THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 283

Colonial Defence Office,
Wellington, 5th July, 1866.

H IS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
make the undermentioned appointments, viz.:—

In the Auckland Militia.
Franz Scherff, to be Ensign. Date of Commission,
26th June, 1866.

In the Taranaki Militia.
Viggo Monrad, to be Lieutenant. Date of Commis-
sion, 18th June, 1866.
Johannes Henrick Monrad, to be Ensign. Date of
Commission, 18th June, 1866.

In the Nelson Rifle Volunteers.
Frederick Augustus Loking, M.D., to be Surgeon.
Date of Commission, 12th June, 1866.

In the Canterbury Engineer Volunteers.
Joseph David Frankish, M.D., to be Assistant-
Surgeon. Date of Commission, 20th June,
1866.

In the Otago Rifle Volunteers.
Major John Cargill (Dunedin Militia,) to be Lieu-
tenant-Colonel. Date of Commission, 26th
June, 1866.
Captain John Bathgate, to be Major (in the 1st
Battalion.) Date of Commission, 26th June,
1866.
Edward Hulm, M.D., to be Surgeon (in the 1st
Battalion.) Date of Commission, 26th June,
1866.

In the Napier Rifle Volunteers.
Ensign James Irvine, to be Lieutenant. Date of
Commission, 28th June, 1866.
Henry Edwin Webb, to be Ensign. Date of
Commission, 28th June, 1866.
T. M. HAULTAIN.

Colonial Defence Office,
Wellington, 5th July, 1866.

H IS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
accept resignation of the Commissions held
by the undermentioned officers, viz. :—
Captain John Lambert, Royal Company Rangitikei
Rifle Volunteers.
Captain H. K. Drury, Auckland Militia.
T. M. HAULTAIN.

Colonial Defence Office,
Wellington, 5th July, 1866.

H IS Excellency the Governor has been pleased
to
accept the services of the undermentioned
Corps, viz.:—
Nelson (City) Cadet Rifle Volunteers. Date of
acceptance, 25th June, 1866.
T. M. HAULTAIN.

General Post Office,
Wellington, 28th June, 1866.

T HE following Articles of Agreement with the
Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal
Mail Company (Limited), for conveyance of Mails
between Sydney and Auckland, are published for
general information.

JAMES PATERSON,
Postmaster-General.

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT made this thirty-first
day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-six, between the Panama,
New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company
(Limited), hereinafter styled the Contractors, of the
one part, and Her Majesty's Postmaster-General of
the Colony of New Zealand, in pursuance of the
provisions of "The New Zealand Post Office Act,
1858," of the other part, witness that for the
considerations hereinafter mentioned the said Con-
tractors covenant with the said Postmaster-General
and his successors in office, as follows:—

1. The steamships "Prince Alfred" and "Auckland"
   shall, at the commencement of the Contract Service
   hereby provided for, and during the continuance of the
   same, be tight, staunch, and strong, properly manned
   and equipped for sea, and shall be employed as herein-
   after mentioned, in the mail service between Sydney,
   in the Colony of New South Wales, and Auckland,
   in the Colony of New Zealand.

2. One of the said steamships shall, within twenty-
   four hours after the arrival of the European mails at
   the port of Sydney aforesaid, in each month, leave
   that port for Auckland aforesaid, and shall deliver the
   mails at Auckland within one hundred and eighty
   hours from the hour of departure from Sydney:
   Provided that neither of the said steamships shall be
   required to wait at Sydney for the European mail
   more than ninety-six hours after its due date for
   arrival there, and that one of the said steamships
   shall leave Sydney for Auckland at the expiration of
   that time, unless detained at Sydney by the said
   Postmaster-General or his agent, to wait the arrival
   of the English mail there, for any time not exceeding
   a further period of ninety-six hours.

3. One of the said steamships shall leave Auckland
   on the thirtieth day of each month, not earlier than
   two p.m. in the day.

4. All Post Office mails shall be shipped, tran-
   shipped, and landed as may be required either at
   Sydney or Auckland, by and at the expense of the
   Contractors, in a suitable and seaworthy boat for the
   purpose, to be furnished with effectual covering for
   the mails, and properly provided, manned, and
   equipped by the Contractors, to the satisfaction of
   the Post Office agent hereinafter mentioned.

5. That when so required by the Postmaster-
   General, the Contractors shall receive and allow to
   remain on board each of the vessels while employed
   in the performance of this contract, and also while
   remaining at Sydney, whether with or without mails
   on board, an agent or clerk of the New Zealand
   Post Office.

6. That saloon fare, with a suitable first-class cabin,
   with appropriate bed, bedding, and furniture, shall, at
   the cost of the Contractors, be provided and appro-
   priated by them for the exclusive use and accommo-
   dation of the said agent or clerk; and also (to the
   satisfaction of the Postmaster-General) a safe and
   proper place of deposit for the mails, and proper
   accommodation, including lighting, for enabling the
   mails to be sorted on board the said vessels, and that
   the crew of each of the said vessels shall, whenever
   so required, assist in conveying the mails between the
   mail-room and the sorting-room.

7. The sum of one hundred pounds shall be paid
   by the Contractors to the said Postmaster-General or
   his successors in office, if, on any occasion, either of
   the said steamships shall not sail at the appointed
   time, and an additional sum of one hundred pounds
   shall be in like manner paid for every delay of
   twenty-four hours in sailing after the appointed
   time.

8. In the event of either of the said steamships
   becoming disabled, the Contractors shall immediately
   at their own cost and charge, replace the same by
   another good and efficient vessel, to be approved of
   by the said Postmaster-General, of similar tonnage
   and power, obtained by hire or otherwise.

9. If there be no Post Office agent or clerk on
   board, the masters of the said steamships shall,
   without charge to the Government, take care of, and