Instructions to Mr Thomas Russell.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2080, 3 September 1875, Page 2

Instructions to Mr Thomas Russell.

The foFowlng was the latest last night:—

" General Government Office, Wellington, August 28th 1874. Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that the Government are desirous that you should continue the negociations respecting the Californian Mail Service with the view of removing the difficulties that have recently interfered with it* and of putting it upon a satisfactory and permanent footing.

2. For those purposes it would be necessary that you should at your earliest convenience proceed to Sydney, and you might probably find it necessary to proceed thence to England

3. It is po-sible that I might be in Sydney during you..' stay there, and also that I might have to visit England, but in either case I should not have ti::ne to devote to the mail negotiations, and if the time were at my command it is certain that with your knowledge of all the circumstances of the. case you would bo better able to conduct those negotiations than I should be.

4. The Government wish me to sa"y, that in the event of my meeting you in Sydney or at home I should bo at liberty to give you, any assistance or advice for which you might otherwise feel yourself compelled to refer to the colony.

5. It is desirable, however, that you should leave thn colony with, independent powers.

6. The Gorornaxant would be willing that some modifications in. the permanent contract should be made in the event of your considering them to be necessary, bnt any modifications would have to be within the following conditions :—

{a) The contract to provide for the coastal service as heretofore between Auckland and Port Chalmers, and that on alternate trips ths boat from San Francisco shall proceed tlirough to Port Chalmers, and from Port Chalmers to San Francisco. (b) The rate of speed to be not less than ten knots an hour. (c) The subsidy payable by New Zealand not to exceed £45,000 per annum. {d) The contract not to be for a period of more than ten years.

7. The Assembly has not yefc, however, sanctioned any alterations, and any departure from the terms of the existing contract would have to be made subject to such sanction.

8. The Government will recommend the Assembly to approve of any contract, the terms of which, are within the limits of these instructions.

9. The Government are not desirous to maintain the temporary service, bat, should you think it necessary, in order to meet the views of New South Wales to make temporary arrangements within the present financial year, the Government will approve them.—l have, &c, Julius Vogel. Thomas Russell, Esq., Wellington.