May 28.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2207

them thereon, preventing other wires from coming into contact with them, and protecting persons working on the poles from danger of shock, shall be to the satisfaction of the Minister of Telegraphs.

Where the insulated wires cross through on the pole, they shall be cased in any approved protecting tube for the entire length of the arms on such poles. If metal pipe is used to encase the wires it shall be effectively earthed.

Where overhead electric lines at a pressure not exceeding 460 volts cross telegraph lines, the electric line shall be protected for the crossing-span with a triple covering of jute braid and thoroughly compounded. Where overhead electric lines at high pressure cross telegraph lines, the electric lines shall be subject to special conditions being imposed by the Minister of Telegraphs in each case of such crossing.

At telegraph crossings the electric wire shall be insulated as provided for in clause 9, and shall cross over or under the telegraph wires as may be decided by the Minister of Telegraphs.

Efficient guard-wires, effectively earthed, shall be erected where electric wires intersect telegraph or other wires or cables or wherever such protection is deemed necessary, if so required by the Minister of Telegraphs.

The cost of all necessary guard-wires and special provisions required to comply with this clause, or deemed to be necessary as a protection to telegraph or telephone wires generally, shall be borne by the Board, whether the telegraph lines are erected before or after the electric lines. In the latter case the Board, on receipt of notice from the local officer of the Telegraph Department that it is proposed to run a telegraph line along the route, shall forthwith make the necessary changes required to comply with this clause at any points at which electric lines already cross such routes.

Earth-wires, where led down poles, shall be protected by a casing for a distance of 8 ft. from the ground.

Railway Crossings.

14. No work of any nature shall be erected or constructed upon, over, or under any part of the New Zealand Government railways until the Board has obtained the consent of the Minister of Railways thereto, as required by section 4 of the Government Railways Amendment Act, 1910 (No. 2).

Arc Lamps.

15. Arc lamps used in any street for public lighting shall be so fixed as not to be in any part at a less height than 10 ft. from the ground.

All arc lamps shall be so guarded as to prevent pieces of ignited carbon or broken glass falling from them, and shall not be used in situations where there is any danger of the presence of explosive dust or gas.

Service Connections to Overhead Lines.

16. Service lines from aerial lines shall be taken from insulators, and shall not be tapped off between insulators. They shall be led as directly as possible to insulators firmly attached to some portion of the consumers’ premises which is not accessible to any person without the use of a ladder or other special appliance.

Every portion of any aerial line which is outside a building and is within 7 ft. from any part of the building shall be rubber-insulated.

Maintenance.

17. Every aerial line, including its supports, its conductors, and their insulating covering, and all structural parts and electrical appliances and devices belonging to or connected with the line, shall be duly and efficiently maintained by the Board as regards both the electrical and mechanical conditions.

Lightning-arresters.

18. Where any portion of an electric line or any support for an electric line is exposed in such a position as to be liable to injury from lightning, it shall be efficiently protected against such liability.

Underground Conductors.

9. Underground conductors shall be thoroughly insulated, and shall be protected from mechanical damage by a wooden boxing or earthenware or stoneware conduit. They shall be laid, wherever possible, under the footpaths, and with a cover of at least 12 in. from the surface of the pavement. Where laid under the roadway this cover shall be increased to 2 ft.

All conduits, pipes, casings, and street boxes used as receptacles for electric lines shall be constructed of durable material, and shall be of ample strength to prevent damage from heavy traffic, and reasonable means shall be taken to prevent the accumulation of gas in such receptacles.

Where any underground line crosses or is in proximity to any metallic substance, special precaution shall be taken against the possibility of any electric charging of metallic substance from the line, or from any metallic conduit, pipe, or casing enclosing the line.

Earthing Conduits.

20. All metallic conduits, pipes, or casings containing an electric line shall be efficiently earthed, and shall be so jointed and connected across all street boxes and other openings as to make good electrical contact throughout their whole length.

Street Boxes.

21. The covers of street boxes shall be so secured that they cannot be opened except by means of a special appliance. Street boxes shall be either filled solid with cable compound or, if not so filled, shall be inspected from time to time for the presence of gas, and suitable action shall be taken to check its influx and accumulation.

Insulation of Electric Mains.

22. Every main, either overhead or underground, shall be tested for insulation after having been placed in position and before it is used for the purpose of supply, the testing pressure being at least 500 volts; and the Board shall duly record the results of the test of each main, and forthwith forward a report thereof to the Resident Engineer of the Public Works Department at Napier.

The insulation of every complete circuit used for the supply of energy, including all machinery, apparatus, and devices forming part of or in connection with such circuit, shall be so maintained that the leakage current shall not under any conditions exceed one thousandth part of the maximum supply current. Every leakage shall be remedied by the Board without delay. Every such circuit shall be tested for insulation at least once every week, and the Board shall duly record the results of such test, and forward a report thereof at the end of each month to the Resident Engineer of the Public Works Department at Napier.

Continuity of Supply.

23. From and after the time when the Board commences to supply energy in pursuance of this license, it shall maintain continuously sufficient power for the use of all consumers for the time being entitled to be supplied; provided that, for any purposes connected with the efficient working of the undertaking, the Minister may give permission to the Board to discontinue the supply at such intervals of time and for such periods as he may think expedient. When the supply is so discontinued, public notice shall be given when practicable of such discontinuance, and of the probable duration thereof.

Supply to Consumers.

24. The owner or occupier of any premises within the area of supply included in the license shall be entitled to a supply of electrical energy on the following conditions:—

(a.) If within 60 ft. of an electric line belonging to the Board the service shall be made free of cost.

(b.) If more than 60 ft. distant to any electric line belonging to the Board, the Board shall run the necessary lines for a distance of 60 ft. free of charge, and the consumer shall pay the cost of the service wires for the balance of the distance, such payment not to exceed 1s. per foot of the distance.

(c.) If the plant or mains of the Board are insufficient to supply the applicant with electrical energy, the service may, with the consent of the Minister, be postponed for a period not exceeding twelve months, otherwise service shall be made within twenty-eight days of the application.

(d.) Every consumer within any part of the area included in the license shall be entitled to a supply of electrical energy on the same terms on which any other consumer in such part of the area is entitled under similar circumstances to a corresponding supply.

(e.) If the nature of the proposed consumption of energy by any applicant is such as is likely to seriously interfere with the maintenance of the constant pressure on the line in accordance with clause 5, the Board may, with the approval of the Minister, require the consumer to install such apparatus as shall enable the conditions of clause 5 to be complied with.

(f.) The Board may require services to be wired or installed by competent tradesmen, but no preference shall be given to services wired or installed by any individual contractor or firm of contractors.

(g.) If payment by any consumer is delayed more than thirty days after the date of rendering a correct account, the supply of electricity to such premises may be cut off without notice, and need not be restored until all arrears are paid.

Service Connections.

25. The Board shall be responsible for all electric lines or wires fittings, and apparatus belonging to it, or under its