July 9.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1567

intended to be used in cases of extreme need, and are consequently not exposed to the same wear-and-tear as the life-boats, a minimum weight of 16 oz. copper or yellow metal may be passed.

Life-belts.

11. No life-belt is to be passed that is not capable of floating in fresh water for twenty-four hours with 15 lb. of iron suspended from it. It should be cut out 2 in. under the armpits, and fitted so as to remain securely in its place when put on. When any other material than solid cork is used for buoyancy it must be specially approved by the Marine Department. All new life-belts should be fitted with adjustable shoulder-straps.

It is desirable that notices should be posted indicating the place of stowage of any belts which are not plainly visible to passengers.

Life-buoys.

12. No life-buoy stuffed with rushes, or with cork shavings or other shavings, or granulated cork, or any loose material, is to be passed. All cork life-buoys are to be built of solid cork and fitted with lines becketed and securely seized to the life-buoy, and none are to be passed that will not float for twenty-four hours in fresh water with 32 lb. of iron suspended from them. If life-buoys are not made of solid cork, the pattern and material must be approved by the Marine Department. No contrivance is to be passed as a life-buoy that requires inflation before use. Life-buoys are to be secured by a toggle and becket, or any other similar method, so that they can be quickly released; they must not be lashed nor seized to the rail or any other part of the vessel, but must be kept so as to be ready for use at a moment’s notice in case of an emergency.

Not less than two of the life-buoys, one on each side of the ship, are to be fitted with life-lines 15 fathoms in length.

Oil-distributing apparatus.

Vessels for distributing oil are to be to the satisfaction of the Surveyors, and are to be so constructed as to distribute the oil evenly and gradually on the surface of the water.

Appliances to be examined.

13. The life-belts, life-buoys, and other buoyant apparatus should be carefully examined at every survey, when the Surveyors should satisfy themselves that the buoyant material has not become sodden, and that the straps and lines are sufficient. Special attention should be paid to the question of buoyancy in the case of any approved life-belt which is not constructed of solid cork.

All appliances to be on board at time of survey.

14. The full supply of life-saving appliances required for the maximum number of persons for which a declaration is granted must in all cases be on board at the time of the survey. If any of the appliances are removed when the vessel does not carry her full number of passengers, the responsibility must rest with the owner. When a reduction is made in the total number of passengers for whom accommodation is provided, on account of the insufficiency of the life-saving appliances, the actual reduced number of persons to be carried in each class should be stated in the declaration.

Exemptions in respect of watertight compartments.

15. All applications for the exemption provided for by No. 12 (see clause 12) of the General Rules respecting Life-saving Appliances, or for any concession on account of bulkheads under Division E, Class 1, should be made on Form Bulkheads 1, and the Principal Surveyor of the district in which the vessel is undergoing survey must see that the plans and particulars required by subsections (a), (b), (c) are submitted. He should then instruct a Surveyor to examine each of the bulkheads, and the parts of the iron decks (or steps) which may be in combination with the bulkheads, for the purpose of either making the bulkhead complete in its height or for support. The Surveyor should also examine the watertight doors, the doors through which coal is worked, the covers of other openings, the arrangements for closing all doors, and the index showing whether the door is closed. The particulars must be reported for each bulkhead separately on Form Bulkheads 2.

The particulars relating to the efficiency of the side scuttles, their shutters, the covers of any other openings in the side of the ship, and the distances of the sills of the side scuttles measured from the bulkhead-deck, must be reported on Form Bulkheads 3.

The Surveyors should carefully read the Report of the Bulkhead Committee, and should be guided by its terms and principles, both in respect to their examination and to the details to be given in their reports.

The forms (1, 2, and 3), when completed, should be forwarded by the Principal Surveyor to the Marine Department.

B

Exemption of ferry-boats, &c.

16. Before the Marine Department exempt steam-launches, steamers, and ferry-boats from the operation of the whole or part of Rule (a), Division E, Class 1, it will require the owners to furnish it with particulars as to what reasonable provision they propose to make to save life in case of casualty.

Approval of appliances.

17. In every case the application for approval of boats, life-rafts, buoyant apparatus, must be made by a shipowner who proposes to carry the particular appliance on board his ship if approved, and the Marine Department must decline to examine, test, or express any opinion whatever upon any such appliance except on this condition.

APPENDIX.

THE TABLE referred to in the foregoing Rules, showing the Minimum Number of Boats to be placed under Davits, and their Minimum Cubic Contents.

NOTE.—Where in ships already fitted the required cubic contents of boats placed under davits is provided, although by a smaller number of boats than the minimum required by this table, such ships shall be regarded as complying with the rules as to boats to be carried under davits.

In the case of vessels over 200 tons gross tonnage the capacity of any boat to be supplied should be not less than 125 ft. If, however, in any case this rule be found to be impracticable, a discretion may then be exercised by the Marine Department.

In cases where a small vessel is unable to carry more than one boat, a discretion may be exercised by the Marine Department, but whenever one boat only is carried there must be proper provision to enable it to be placed readily in the water on either side of the ship.

ALEX. WILLIS,
Clerk of the Executive Council.