AUSTRALIAN MAIL CONTRACT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 22 February 1907, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN MAIL CONTRACT

HITCH IN NEGOTIATIONS. Adelaide, February 21 A well known Adelaide merchant states that he is in possession o£ information direct from the office of one of the largest steamship companies trading with Australia, confirming yesterday's cable announcing that a hitch has occurred. When tho main contract was signed the Laings undertook to form a big company. So far they have been unsuccessful, though everybody is likely to invest. The merchant was also informed that the keels of the now vossels reported some months ago to haye been laid down have apparently been put to other purposes. ■

AERIVAL OF THE AGENT

Memioubne, February SI Mr Trevisa Clark, agent for the ]sail Syndicate, arrived unexpectedly. He brings plans and specifications ot the now vessels. Mr Clark is a direclor of James Laing and Sons. The nature of lus mission remains undisclosed.

EE-ASSPEING STATEMENTS. Received 21, 10.2 p.m. j Mehioobse, February 21, In reply to a question, tile Postmast-er-General informed the House that he had received a cablo from the AgentGeneral at London stating that Broadmore had withdrawn from the directorate of the mail syndicate, but his firm remained in it,

The Postmaster saw Mr Clark, agent of the syndicate, who stated hu> mission to his Australia was not to try to alter tho conditions of contract. Ho was looking into the question of ship, building generally, and would afford the Goyernmcnt some interesting information with relation to the mail contract.