times appointed for the departure of the
"Aldinga" or such other vessel as aforesaid the
paid James McMeckan and John Hutchison
Blackwood shall if required at as early a period
thereafter as they conveniently can send the
Mails by some other ship belonging to them
without making any additional charge or permit
such Mails to be forwarded by such ship and in
such manner as the Post-Office authorities at
Melbourne may direct but not at the expense
of the said James McMeckan and John Hut-
chison Blackwood.
8. That the Mails shall in all cases be kept
in a safe dry and commodious place on board
the "Aldinga" or such other vessel as afore-
said.
9. That a suitable first-class cabin and first-
class maintenance with appropriate bed bed-
ding and furniture shall on each voyage be pro-
vided and appropriated for the sole use and
accommodation of the officer having charge of
the mails and he shall if required be maintained
on board from any time not exceeding twenty-four
hours before the ship leaves Melbourne
and for a time not exceeding twenty-four hours
after she arrives at Melbourne and he shall be
conveyed by the said James McMeckan and
John Hutchison Blackwood to and from the
shore either with or without mails at least once
on every voyage in each port of departure and
arrival.
10. That efficient assistance shall at all and
any time or times be given to the officer in
charge of the mails whenever required by him
either to stow away the mails or remove them
or any of them during the voyage and in due
time to prepare and make ready the same for
delivery before arrival at any of the ports afore-
said.
11. That if the said Postmaster-General
shall during the continuance of this agreement
think fit to entrust the charge and custody of
the mails to the master of the vessel to be em-
ployed for the time being in the performance of
this agreement and in all cases when the officer
or other person appointed to have charge of
her Majesty's mails shall be absent the master
of such vessel shall take due care of and the
said James McMeckan and John Hutchison
Blackwood shall be responsible for the acts and
defaults of the Master with regard to the receipt
safe custody and delivery of the said Mails and
each of such Masters shall make the usual oath
or declaration required or which may hereafter
be required by the Postmaster-General in such
and the like cases and shall receive and deliver
all Mails into the hands of the Postmaster of
the port or place of destination or into the
hands of such other person or persons and at
such other place or places as is appointed by
these presents for such delivery and the said
Master shall furnish a return of the date of
receipt and delivery of the Mails and of the
arrival and departure of the vessel at each port
in such form as the said Postmaster-General of
New Zealand may require.
12. That the said James McMeckan and
John Hutchison Blackwood shall in case the
"Aldinga" shall become by accident or other-
wise unfit to perform the service aforesaid with
the necessary accuracy and dispatch but not in
any other case substitute for her another steam-
ship fit in all respects for the said service and
in case the said James McMeckan and John
Hutchison Blackwood shall not find such other
fit vessel as aforesaid within two calendar
months after the vessel for the time being em-
ployed in the said service shall be rendered