Conveyance of Mails

The Sydney Morning Herald

2 September 1844

Friday, August 30, 1811. Conveyance of Mails. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, August 22, 1844.

Conveyance being required for the Post Office Mails from and to the undermentioned places, for one year, from the 1st of January, 1845, persons disposed to contract for providing the same are invited to transmit their offers, in writing, to this office, before twelve o'clock on Monday, the 7th day of October next, endorsed, " Tender for Conveyance of Mails ".

It is to be understood that the mails are to be dispatched on the days and hours to be fixed by the Postmaster General, either according to the present arrangement, or as he may afterwards determine for the public convenience.

It will be optional with parties to offer one or more of the above lines of stages and to propose the mode of conveyance; but on all roads where wheel vehicles can travel a preference will be given to carriage conveyance, and the contractors will be held strictly bound to use the conveyance they propose, and to travel at the rate agreed upon.

The rate of travelling is not to be less than six miles per hour, including all stoppages.

The contractors are to carry all bags and letters which may be delivered to them under the authority of the Postmaster-General or any of the Postmasters, and to provide secure lockers for the mails in carriages, and dry coverings for the bags on horseback.

Contractors will be bound to prevent the conveyance of any letter or packet by any of their servants, or passengers, or otherwise, to the prejudice of the Post Office Revenue, under a penalty of £5 for each and every offence.

Contractors will be liable to a fine of five shillings for every minute delay after the specified time of starting: and to a like penalty for every ten minutes delay after the specified time of arrival, except for the first five and ten minutes respectively.

A mail cart or carriage, drawn only by one horse, must not carry more than one passenger, by two horses, not more than three passengers; and by three or more horses, not more than six passengers, exclusive of the driver, under a penalty) of £3 for each offence, on all roads except between Melbourne and Yass and on that road the penalty will be £10.

All vehicles and horses employed in the conveyence of mails are to be at all times subject to the inspection and approval, or rejection of the Postmaster-General, or person appointed by him for that purpose.

The drivers and postmen are to be free men, and of certified good character.

All fines and penalties incurred under the agreement are to be deducted by the Postmaster-General from the next quarterly instalment falling due to the contractor, and to be considered as over and above any penalties provided by any Act of Council.

Each party tendering, or an agent for him, must attend at this Office on the day appointed for opening the tenders and each tender must bear the signature of two respectable and solvent persons, willing to enter into a bond with the Contractor for the safety of the Mails, and the due performance of the contract.

The hours of starting from each Post Office and other particulars may be ascertained at the General Post Office, where parties proposing to tender are invited to seek information.

Printed forms of tender may be had on application at the General and all other Post Offices throughout the colony.