F.—2

1875. NEW ZEALAND.

SUEZ MAIL SERVICE, (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO). In continuation of Papers presented on the 17th August, 1874.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Hon. G. B. Keefeed, Victoria, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey, New Zealand. Sic, — Chief Secretary's Office, Melbourne, 7th October, 1874. In reply to your letter of the 18th of July last, enclosing a memorandum from the PostmasterGeneral of New Zealand on the subject of the proposed detention of the Homeward mail steamer, in case the branch steamer from New Zealand should not arrive before the time appointed for the sailing of the steamer for Point do Galle, I have the honor to state that this Government fully recognizes the importance of this question, and that every possible consideration is due to New Zealand in connection therewith. In any future case in which the New Zealand mails may be late, the Postmaster-General of this colony will authorize as long a detention as may be considered safe, having a due regard to the performance of the main service. On the occasion of the departure of the " Nubia " on the Bth of September, the commander of that vessel was prepared, according to arrangement with the Post Office Department, to detain her for twelve hours at Port Phillip Heads for the arrival of the " Albion," expected with the New Zealand supplementary mail, and, as a matter of fact, she did not go to sea until 8 o'clock next morning. I have enclosed two copies of the contract between this Government and the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company for Mr. Vogel's information, in compliance with his request. I have, &c, Geo. B. Keefeed. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, Wellington.

F.—3,1874, No. 6.

Enclosure in No. 1. Copt of the Conteact entered into with the Peninsulae and Oeiental Steam Navigation Company. Articles of Ageeement made this tenth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, between the Honorable Edward Langtou, as Her Majesty the Queen's Postmaster-General of the Colony of Victoria, and for and on behalf of Her Majesty's Government of the said Colony of Victoria, of the one part, and the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, hereinafter called "the Company," of the other part. Witness that the Company for themselves and their successors hereby covenant with the said Edward Langton, his executors, administrators, successors, and assigns ; and the said Edward Langton, as such Postmaster-General, and for and on behalf of Her Majesty's Government of the said Colony, doth hereby covenant with the Company in manner following, that is to say, — 1. That the Company will at all times during the continuance of this Agreement, or so long as the whole or any part of the services hereby agreed to be performed ought to be performed in pursuance hereof, provide, keep seaworthy, and in complete repair and readiness, for the purpose of conveying, as hereinafter provided, all Her Majesty's mails (in which term "mails," used throughout this Agreement, all boxes, bags, or packets of letters, newspapers, books, or printed papers, and all other articles I—F. 2.