July 16.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2805

duly record the results of the tests of each main or section of a main and forthwith forward a report thereof to the District Engineer of the Public Works Department at Dunedin.

A high-pressure underground circuit shall not be brought into use unless the insulation of every part thereof has withstood the continuous application, during half an hour of a pressure twice the maximum working pressure, to which it is intended to be subjected in use. The result of such tests shall be recorded.

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. Provided that when any part of an electric circuit is normally connected with earth the provision of this regulation shall not apply to that circuit so long as the connection with earth exists. Every leakage shall be remedied without delay. Every such circuit shall be tested for insulation at least once in every month, and the said Council shall duly record the results of the tests.

22. Service Connections.

The said Council shall be responsible for all electric lines or wires, fittings, and apparatus belonging to it or under its control which may be upon a consumer’s premises being maintained in a safe condition and in all respects fit for supplying energy.

In delivering the energy to a consumer’s terminals the said Council shall exercise all due precautions so as to avoid risk of causing fire on the premises.

A suitable safety-fuse or other automatic circuit-breaker shall be inserted in each service line within a consumer’s premises as close as possible to the point of entry, and contained within a suitable locked or sealed receptacle of fireproof construction.

All electric wires and apparatus on a consumer’s premises, except such parts as require to be earthed, shall be highly insulated and suitable for the voltage at which the supply is given. They shall be thoroughly protected against injury to the insulation or access of moisture. All electric wires shall be so fixed and protected as to prevent the possibility of electrical discharge to any adjacent metallic substance.

23. Installation on Consumer’s Premises.

The said Council shall not connect the wires and fittings on a consumer’s premises with its mains or, in the case of premises already connected, continue the supply from its mains unless it is reasonably satisfied that the requirements of this license are complied with, that the wiring and fittings are suitable for the voltage at which supply is given, that the installation is generally in accordance with the requirements of good practice, and that the connection or continuance of supply would not cause a leakage from those wires dangerous to life or property or deleterious to the rendering of good service.

For the purpose of satisfying itself that the requirements of this license are being observed in so far as they apply to wires on a consumer’s premises, the said Council may require that notice must be served upon it of the intention to install wires, fittings, lamps, motors, or other apparatus on any such premises, and may inspect and test the same during any reasonable hours while the installation of such is in progress.

24. Testing Consumer’s Installation.

If the said Council is reasonably satisfied, after making all proper examination on the completion of the installation by testing or otherwise, that the wirings and fittings are not suitable for the voltage being employed, or that a leakage exists at some part of a circuit of such extent as to be a source of danger, and that such leakage does not exist at any part of the circuit belonging to the said Council, or that any other requirements of this license are not being complied with, then and in such case any officer of the said Council duly authorized by it in writing may, for the purpose of discovering whether the leakage exists at any part of a circuit within or upon any consumer’s premises, or whether the wiring is suitable and the general requirements of the license are complied with, by notice require the consumer, at some reasonable time after the service of a notice, to permit him to inspect and to test the wires and fittings belonging to the consumer forming part of the circuit.

If on such testing and inspection the officer discovers a leakage from the consumer’s wires exceeding one ten-thousandth part of the maximum supply current to the premises, or that the requirements of this license are not properly conformed to, or if the consumer does not give all due facilities for inspecting and testing, the said Council shall either not commence the supply or shall forthwith discontinue the supply of energy to the premises in question, giving immediate notice to the consumer of its reasons for not commencing or for discontinuing the supply, and in either case supply shall not be given until the said Council is reasonably satisfied that the installation is in conformity with the requirements of this license.

If any consumer is dissatisfied with the action of the said Council in refusing to give, or in discontinuing, or in not recommending the supply of energy to his premises, the wires and fittings of that consumer may, on his application to the Minister and on payment of the cost, be inspected and tested by the Inspecting Engineer. This provision shall be endorsed on every notice given under the provisions of either of the two preceding paragraphs.

25. Continuity of Supply.

From and after the time when the said Council commences to supply energy in pursuance of this license it shall maintain continuously sufficient power for the use of all the consumers for the time being entitled to be supplied, provided the said Council shall be entitled to discontinue the supply between the hours of eight a.m. and one p.m. on each and every Sunday; provided also that, for any purposes connected with the efficient working of the undertaking, the Minister may give permission to the said Council 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.

26. Inspection of Works.

The Minister may at any time order an inspection to be made of the works, lines, and wires of the said Council used for electric lighting and power purposes. If any defect is found to exist it must be remedied forthwith, and if in the opinion of the officer or person inspecting such defect is serious the Minister may, on receipt of the report, direct the said Council to at once cease transmitting energy either over the whole of the said Council’s line and wires or over any specified part thereof until such defect is repaired or remedied. The cost of such inspection shall be borne by the said Council.

27. Supply to Consumers.

The owner or occupier of any premises within the area of supply included in the license, except those in the Taieri County, shall be entitled to a supply of electrical energy on the following conditions:—

(a.) If within 25 ft. of the boundary of any street in which an electric distribution-line belonging to the said Council exists the service shall be made free of cost.

(b.) If more than 25 ft. distant from the building line the said Council shall run the necessary service lines for a distance of 25 ft. free of charge, and the consumer shall pay the cost of the service lines for the balance of the distance.

(c.) If the plant or mains of the said Council 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 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 of payment 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 a constant pressure on the lines in accordance with clause 5, the said Council may, with the approval of the Minister, require the consumer to instal such apparatus as shall enable the conditions of clause 5 to be complied with.

(f.) The said Council 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.) The charge for electrical energy, if paid within fourteen days of the rendering of a correct account, shall not exceed £20 per kilowatt per annum.

28. Notice to be given before commencing Work.

Before commencing any part of the work herein authorized the said Council shall give fourteen days’ notice in writing to the District Engineer of the Public Works Department at Dunedin and to the District Engineer of the Post and Telegraph Department, Dunedin, of its intention so to do. Such notice shall be accompanied with a plan showing the location of the proposed electric lines. If such works include any extension to the extra high-pressure overhead or underground lines, special approval must be obtained from the Minister before the work is commenced.