DIRECT STEAM SERVICE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3658, 5 April 1883, Page 4

DIRECT STEAM SERVICE.

(r.Y TELEGRAPH.) Wei.ltxgtox, Wcdiiesd: iy. By the San Francisco mail the Govern""'ment received the conditions of contract, &c., for the direct steam service to New Zealand, the tenders for which close on the 30th of April. The conditions are as follows :—The Government are prepared to receive tenders for a steam sevicc between London (calling at Plymouth) and New Zealand, once each way in every calendar month, for a period of three years. The homeward voyage may commence later than the month in "which the first ship sails from London according to date to be named in the tender. Not less than five ships are to be provided, each being an efficient firstclass screw steamer, and with adequate 2>ower for continuous speed so as to perform the service within the time specified, if a, ship shall not be at the port of departure on the date fixed in each month, and ready and properly fixed to perform the service, a sum of £100" and a further sum of £100 per day for each noon that intervenes before the ship is ready may be deducted from the subsidy by the Government. The Government may, however, remit or reduce the amount if they are satisfied that the default shall have arisen from causes over which the contractor had no control. The service from London to New Zealand is to be performed round the Cape, and the service from New Zealand to London via the Straits of Magellan, or round Capo Horn, calling at St. Vincent each way. The service is to be performed within 1100 hours except that the outward service _ may be performed in 1300 hours if so stipulated in the tender. The contractors are to have the option for each voyage of selecting as the port of arrival or departure in New Zealand either of the ports of Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, or Port Chalmers, and will be at liberty before departure on the homeward service, or after arrival on the outward service, to call at any other of the said ports on giving notice of 30 days. If any service be not performed within the period of time contracted for a sum of £100 will be deducted ironi the one twenty-fourth part of the subsidy payable in respect to the service, and if the time occupied in the performing- of any service be 21 hours in excess of "the number of hours contracted for a further deduction will be made at the rate of £ 1 per hour in' respect of such excess. If the default is occasioned by circumstances over which the contractor has no control the Government Tiiay remit <n: reduce the amount. In his tender the tenderer must state tin; miriiuum rates to be charged to second caliin, third cabin, and steerage passengers who pay iheiv own fares, respectively, to New Zealand, and no higher rates than those mentioned will be permitted. TliL , Government do not undertake to s'-inl any emigrants by any ships, or if any shall be sent to guarantee any pariicular number, but any emigrants whom the Government may deem it convenient to send from the United Kingdom to the colony are to be carried. The Government, however, are not to require less than 1.10 nor more than 300 statute adults to be conveyed in any one ship unless by agreement 'with the contractors. The prices to be paid by the Government for conveyance of emigrants are to be at the rate of £1") for each emigrant of 12 years or upwards, and £9 for each emigrant 12 months of age and under 12 years. Suitable first-class acconnnod.ilion for a mail officer or agent is to be provided on board the ships, and such officers or agents arc to be victualled by thc_ contractors as chief cabin passengers without charge, and during the time a ship may stay'at any port such officers or agents are to be allowed to remain on board, and are to be victualled by the contractors. The Government do not guarantee to send cargo by any ship, or, if any be sent, the quantity thereof; but all Government cargo which the Government shall deem it convenient to send from the United Kingdom to the colony by the contractors' ships is to be eonveyed*by the contractors if the ships are so constructed as to be able to receive and to carry the same. The tender is to state the rates required for the convey mice and delivery of Government cargo, which rates will bo paid as follows:—One half on signing and delivering bills of lading, and the other half on delivery of such cargo at its port of destination. Single pieces of dea.d weight, or measurement of over three tons, will bo taken out the ship at the cost unci risk of the Govoraiucut. Each ship is to be fitted with freezing chambers and proper machinery, to be approved by the Government, so as to be capable of carrying on the homeward voyage fresh meats and dairy produce up to 200 tons of cargo space. The contractors shall if required enter— with two sureties to be approved by the Government —into a joint and several bond in Hie sum of £10,000. The tenders will be opened by the Agent-Geueral and Post-master-General, respectively, at noon on the 30th iif April, and on or before the 31st of May the decision of the Government will bo made known. The Government d<> not bind themselves to accept the lowest or any tender, aud they reserve to themselves the right to accept a tender subject to ratification by the General Assembly of New Zealand. '