659434-1889-Mail-Contract-Canadian-line — Page 4

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 21ST SEPTEMBER, 1889.

Land service routes.

Mails to be con-

shall be effected by way of the port of Vancouver in the Province of British Columbia and shall be effected between Halifax or Quebec (as the case may be) and the said port of Vancouver by means of railway trains and between the said port of Vancouver and the said port of Hong Kong by means of steam vessels. All such trains and vessels respectively shall be provided by the Company and such conveyance shall be conducted throughout as one continuous and complete service and the Company shall be responsible for the safe conveyance and delivery of the mails by means of such trains and vessels.

3. All mails to be conveyed by the Company in pursuance of this Agement by means of railway trains shall be conveyed over the railways of the Company during the summer season or period when the navigation of the St. Lawrence River is open from and to Quebec direct to and from the steam vessels to be despatched from and to arrive at the said port of Vancouver and during the winter season or period when the navigation of the St. Lawrence River is closed from and to Halifax direct to a rom the said steam vessels at the said port of Vancouver.

4. All mails to be conveyed under this contract as aforesaid shall be conveyed by veyed at times fixed the Company on such days and at such hours as the Postmaster General shall appoint either by a time table or time tables from time to time approved by him in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise as he shall think fit.

by Postmaster- General.

Manner of convey-

ance.

5. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement the conveyance of the mails between Halifax or Quebec (as the case may be) and Hong Kong shall be effected by the Com- pany in the following manner :

.

(1.) On the journey from Halifax or Quebec (as the case y be) to Hong Kong a train to be provided by the Company shall start from the Inter- Colonial Railway Terminus at Halifax or the Louise Embankment at Quebec (as the case nray be) at the time appointed by the Postmaster General or so soon thereafter as the mails shall have been delivered alongside the train by the steamer which has conveyed the said mails across the Atlantic or by any tender serving such steamer and can be placed in such train. The Company shall load the mails in such train and such train shall proceed with the said mails to the said port of Vancouver. The Company shall accept at all stations or places at which such train shall stop such mails as shall be tendered to them under the provisions of this Agreement and at the said port of Vancouver the Company shall transfer the mails conveyed under this Agreement to one of the steam vessels to be provided by the Company and shall accept and embark in such vessel such other mails as may be tendered for conveyance by such vessel at the said port of Vancouver and the said steam vessel to be so provided shall put to sea from the said port so soon as the mails are embarked and shall proceed on her voyage to Hong Kong touching or calling at the several ports or places hereinafter

mentioned.

•

(2.) On the journey from Hong Kong to Halifax or Quebec (as the case may be) one of the vessels to be provided by the Company under this Agreement shall put to sea from Hong Kong at the time appointed by the Postmaster General and shall proceed on her voyage to Vancouver touching or calling at the several ports or places hereinafter mentioned and at the said port of Vancouver the Company shall disembark the said mails and transfer to one of the trains to be provided by the Com- pany all such of the said mails as are intended for conveyance to Halifax or Quebec (as the case may be) or to any station or place at which such train shall stop between Vancouver and Halifax or Quebec and shall hand the residue of the said mails to the Postmaster of the said port of Vancouver and a train to be provided by the Company shall start from Vancouver so soon as such mails as aforesaid can be placed in such train and shall proceed with the said mails to the Inter Colonial Railway Terminus at Halifax or the Louise Embankment at Quebec (as the case may be) and on arrival thereat the Company shall deliver the mails to the Atlantic steamer proceeding to England or to any tender serving such steamer but if no steamer be ready to take the mails to England the Company shall deliver the mails to the Postmas- ter of Halifax or Quebec (as the case may be) to be by him delivered to the Atlantic steamer when ready.