APRIL 6.]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Quantity of wool exported from 1st October, 1881, to 30th September, 1882, 64,402,812 lb.
" wheat exported from 1st January, 1882, to 30th September, 1882, 2,511,753 bushels.
" tallow exported from 1st January, 1882, to 30th September, 1882, 4,327 tons.
" frozen meat exported from 1st January, 1882, to 30th September, 1882, 11,412 cwt.
Number of hides exported from 1st January, 1882, to 30th September, 1882, 11,675.
The following statistics, respecting freights, relate to the three regular lines of sailing ships between
the United Kingdom and New Zealand:-
The New Zealand Shipping Company took out in 1881 a total of 83,854 tons of goods, of which
about 6,500 tons were fine goods; their average of fine goods for the five years 1877-81 was 6,750 tons.
Rates of freight were from 25s. to 45s. per ton, the average net freight earned being between 27s. and
28s., but large shipments of salt, cement, deals, &c., had always to be carried at nominal prices.
Freight on wool by their ships during the past few years has been 3/4d. for washed and 3/4d. for greasy ;
the rate for wheat has lately averaged 45s. a ton of 20 cwt., though, during one season it was carried
as low as 26s. On tallow, preserved meats, gum, &c., freights have ranged from 40s. up to 60s. a ton.
Shaw, Savill, and Co. took out in 1881 a total of 87,296 tons, at an average freight of from 27s.
to 30s. for measurement, and 25s. for weight; about 4,000 tons were fine goods; and freights home
for wool and wheat were about the same as the New Zealand Shipping Company, the two lines really
dividing the London trade.
The Albion Company took out in 1881 a total of 13,324 tons, including 1,875 tons of fine goods,
being about 1,000 tons over the average of the five years 1877-81. The rates were from 20s. to 30s.
for weight, 20s. to 35s. measurement, and about 40s. for fine goods.
Taking the cargo sent out by the three lines in 1881, the total outward freight was nearly
185,000 tons.

FINE GOODS.

In looking at the prospects of a direct Steam Service to New Zealand, the amount of fine goods
capable of bearing steam freights is of course a material point. The value of the drapery goods shipped
from the United Kingdom to Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago direct, during the three
years 1879-81, was as follows:-

or an average of about £1,130,000 a year. Comparing this with the value of drapery goods shipped in
the same years to New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, these are the figures :-

or an average of about £5,600,000 a year, the increase being at the rate of about a million sterling
each year. Of this total of nearly £17,000,000, for 1881, South Australia took £2,500,000, New South
Wales, £6,800,000, and Victoria, £7,500,000.
Two firms alone sent close on 700 tons of fine goods in 1881, by steam, vid Australia to the single
port of Dunedin, at the following freights: In one case the highest rate by Orient ships was 100s., and
average 93s. ; by P. and O. ships 95s., and average 76s. ; and by other steamers at an average of over
70s. ; the average all round being over 82s. per ton, besides primage of 5 per cent., payable in London,
or 10 per cent. in the colony. In the other case, the highest rate by P. and O. was 90s., and by the
Orient 100s., besides primage of 10 per cent. The Orient ships were able to get the best freights all
through the season, because they made shorter time to Dunedin. The same two firms also sent nearly
4,000 tons of soft goods by sailing ships.

New Zealand Government Offices,
7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W.
15th February, 1883.

F. D. BELL,
Agent-General.

THIS CONTRACT, made the day of , one thousand eight hundred and eighty-
three, between Sir FRANCIS DILLON BELL, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished
Order of St. Michael and St. George, the Agent-General for the Colony of New Zealand, for
and on behalf of Her MAJESTY the QUEEN, of the one part, and
(hereinafter designated "the Contractors") of the other part, witnesseth that, for the considera-
tions hereinafter appearing, the said Sir Francis Dillon Bell, for and on behalf of Her Majesty
the Queen, and in order to bind the Government of the said colony so far as the covenants
hereinafter contained are to be observed and performed by Her Majesty, her heirs and
successors, doth covenant with the Contractors, their executors, and administrators, and the
Contractors, so far as the covenants hereinafter contained are to be observed and performed
by them for themselves, their heirs, executors, and administrators, do, and each of them
separately for himself, his heirs, executors, and administrators, doth, covenant with Her Majesty
the Queen, her heirs and successors, in manner following, that is to say,---

1. In the construction of this contract the following words and expressions shall mean and include
   (unless such meaning shall be inconsistent with the context) as follows : "The Government" means
   Her Majesty the Queen, her heirs and successors, as represented by and acting by means of Her