JAN. 18.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGES.

1. At any place where telephone exchanges have been established, approved telephones connected with the exchanges will be placed in offices or private residences within three miles of the central office, so that subscribers can converse with other subscribers at their offices or residences.
2. It shall be optional on the part of the Minister of Telegraphs to permit any premises of any public hospital or public benevolent or charitable institution, duly acknowledged by the Minister of Telegraphs, to be connected with a telephone exchange at half the rates or charges (other than the entrance fee) hereinafter specified in regulation number eleven for the connection of private residences, but in the event of new lines being required for such institutions the institutions shall pay the whole cost of the new lines in addition to the half-rates or charges as herein mentioned.
3. 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.
4. 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 both connections are to be held for a further period of one year.
5. 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.
6. The Minister of Telegraphs or the 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 Minister 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 Minister 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
7. All charges payable in respect of the hire of any telephone instruments shall be paid half-yearly in advance, but for distances over two miles the charges may, if desired by the subscriber, be paid quarterly in advance, the first payment to commence from the date when the connection with the telephone exchange is completed, and to cover the then current quarter or half-year.
8. If such payment is 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.
9. Telephones connected with exchanges are to be used on the business of the subscriber or that of his employees, family, or guests only.
10. No extra telephones, special instruments, 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.

11. 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—
Per Annum
Business establishments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7
Private residences .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5
Or business establishments and private residences if so agreed, each .. .. 6

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

12. In cases where two or more subscribers use the same wire the initial subscription for each connection shall be in each case £1 per annum less than the charges set out above, plus an equal share of the charge for the total extra mileage. Thus, three subscribers on a wire 320 chains in length would pay £6 per annum each if private, and £8 6s. 8d. each if business connections at a principal exchange open continuously. The chainage is calculated on the most distant telephone from the exchange. Only £1 entrance fee is required.
13. Extra telephone (in addition to cost of fitting), if connected by switch, £1 per annum; if connected by annunciator, £2 per annum. Special instruments or appliances as per agreement. Printing name of subscriber in telephone-list, free. Printing additional names of subscribers in connection with the same number: For each additional entry, 10s. per annum.
14. The above rates are for connections of warehouses, stores, shops, and business places not more than half a mile from, and of private residences not more than one mile from, the telephone exchange.
15. For every additional quarter of a mile or fraction thereof, for each year commencing from the date of connection, and for every following year, 10s. per annum.
16. Except as hereinafter provided, where a connection with an exchange does not exceed one mile in length, the applicant will be required to hold the same for one year; and a connection exceeding one mile in length must be held by the applicant for three years.
17. Where a connection with an exchange exceeds one mile in length, and the whole of the line was erected for and used by a previous subscriber, the applicant will be required to hold the same for one year only.
18. Where a new exchange is opened, the subscribers connected therewith at the date of opening will be required to hold their connections for three years.
19. If a connection with a telephone exchange necessitates the erection of a new line of poles beyond one mile, then for the first three years the additional charge after the first mile will be at the rate of £1 per annum for every quarter of a mile or