1136
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 50

Otonga Road District, County of Whangarei:
Walter George Barker.
Norman L. McInnes.
Mainene Road District, County of Rodney:
Oliver Heywood.
Lambert Heywood.
John Ward.
Mount Eden Road District, County of Eden:
Richard Udy.
Young Warren.
Robert H. Crudge.
Pokeno Road District, County of Manukau:
Francis William Pyne.
Robert Prendergrast.
Wairoa Road District, County of Manukau:
Henry Walsh.
Henry Umpton Poynter.
William John Hyde.
Waimate Road District, County of Hawera:
John Stevenson.
George Watson.
Philip McCarthy.
Walter Blair.
J. R. Stewart.
Manganui Road District, County of Stratford:
William Burnett.
William Hathaway.
Charles Arnold Jones.
Joseph Mackay.
Peter Wilson.
Malvern Road District, County of Selwyn:
Frederick Benham.
Thomas Kain.
Samuel Robertson.
East Malvern Road District, County of Selwyn:
Frederick Bull.
George Rutherford.
Frederick George Wright.

Carbide of Calcium.

Department of Trade and Customs,
28th May, 1897.

BY direction of the Commissioner of Trade and Customs, the following memorandum by Colonel Majendie, the Inspector of Explosives in the United Kingdom, is printed for public information.

W. T. GLASGOW,
Secretary and Inspector.

WITH a view to assisting local authorities in dealing with applications for licenses to keep carbide of calcium, the following observations as to the character and prevention of the risks attaching to such keeping have been drawn up:—

1. Carbide of calcium is a solid substance which, while not itself inflammable, evolves, when brought into contact with moisture, a gas (acetylene) which is of a highly inflammable character.

2. This gas, when mixed with air, or when under even slight compression, becomes powerfully explosive.

3. Carbide of calcium, unless carefully manufactured from suitable materials, is liable to contain impurities which, when the carbide is acted on by water, evolve phosphuretted or siliciuretted hydrogen, gases which, when evolved in appreciable quantities, would render the acetylene produced liable to spontaneous ignition.

4. In addition to the risks indicated above, acetylene gas is capable of forming an explosive compound when brought into contact with copper.

5. The character of the apparatus to be used in connection with the production of acetylene gas from carbide of calcium is intimately connected with the question of safety. For example, grave risk may arise from the heat developed by a too rapid conversion of the carbide into acetylene gas; or from the apparatus permitting escape or leakage of gas which is being formed, or not allowing a free passage of the gas from the generator into the holder, and so causing excess of pressure in the generator or other part of the apparatus.

6. Risk might also arise if proper provision were not made for dealing with the residue of the carbide of calcium which has been used for making acetylene gas (viz., lime), as such residue might contain carbide of calcium which has escaped decomposition.

It will therefore be obvious that local authorities, in granting licenses for carbide of calcium, should have regard to the foregoing risks, and with that view should make provision—

(a.) For the exclusive use of hermetically-closed packages for the keeping and conveying of carbide of calcium.

(b.) The adequate ventilation of the place where the carbide of calcium is present.

(c.) The prohibition of any powerful compression of the gas produced in the apparatus or receptacles employed.

(d.) The keeping and use of pure carbide of calcium only, and the establishment of efficient arrangements for the sampling and testing of the carbide.

(e.) The exclusion of copper from all vessels or apparatus used with or for carbide of calcium and the gas produced therefrom.

(f.) The use only of an apparatus which the local authorities have satisfied themselves, under competent advice, is of a safe and suitable character, and the prohibition of the employment for the manipulation of such apparatus of any person other than a properly-instructed and capable operator.

(g.) The safe disposal of the residue, and the prohibition of its introduction into sewers, cesspools, &c., unless mixed with at least ten times its bulk of water.

It will in all cases be for the local authority very carefully to determine whether the premises proposed to be licensed are themselves suitable for the purpose, regard being had to the formidable consequences (from fire or explosion) which might result from the careless or imperfect observance of any of the imposed conditions, especially in dwellings, or in places or premises where large numbers of persons are liable to assemble.

VIVIAN DEERING MAJENDIE (Colonel),
H.M. Inspector of Explosives.

Home Office, 1st March, 1897.

Commissioner's Decisions under Tariff Acts.

Department of Trade and Customs,
Wellington, 1st June, 1897.

IT is hereby notified for public information that the Hon. the Commissioner of Trade and Customs has decided to interpret the Customs and Excise Duties Acts in relation to the under-mentioned articles as follows:—

NOTE.—“Not otherwise enumerated” appears as n.o.e.; “other kinds” as o.k.; “articles and materials suited only for, and to be used solely in, the fabrication of goods in the colony” as a. & m.s. Articles marked thus * are revised decisions.

W. T. GLASGOW,
Secretary and Inspector.

Commissioner’s Order No. 575.]

Branch of Friendly Society registered.

Friendly Societies’ Registry Office,
Wellington, 1st June, 1897.

THE Loyal Apiti Lodge, No. 7303, situated at Apiti, is registered as a branch of the Wanganui District of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows Friendly Society, under “The Friendly Societies Act, 1882,” this 1st day of June, 1897.

EDMUND MASON,
Registrar of Friendly Societies.

Notice by the Public Trustee under “The Unclaimed Lands Act, 1894.”

To the owner or owners of a parcel of land containing by admeasurement 41 acres, more or less, having a frontage of about 10 chains to the main Tatarariki Road, and a depth of 50 chains to the Tatarariki Creek, and known by survey definition as the south-eastern portion of Section 3 of the Parish of Tatarariki, Provincial District of Auckland, of which the grantee is one James Cooke, of whom nothing is traceable.

WHEREAS the Public Trustee has instituted inquiries, and has not thereby ascertained who the owner or