July 10.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1677

Money-order telegrams can be sent between all offices marked *.
Telegrams of an urgent nature presented during the luncheon interval at offices where such interval is allowed will be despatched without delay.
Ordinary telegrams lodged during hours that offices are open for receipt of Press telegrams only must be paid for as “Extra fee” messages.
When telegraph lines are interrupted, telegrams will be accepted from the public at the sender’s risk only, and despatched to the furthest practicable point, and thence to destination after communication is restored.
The telegraph-offices at Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hokitika, Invercargill, Masterton, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Oamaru, Palmerston North, Thames, Timaru, Wanganui, Wellington, and Westport are open for the transaction of public business between the hours of 8 a.m. and midnight on ordinary week-days, except on Saturdays, when the attendance ceases at 8 p.m., on Sundays between the hours of 9.30 a.m. and 10 a.m., and 5 p.m. and 5.30 p.m., and on statutory holidays (Masterton and Palmerston North offices excepted) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. and midnight. The foregoing hours, or any variation thereof, may be extended by the Electric Telegraph Commissioner to any other telegraph-office from time to time. Other offices are generally open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and of these the Electric Telegraph Commissioner is empowered to order the further reopening for public business, or the restricted opening, as circumstances shall require; also, the closing daily for a period not exceeding one hour as a luncheon-period at such hours and for such periods respectively as to him shall seem fit.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGES.

1. At any place where telephone exchanges have been established, Edison-Bell or any other approved telephones connected with the exchanges will be placed in office or private residences within three miles of the central office, so that subscribers can converse with other subscribers at their offices or residences.
2. Every person desiring to hire any telephone instruments or set of telephones connected with a telephone exchange shall make application to the Superintendent of Electric Lines on the form supplied for that purpose by the department.
3. All applicants for a first connection with a telephone exchange, in addition to the rates in force for connection with an exchange, will be required to pay an entrance-fee of £1 when delivering the application for connection. In respect of connections after the first, exemption from payment of the entrance fee will only be allowed when any connection on account of which the exemption is sought is to be held permanently.
4. Subscribers at each exchange will be furnished with a list of persons with whom they may communicate by telephone, and, as new subscribers are connected with the system from time to time, notification of the fact will be given by the department.
5. The Electric Telegraph Commissioner or Superintendent of Electric Lines may refuse to connect with the telephone exchange any place of business, house, or premises which in the opinion of the Commissioner is or are used for any illegal, immoral, or improper purpose, and may, either with or without previous notice, exclude from the telephone exchange any subscriber who allows the telephone instruments in his custody or control to be damaged or destroyed, or put to any improper use, and may remove or cause to be removed any instruments allotted to the use of such subscriber. No person shall have any claim for damages or otherwise whatsoever in consequence of the refusal of the said Commissioner or Superintendent to connect any place of business or house with the exchange for any of the causes aforesaid, or in consequence of the removal of any instruments, or the exclusion of any subscriber as aforesaid.
6. All charges payable in respect of the hire of any telephone instruments shall be paid half-yearly in advance, for distances up to two miles and under, and for distances over two miles, quarterly in advance, the first payment to commence from the date when the connection with the telephone exchange is completed, and cover the then current quarter or half-year.
7. If such payment be not made within one week after demand, the connection with the exchange may, at the discretion of the Superintendent of Electric Lines, be discontinued without prejudice to any proceedings for the recovery of any moneys then due or otherwise.
8. Telephones connected with exchanges are to be used on the business of the subscriber or that of his employees, family, or guests only.
9. No extra telephone, special instrument, or appliances other than those provided and maintained by the department will be allowed to be used by any subscriber in connection with an exchange wire.

CHARGES.

1. In addition to the entrance fee of £1, the charge per annum payable in respect of the hire for any telephone instrument connected with a Government telephone exchange is as follows:—
   To every subscriber for a single wire, as from the date of connection:—

At exchanges which are open continuously—
Business establishments .. .. .. .. £ 8.
Private residences .. .. .. .. 7 0

At exchanges which are not open continuously—
Business establishments and private residences .. .. 5 0

2. The following are the hours of attendance observed at telephone exchanges, according to the number of paying subscribers connected therewith:—

Subscribers. Hours.
a.m. p.m.
Up to 65 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 to 5
Over 65 and up to 100 .. .. .. .. .. 8 „ 8
„ 100 „ 125 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 „ 10
„ 125 „ 150 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 „ midnight.
„ 150 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Open continuously if desired by subscribers, and payment at rate of £7 per annum for business connections agreed to.

3. Extra telephone (in addition to cost of fitting), £1. Special instruments or appliances, as per agreement. Printing name of subscriber in telephone list, Free. Printing of additional names of subscribers in connection with the same number: For each additional entry, 10s.
4. The above rates are for connections with a telephone exchange of warehouses, stores, shops, and business places not more than half a mile from the exchange, and of private residences not more than one mile from the exchange.