THE SUEZ MAIL SERVICE.

Evening Star, Issue 3262, 4 August 1873, Page 2

THE SUEZ MAIL SERVICE.

[By Telegraph.] The following is the effer of Messrs M Meehan, Blackwood, and < l o., to Mr Vogel:—“iSir,—We are willing to establish a service from Melbourne to Wellington, landing and receiving mails at Hokitika, Nelaon, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers, both up and down, for a period of three years, for the sum of L 6,500 sterling per annum, according to the schedule following, viz. : Wellington, via Hekitika and Nelson, in nine days; Lyttelton, eleven days; Port Chalmers, twelve days from the arrival of the P. and 0. Company’s steamer in Hobson’s Bay; but t-hould it arrive more than two days before it* due date, an equivalent in time to be added to the days named. For example : if the P. and 0. vessel arrives at Melbourne three days before her due date, the one day is to be added to the time above named, in which we propose to deliver the English mails at the various New Zealand ports. Uur to remain there two days beyond the due date, in the event of the P. and 0. vessel being late, but no longer; and in case the latter has not then arrived, the mails to be forwarded by next first boat. The steamer with the up mails to be despatched from Port Chalmers twelve days, Lyttelton eleven days, and Wellington nine days, via Nelson (and, weather permitting, Greymouth and Hokitika), before the time of the P. and 0. steamer leaving Hobson’s Bay. The steamers carrying English mails to be free of pilotage, and all harbor and light dues at whatever ports the mails are landed or received. Payment to be made monthly. In the event of the mail ship arriving at any of the above ports on Sundays or public holidays, the same facilities to be granted by the authorities for working cargo as on work days. This offer is subject to your accepting it, or our offer made on the 24th June last, subject to the sanction of Parliament previous to the sailing of the Luna tomorrow, and the sanction of Parliament to be telegraphed to Mr Blackwood at the Bluff, before his departure on the 6th insb., per Alhambra. This, and all previous offers or tenders to be considered null and void, unless accepted by the above date. We are prepared to commence the service on September next.