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776 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 21ST SEPTEMBER, 1889.
The Canadian Parliament in the Session of 1889 passed an Act authorising the payment of an annual subsidy of 15,000 7. sterling for a line of monthly mail steamers, running between the terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia and Hong Kong, and the payment of 25,000 l. sterling per annum if the service were made fortnightly.
Some difficulty was felt with regard to the Atlantic portion of the line, the control of which is entirely in the hands of the Dominion Government. Satisfactory assurances were, however, given by that Government that the necessary acceleration of the service should be secured, and after much negotiation the terms of a contract were agreed upon, of which the following are the principal heads:-
POSTAL CLAUSES.
(2.) The service between Halifax or Quebec (according to the season) and Hong Kong will be one continuous and complete service at intervals of four weeks. Mwill be carried for any intermediate place at which the trains or vessels may call.
(6) The vessels will call at Yokohama and Shanghai.
(7.) The periods of transit between Halifax or Quebec and Hong Kong will be within 684 hours from April to November, and within 732 hours from December to March, including stoppages.
(32.) In the event of purchase by the Admiralty of a vessel the Company will provide a substitute vessel for the Postal Service.
(33.) The subsidy will be 60,000 7. per annum, subject to penalties.
(34) The penalty for failure to start a boat or train at the appointed time is fixed at 500 7., and at 100 l. for every 24 hours' delay..
... (35.) The penalty for late arrival is fixed at 100 l. for every 12 hours. **
(38.) The contract runs for 10 years from the first departure from Hoo Kong; it will be terminable on the 31st January 1898, if notice is given six months beforehand, and on payment of 20,000 7. by the Postmaster General. The first departure from Hong Kong is not to be fixed, without consent of the Company, earlier than 18 months from the date of the Agreement.
(39) The penalty for not commencing the service on the appointed day for 24 hours' delay, but it is not to exceed a total sum of 20,000 1.
(44.) The Company may not underlet the Agreement, or any part consent of the Postmaster General.
ADMIRALTY CLAUSES.
Schedule 2.
fixed at 100 %.
it, without the
(1.) The Admiralty may require the conveyance (with their families) of eight officers, four non-commissioned and warrant officers, and ten seamen, marines, soldiers, or artificers by any one train or vessel, at first, second, and third class fares respectively with regulation baggage.
(9.) Troops, &c., on service will be conveyed "at cost."
(10.) Small packages will be conveyed for the Admiralty at the low rate of freight charged by the Company on private goods of a similar character; heavy goods will be carried at rates specified in the contract.
Schedule 3.
(1.) The Company undertake to construct all vessels engaged for the service with gun platforms and other fittings required by the Admiralty, and to sell them to the Admiralty if required.
(2.) The vessels are to run 171⁄2 knots an hour on the measured mile, mid 16 knots an hour on sea trial.
(3.) The Admiralty may hire the vessels at 20 s. per ton per month the Admiralty providing and paying the crew.
per cent. for
(6.) The purchase price will be the value on the day of purchase, with 10 compulsory sale, and a further sum to be settled by agreement representing the cost of deliv- ery on the North Pacific station. The value on the day of purchase will be the cost price to the Company in the United Kingdom, less 6 per cent. per annum, from the day of com- pletion to the day of purchase.
(7.) A contract vessel sold to a British shipowner will remain subject to the terms of the agreement.
(8.) The Company undertake to employ, as far as possible, members of the Royal Naval Reserve.
(11.) The risk and expense of a vessel hired by the Admiralty will be borne by the Admiralty from the date on which the Admiralty provides the officers and erew.
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