102
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

when several telegrams are presented for transmission |
about the same time, and any of these telegrams shall
be of considerable length, then shall no officer be
bound to transmit more than two hundred words of
any such telegram at one time, in order to prevent
telegrams of the same date suffering too great a delay,
and to prevent a monopoly of the line by any one
company, firm, or individual.

Telegrams will be received for transmission at
each Station at the usual hours of business, published
in the New Zealand Gazette.

3. Telegrams in Cypher.

Telegrams may be written in cypher, which will be
counted according to the following scale, whether for
figures or letters :-

Separate cyphers count as one word; groups of
five cyphers, or fractional part of five cyphers, count
as one word; groups exceeding five cyphers are
counted at the rate of five cyphers to the word, and
any fractional portion remaining is to be counted as
one word.

Where cyphers are used the sender is recommended
to pay for the repetition of such telegram, in order
to insure accuracy.

4. Delays in transmission of Telegrams.

In the event of serious delays occurring through
accident to the lines which may prevent the trans-
mission of a telegram within a reasonable time, or
may destroy the value of any telegram, notice will be
sent to the senders of such telegrams should their
address be known; and the sender may, on producing
a written application to the officer in charge of the
Station at which such telegram was presented, receive
the amount paid thereon, if so desired, and the
telegram will be cancelled.

5. Delivery of Telegrams.

Telegrams will be delivered free of charge within
one mile of the Station to which they may be
addressed and transmitted, but beyond that distance,
cab or omnibus fares, or horse hire, will be charged
as necessary.

All telegrams requiring to be delivered on ship-
board, or on the water, or across the water, will bear
an extra charge to defray any boat expenses so
incurred.

Receipts must be signed by the receiver of
telegrams.

When the sender of a telegram objects or refuses
to pay the above charges, the telegram will be posted
immediately on its arrival at the Station to which it
is destined, and the ordinary rates for postage must
be charged to prevent the non-delivery or detention
of such telegram.

6. Telegrams that may be refused transmission.

Telegrams of a seditious, libelous, indecent, or
injurious nature, may be refused transmission by the
officer in charge of any Station.

7. The charge for Telegrams.

Telegrams will be charged at the tariff rates, which
will be published from time to time in the New
Zealand Gazette.

All telegrams must be prepaid.

Special arrangements can be made with the General
Manager or General Superintendent alone for the
payment of telegrams by deposit, or by furnishing
written authority covering the cost of transmission
and other expenses.

When the sender of a telegram desires it, the reply
to such telegram may be prepaid, and the messenger
will be instructed to wait for such prepaid reply for
the space of ten minutes, after which time the reply
must be forwarded to the Station by the receiver of
the original telegram.

Should the sender of a telegram desire to have the
telegram repeated to insure accuracy, such repetition
will be made at a charge of half the rate of the
original telegram.

The telegram is usually repeated back from the
receiving Station.

On special occasions when the Stations are kept
open beyond the usual hours of business, a double
charge will be made on all telegrams presented for
transmission.

8. Secrecy of Telegrams.

All telegrams will be held as strictly confidential,
and any violation by officers or servants in this
respect is punishable by "The Electric Telegraph
Act, 1865."

In the administration of justice, telegrams may be
produced in Court on a Judge's order alone.

9. Tariff of Rates and Hours of Businees.

The tariff rates and hours of business will be
published from time to time in the New Zealand
Gazette, and posted in the various Stations.

Until further notice the hours of business will be
from nine o'clock a.m. to five o'clock p.m.

SCHEDULE

Of Rules and Regulations for the guidance of Officers
and Servants engaged in conducting the working and
general business of the Electric Telegraph Depart-
ment, New Zealand.

General duties of Officers, Operators, Assistants, Clerks,
Messengers, Workmen, and Linemen.

1. All persons engaged in the service of the
   Electric Telegraph Department, whether holding a
   temporary or permanent appointment, shall be con-
   sidered as officers or servants of the department
   holding situations of trust, and they shall upon
   accepting their appointments engage faithfully to
   comply with the following rules and instructions.

2. Every Manager or Operator having charge of a
   Station will be held responsible for the order and
   efficient performance of the several duties thereof in
   conformity with the following rules and instructions,
   and all officers and servants are expected and bound
   to use all possible celerity in the receipt, transmission,
   or delivery of telegrams committed to the care of the
   department.

3. Every Station must be ready for the transaction
   of business at the hours appointed, which will be
   published in the New Zealand Gazette.

In cases of emergency the General Manager or
General Superintendent may extend the hours of
business at any Station or Stations, and officers and
servants will be expected to attend to the business of
their respective Stations during such extra hours.

4. All officers and servants shall conform to and
   as far as possible enforce these rules and instructions
   whenever they shall be present at the various Stations
   of the department, or engaged in their respective
   duties.

5. No stranger or strangers shall, under any
   pretence whatever, be admitted to the Instrument
   Room of any Station of this department without a
   special authority from the General Superintendent.

6. No officer or servant is to enter the Instrument
   Room of any Station of the department unless for
   the performance of his duties connected with the
   service of the department.

7. No officer shall leave his Station during the
   time he is on duty, nor shall he hold communication
   or conversation with strangers beyond what is strictly
   necessary for the transaction of business legitimately
   connected with the service of the department.

8. No officer or servant shall knowingly and
   wilfully divulge or communicate to any stranger the