1118
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 29

to execution, and that the identification clauses in the
margin of the tender, at the end of the terms and con-
ditions, and in the letter of acceptance are signed by
contractor and sureties.

(33.) If any material erasure or interlineation have been made
in the bond or tender, it is advisable that the same be
noticed by each witness placing his initials against the
erasure or interlineation at the time of execution. No
erasure or interlineation can be made after the execu-
tion. When any alteration is found to be necessary,
it is better to prepare a new bond.

(34.) In cases where any real difficulty presents itself, or
there may be doubt as to the course to be adopted, it
will be better at once to refer the matter to the In-
spector of Post-offices than to have the trouble of trying
to rectify matters afterwards, when the necessary parties
may not be available, or the improper execution or
attestation may otherwise be incapable of correction.

(35.) Bonds should not be detained until all for a district are
completed, but as soon as, say, ten are ready, they
should be forwarded to the Inspector of Post-offices,
accompanied by a list headed as follows:—

Contract Bonds for Mail-services.

Service.
From ——— To ———
Name of Contractor.

CONTROL, INSURANCE, ETC.

369. It is a Postmaster’s duty to make himself conversant
with the general terms and conditions of mail contracts, to
notice the manner in which mail-services are performed, to see
that contractors and all persons who have charge of mails duly
sign the official declaration, and to report any irregularity he
may observe, such as conveyances out of repair, unsafe, or dis-
creditable to the service, absence of necessary harness (breeching-
straps, &c.), or the use of worn-out harness, overcrowding of
coaches or motor-cars, horses unfit for their work or in a discredit-
able condition, drivers or mail-carriers unsteady or otherwise un-
trustworthy, or under sixteen years of age, or in any way unfit;
also, to see that clause 10 of the Terms and Conditions of Inland-
mail Contracts is complied with. Postmasters at coaching centres
are to be specially instructed to inspect mail-coaches, and, if con-
sidered desirable at any time, to apply for leave to employ an expert
to assist them. Postmasters must see that mails conveyed by
vehicles are placed in the boot or other suitable receptacle, and not
left loose on the footboard, and all officers must immediately
challenge any maltreatment of mails they notice at any time. A
driver of a mail-conveyance is liable to punishment by law for any
delay of the mails attributable to his carelessness or wilful negli-
gence. Mail contractors should be informed that they must not
place any one at the duty of conveying or handling mails until
they have first communicated his name to the Department and
given an assurance of his good character.

370. Chief Postmasters must satisfy themselves that no mail-
service employee is being paid a wage less than that fixed by
any industrial agreement or Arbitration Court award in force
in the district applicable to such employees, and that no such
employee is being employed for a greater number of hours per
week than is fixed in such agreement or award without being
paid for overtime.

371. Chief Postmasters should satisfy themselves that mail
contractors have insured their employees against accident under