MAIL SERVICES. ABOLITION OF HARBOUR DUES. Wellington, this day.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 402, 14 September 1889, Page 4

MAIL SERVICES. ABOLITION OF HARBOUR DUES. Wellington, this day.

In Committee of the whole House on Monday the Premier will move the following resolutions respecting ocean mail steamers : — (1) That in view of the expiration of the ocean mail service contract in November and December next, it is desirable to make further provision for the conveyance of mails fortnightly between this colony and Great Britain at a total cost not exceeding £28,740. (2) That in order to give further time for development of the proposed VancouverPficific Service theGovernmentbeauthorised to, arrange for renewal of the present services via San Francisco and by direct steamer for a period of twelve months. (3) That the Government, therefore enter into negotiations (a) for joining New South Wales in a renewal of the n San Francisco Service for twelve months under the following conditions : — "Thatpaymenttobemade shall not exceed £11,250 (exclusive of rost of interprovincial service, etc., and payment on account of light dues) ; that the steamer j call at Auckland as at present, and that the time allowed between Auckland and Frisco shall not exceed twenty days either way ; that a bonus shall not be payable for early arrival and that penalties at the rate of £4 per hour shall not be enforced except when the late delivery of mails exceeds forty-eight hours on anj v.oyage ; that New South Wales shall receive and retain all sums recovered by way of penalties for late arrival, and pay all amounts in respect of demurrage, and also receive and retain all contributions from non-contracting colonies, and the proportion of United States payment, the steamers to be exempt from payment of light, harbour, and other dues as at present, and .that in all other respects the provisions of existing contract be given effect to ; (6) to renew with the present contractors for twelve months the existing fourweekly direct service at a cost not to exceed £17,500 (exclusive of the cost of inter-provincial service and light dues), the basis of payment to be letters 12s per lb ; books, Is per lb ; and newspapers, 6d per lb ; and a bonus at the rate of £5 per hour be paid for early delivery of the mails, but not a bonus for any voyage to be paid for any period in excees of forty-eight hours saved ; that a penalty of £4 per hour be enforced for late arrival ; that the time from Plymouth to New Zealand shall be 45 days, and from New Zea. land to New Plymouth 42 days ; that the steamers be exempb from payment of light and harbour dues at first port of arrival in the colony, and that in all other respects the provisions of the existing contract be carried into effect." The Premier says the House must adopt these resolutions.