F.—6

3

SAN FEANCISOO SERVICE.

CONTRACT WITH THK OCEANIC COMPANY, ETC.

Pacific Maii.-services, Resolutions relative to, passed by the House of Representatives, on Friday, the 26th day of October, 1906. No. 1. San Francisco Mail-service. On the motion of the Hon. Sir J, G. Ward, Resolved, —1. That whereas the renewed contract entered into on the 15th March, 1903, between the Postmaster-General and the J. D. Spreckels and Bros. Company, of San Francisco, for the continued performance of a three-weekly mail-service between Auckland and San Francisco, for the period of three years from the 10th November, 1903, will expire in November next — This House authorises the Government to enter into a further extension of the said contract with the said company for the renewal of the service for a period up to three years, as from the 10th November, 1906, subject to the following additional and amended conditions: — (a.) That the payment shall not be less than £15,000 per annum or more than £20,000 per annum. . (b.) That the Postmaster-General shall be authorised to negotiate that all payments by the Commonwealth of Australia to the service shall be paid over to this colony, in which case the maximum payment to the contractors may be increased to £25,000 per annum. (c.) That a larger and better class of steamers shall be placed in the service by the contractors within two years from the date of the contract; otherwise, the PostmasterGeneral may determine the contract on giving the contractors six months' notice in writing. Vancouver Mail-service. Resolved, —2. That this House also empowers the Government to establish a three-weekly mailservice between the Port of Vancouver and a port in New Zealand, subject to the following conditions: — (a.) That the contract shall be for a term of three years. (b.) That the payment shall not exceed £20,000 per annum. (c.) That the service shall be performed by vessels of not less than 6,000 tons, having first-class passenger accommodation, and fitted with all modern improvements, and also refrigerating-chambers, and chilled chambers for fruit and dairy-produce. (d.) That the time shall not exceed eighteen days between Vancouver and a.New Zealand port, the selection of which to be at the contractor's option. (c.) That the terms and conditions of contract, as far as they can be applied, shall be similar to those governing the San Francisco mail-service. \H.V. Agr. 06/91e.]

No. 2. The Secretart, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 7th November, 1906. San Francisco Midi-service. * # * * * * * * * I enclose herewith three copies of the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives on the '26th ultimo. I have, &c, W Gras, Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, Cal. [S.F. ATX. 06/119.]