25

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The steamers of the latter company have been specified in clause 3, It will now be unnecessary for you to obtain special permission for their being employed. "in my letter of the 16th ultimo I stated that the present contract would terminate with the despatchiirom New Zealand on the 12th December next and from Plymouth on the 14th idem. This should have read that the renewed contract would commence with the despatch of the steamers front th£ ports, and on the dates stated. I enclose draft of the proposed time-table. You will, of course, see that the draft agreement is returned to me as early as possible. I have, &c, The Secretary, New Zealand Shipping Company W. Gkay, Secretary. (Limited), Christchurch.

No. 77. Mr. Gibbs to the Secketaky, Post Office and Telegraph Department, Wellington. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), g m Christchurch, 26th October, 1889. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 19th instant, with draft agreement for the extension of the mail-contract for one year, which has been submitted to and approved by the the directors of this company. If you will kindly forward me a copy of the contract for signature I will get it executed, and the seal of the company affixed. I have, &c, Isaac Gibbs, Secretary. The Secretary, Post Office and Telegraph Department, Wellington.

No. 78. Mr. Gkay to the Secketaky, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch. g IB) _ General Post Office, Wellington, 30th October, 1889. I forward herewith a further copy of the articles of agreement, and direct your attention to the verbal alterations in clauses 1 and s"respectively. I shall be glad to have your approval by telegraph, in order that I may submit the articles of agreement to the Postmaster-General for signature. * have, &c-> Isaac Gibbs, Esq., Secretary, W. Gkay, Secretary. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch. , ,

No. 79. Mr. Gibbs to the Secketaky, General Post Office, Wellington. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), c Christchurch, 31st October, 1889. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 30th instant, and to confirm our telegram of this date as follows: " Approve the two verbal alterations in mail-contract." With reference to the remission of outward pilotage and port charges at the final port of departure of our steamers, the Lyttelton Harbour Board have passed the following resolution : " That a communication be sent to the Postmaster-General that the Lyttelton Harbour Board will offer no objection to the insertion of a clause in the mail-contract exempting each mail-steamer from payment of pilotage and port charges on the occasion of their making Lyttelton the final port of departure." X hav ®> &c -> _ r Isaac Gibbs, Secretary. The Secretary, Post Office and Telegraph Department, Wellington.

No. 80. To the Hon. Edwin Mitchelson, Postmaster-General. In pursuance of the provisions of section 8 of " The Post Office Act, 1881," I, William Hilher, Earl of Onslow, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby direct you, Edwin Mitchelson, the Postmaster-General of the said colony, in your own name, to enter into a contract, m writing, on behalf of the Government of the said colony, with the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited) for the carriage of mails each way between New Zealand and Plymouth, England, for a period of: twelve months from the twelfth day of December, 1889 : the said contract to be subject m all respects to such terms and conditions as to you shall seem fit. Given under my hand, at Wellington, in the said colony, this first day of November, 1889. Onslow, Governor.

No. 81. Mr. Gkay to the Secketaky, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch. g IE _ General Post Office, Wellington, 4th November, 1889. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo, confirming your telegram of the same date by which you accepted the two verbal alterations in the copy, sent you with my letter of the previous day, of the articles of agreement for the renewal of the Direct service contract. I have to thank you for the copy which you have also sent me of the resolution of the Lyttelton Harbour Board with reference to the remission of outward pilotage and of port charges. - , X have> f c "' Q . . . ° '•■ W. Gkay, Secretary. The Secretary, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch. 4—F. 6.