Jan. 14.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 147

In delivering the energy to a consumer’s terminals the licensee 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 fire-proof 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.

The maximum permissible current in any conductor shall not exceed the value permitted under the Rules of the Institution of Electrical Engineers of Great Britain.

SUPPLY TO CONSUMERS.

23. 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 such premises are situated within 60 ft. of the boundary of any street in which an electric distribution-line belonging to the licensee exists, the service shall be made free of cost.

(b.) If such premises are more than 60 ft. distant from such street boundary, the licensee shall run the necessary service mains 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.

(c.) If the plant or mains of the licensee 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, provided that a surety or deposit may be demanded, but such security shall not exceed the cost of connection.

(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 licensee 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 licensee 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 shall not exceed 1s. per unit for lighting purposes, and 6d. per unit for motor-power, heating, or cooking purposes; provided that “lighting purposes” shall include the operation of motor generators for lighting purposes.

(h.) If payment by the 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. The cost of reconnection may also be included.

INSTALLATION ON CONSUMER’S PREMISES.

24. The licensee shall not connect the wires and fittings on a consumer’s premises with the mains, or in the case of premises already connected continue the supply from the mains, unless he 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 in accordance with the Rules of the Council of the Fire Underwriters’ Associations of New Zealand, and that the connection or continuance of supply would not cause a leakage from those wires exceeding one ten-thousandth part of the maximum supply current to the premises.

For the purposes of satisfying himself that the requirements of this license are being observed, in so far as they apply to wires on a consumer’s premises, the licensee may require that notice must be served upon him 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.

TESTING CONSUMER’S INSTALLATION.

25. If the licensee is reasonably satisfied, after making all proper examination on the completion of the installation, by testing or otherwise, that the wiring 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 licensee, or that any other requirements of this license are not being complied with, then and in such case any officer of the licensee, duly authorized by him 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 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 licensee 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 his reasons for not commencing or for discontinuing the supply, and in either case supply shall not be given until the licensee 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 licensee 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.

NOTICE OF COMPLETION.

26. The licensee shall, prior to the completion of the said works, or any separate portion thereof, give to the Minister at least one month’s notice in writing of the estimated date of such completion.

CONTINUITY OF SUPPLY.

27. From and after the time when the licensee commences to supply energy in pursuance of this license, he shall maintain continuously, during the period of the day for which he has agreed with any consumer to supply energy, sufficient power for the use of all such consumers for the time being entitled to be supplied; provided also that, for any purposes connected with the efficient working of the undertaking, the Minister may give permission to the licensee to discontinue the supply at such intervals of time and for such periods as he, the Minister, 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.

NOTICE OF EXTENSIONS, ETC.

28. Before proceeding to erect any electric lines herein authorized, or the extension of any line already erected, the licensee shall give at least one calendar month’s notice in writing to the Public Works Engineer at present stationed at Wanganui, and to the Telegraph Engineer of the Post and Telegraph Department at Wellington, or his deputy, of his intention so to do. Such notice shall be accompanied by a plan showing the location of the proposed electric lines or extension.

COMMENCEMENT OF SUPPLY.

29. The licensee shall not use the said electric lines, or any portion thereof, or permit the same to be used, for any purpose until the Minister has given to him notice in writing that he has received from the Inspecting Engineer a certificate that the works hereby authorized, or the portion as aforesaid, have been satisfactorily carried out.

INSPECTION OF WORKS.

30. The Minister may at any time order an inspection to be made of the works, lines, and wires of the licensee used for electric lighting, heating, and power purposes. If any defect is found to exist it must be remedied forthwith, and if such defect is, in the opinion of the Inspecting Engineer, serious the Minister may, on receipt of the report, direct the licensee