tractor and sureties. A copy of the newspaper containing
the advertisement is to be attached to the bond. In the
case of mail-services advertised only by means of posters
exhibited at the post-offices concerned, the reference to the
New Zealand Gazette should be deleted from the tender
and the paragraph made to read, "in an advertisement
exhibited at the post-office at ____" [the name of
the office being inserted]. This amendment should be
initialled in the margin by the contractor and sureties.

(28.) Payment of Subsidy.—Special attention is drawn to the
necessity of filling in the time of payment under section 22,
Terms and Conditions, at the back of tender.

(29.) Signature of Tenderer.—The usual signature of the con-
tractor, or, in the case of joint contractors or firms, of each
individual member, should be given.

(III.) General Instructions.

(30.) No abbreviations are permitted in filling up forms of bond
or contract.

(31.) In addition to the above instructions, officers are enjoined to
comply strictly with the directions in the marginal notes.

(32.) A completed contract being composed of the bond, the
tender (to which is annexed the terms and conditions of
inland-mail contracts), and the letter of acceptance, and,
in the case of Tourist services, the schedule of maximum
passenger and parcel rates, and special conditions attaching
to such services, care should be taken that these docu-
ments are securely fastened together prior to execution,
and that the identification clauses in the margin of the
tender, at the end of the terms and conditions, and in the
letter of acceptance are signed by contractor and sureties.

(33.) If any material erasure or interlineation has been made
in the bond or tender, it is advisable that the same be
noticed by the contractor and sureties and each witness
placing his initials against the erasure or interlineation at
the time of execution. No erasure or interlineation can
be made after the execution. 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, the matter
is to be referred at once to the Secretary.

(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 Secretary with a covering memo-
randum showing the names and numbers of the services
to which they relate.

CONTROL, INSURANCE, ETC.

280. 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 discreditable 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 discreditable condition, drivers or mail-
     carriers unsteady or otherwise untrustworthy, or under sixteen years
     of age, or in any way unfit. Postmasters are also required to see
     that the vehicles used for the carriage of mails are kept in good