Dec. 19.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3225

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3. Owners of private telephone lines led into a bureau may use the departmental lines when available for speaking purposes through such bureau. The charges for this service are the same as those payable by non-subscribers, the distance being calculated from the telephone bureau.

4. When a message to the effect that any person is required to attend at a telephone bureau is sent to such bureau for delivery beyond the premises in which the bureau is situated, 3d. will be charged for delivery. These charges must be paid by the sender. Messages for addresses outside the ordinary delivery limits are subject to special charges for delivery, according to the extra expense thereby incurred.

5. Any one person may only use the wire for six minutes at a time—that is to say, if another person requires the wire, at the end of six minutes it must be given up. Should the wire not be asked for, then the person using it may continue to do so at tariff rate. On Sundays ordinary rates only are charged.

LONG-DISTANCE COMMUNICATIONS.

6. The following are the charges for the use of Government telephones for the purpose of conversing over long-distance wires on Sundays or at other times approved by the Minister, usually between midnight and 8 a.m.:

(a.) When the conversation takes place through exchanges which are open continuously, or through other exchanges or bureaux during the ordinary hours of attendance of switchboard or bureau attendants: For a period not exceeding six minutes, 2s. 6d.; and a further charge of 2s. 6d. for every additional period of six minutes or portion of six minutes.

(b.) When special attendance of switchboard or bureau attendants out of ordinary hours of attendance is required, then for each switchboard or bureau attendant called upon to make the necessary wire-connections: For every hour or less, 2s. 6d., in addition to the charges set forth in paragraph (a).

7. No free conversations on public service are permitted over long-distance circuits.

8. The long-distance circuits are: Invercargill–Dunedin, Dunedin–Christchurch, Christchurch–Wellington, Wellington–Napier, Wellington–Auckland, Napier–Gisborne, and Napier–Auckland.

PRIVATE LINES.

CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH LINE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED WITH INSTRUMENTS, AND MAINTAINED.

1. Application should be made direct to the Superintendent of Electric Lines, Wellington, for any information regarding the cost of construction and the conditions under which private lines will be constructed or supplied with instruments.

2. The erection of private lines is not permissible on telegraph or telephone poles, nor may such lines be connected with departmental earth-wires, except as specified in clause 3.

3. Private wires between places of business or other premises within towns where there are telephone-poles available, which in the opinion of the Superintendent of Electric Lines may be used for carrying such private wires without detriment to the Department’s business, may be erected on such telephone-poles at the cost of the applicant, and maintained by the Department at the following rates, payable yearly in advance:

For the first mile or fraction thereof, £2 per annum, and 10s. per annum for every additional quarter of a mile or fraction thereof.

4. If a private line or any portion thereof cannot be erected on any existing telephone-poles, and therefore necessitates the erection of new poles, then for such new line the maintenance will be at the rate of £4 per annum for the first mile or fraction thereof, and £1 per annum for every additional quarter of a mile or fraction thereof.

5. The applicant must use the line for his own bona fide business only, and must on no account, directly or indirectly, allow the line to be used for any purpose which might be construed as an attempt to defraud the Department of its revenue.

6. The Department may construct private telephone-lines on behalf of the owners, but will not license any person to construct his own telephone-line.