JUNE 28.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1235

Evening newspapers may receive short Press telegrams on Sunday at a rate of 1s. for every 100 words or fraction thereof. Such telegrams may not exceed an aggregate number of 300 words for any one newspaper, and must be confined to news of events which occur between the time of closing of the telegraph-office on Saturday night and its re-opening on Sunday.

Postage stamps are to be used for payment, and when the rates are prepaid the senders should affix the stamps on the message form in the space provided for the purpose.

Telegraph forms and envelopes, having the words (printed in red) “Telegram for transmission to the Officer in charge Telegraph Station,” can be procured at Post Offices in towns where there is no Telegraph Station.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE ABOVE SCALE OF CHARGES.

Evening newspapers publishing before 5 p.m. are allowed to receive at any period of the day of publication telegrams amounting in the aggregate to 1,000 words during the recess of Parliament and 1,500 words during the session at evening rates. 500 additional words are also allowed on the day the San Francisco mail reaches Auckland for telegrams containing news received by the mail steamer. When the San Francisco mail arrives at Auckland on Sunday, the 500 additional words are allowed on the day following.

During the session of Parliament, Press parliamentary reports are accepted until 1 a.m. at the 6d. rate, and between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. at the 8d. rate, for all offices open during these hours for Press messages from Wellington.

During the war in South Africa, evening newspapers will be allowed to receive 500 additional words on one day at evening rates from the United Press Association on the occasions on which the Association distributes the contents of letters received from its correspondents respecting experiences of the New Zealand Contingents in South Africa. No other than the special news named is to be included to make up the 500 words.

CABLE NEWS.

Press messages lodged at any telegraph-office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. repeating news received by cable from beyond the colony, and bearing the words “Cable news” in the instructions, are chargeable with the evening rates for Press messages if sent on the day of publication of the newspaper addressed. Every such message must be charged separately.

CHARGES WHEN OFFICE RE-OPENED BY SPECIAL REQUEST.

Individual Rate.

Press messages lodged by or on behalf of individual persons or newspapers at a telegraph office, specially re-opened after the usual closing hour, are charged as under:—
At the rate of 2s. per 100 words up to 1,000 words, the minimum collections on account of messages presented by any one person to aggregate 7s. 6d.
For every additional 100 after the first 1,000 words, at the rate of 6d. per 100 words or fraction thereof.

Press Association Rate.

Messages lodged and forwarded on behalf of the United Press Association are liable to the following charges:—
At the rate of 6d. per 100 words or fraction thereof, together with a fee of 7s. 6d. for re-opening the office, and all charges in respect of overtime at offices other than the original forwarding office.

The additional payment to be made in all cases by the applicant.

At least six hours’ notice should be given the General Post Office, Wellington, of the desire to have an office specially reopened for Press news.

CHARGES FOR PRESS TELEGRAMS RELATING TO EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS, ETC.

Press telegrams containing intelligence of extraordinary events, such as collisions, wrecks, large fires, explosions, &c., may be accepted for transmission between offices open for the midnight cable service, after those offices are closed for the receipt of other Press messages, on the following conditions:—
No message must exceed 100 words.
The rate of 1s. to be charged for each message.
The Officer in Charge may refuse to accept any such message which in his opinion does not contain news of an urgent nature.
These messages will not be permitted to interfere with or delay the transmission of the midnight cable news.

Telegrams forwarded by Members of General Assembly.

Members of the General Assembly may send telegrams at the following rates, viz.:—

For the first thirty-six words or any fraction thereof, including address and signature … … … … … 0 6
For every four words or fraction of four words after the first thirty-six words … … … … … 0 1

Such telegrams shall be restricted to domestic, public, or parliamentary business during the session of Parliament and a period of fourteen days immediately before and fourteen days immediately after the session of Parliament respectively. During the remainder of the recess they shall be restricted to public or parliamentary business entirely. Any disregard of these conditions will render the telegram presented liable to be treated and charged for as an ordinary telegram, or refused acceptance.

“Collect” telegrams addressed to a Minister by any member of Parliament shall not be accepted for transmission at any telegraph-office unless the Minister has by telegram requested such member to send him a reply “free,” and proof thereof be given to the transmitting officer. In such “collect” telegrams, the instruction “M.G.A. Collect” must be written in the proper place at the head of the form.

ALEX. WILLIS,
Clerk of the Executive Council.