SEPT. 13.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2407

a subscriber’s line to or from a destination within the limits of the free delivery of telegrams (except as otherwise provided for in these regulations) shall be as follows :—
For each separate transmission, if the telephone conversation £ s. d.
does not exceed three minutes .. .. .. 0 0 3
For each additional three minutes or fraction thereof .. 0 0 3

One conversation may include two or more messages.

(2.) Subscribers to a telephone exchange at a central office, whose telegrams are addressed to a sub-office connected therewith, may have such telegrams transmitted by telephone from the sub-office through that exchange on payment of the fees prescribed above.

No charge shall be made for telephoning telegrams—
(a.) Over an exchange subscriber’s line to or from a destination beyond the limits of the free delivery of telegrams :
(b.) To or from an office at which the delivery of telegrams is not provided for :
(c.) Over privately owned telephone-lines connected with an office where an exchange is not established :
(d.) At the office of destination when the words “ Telephone ” or “ Telephone No.” appears in the address.

The transcribed copies of messages telephoned by subscribers to telephone exchanges, or by private telephone-line owners, will, so far as the Department is concerned, become the original telegrams, and the Department shall not assume or be subject to any liability by reason or on account of any failure, delay, or mistake in or about the transmission, receipt, or delivery of any telegram under this system, from whatever cause the same may arise. Messages shall be accepted only on the understanding that the Department’s counting and charging are accepted without question.

A person requiring a telegram to be telephoned to a telephone-exchange subscriber, or private telephone-line owner, from the office of destination may insert in the address of the telegram, after the name of the addressee, the word “ Telephone,” to be followed, when known, by the number of the addressee’s exchange connection. On receipt at the office of destination the telegram will forthwith be telephoned to the addressee. A telephoning fee shall not be charged for this service.

Destruction of Originals of Telegrams.

The originals of inland, cable, and radio telegrams shall be destroyed after the expiration of three months, twelve months, and fifteen months respectively from the date thereof.

Copies of Telegrams and Fees therefor.

The sender or the addressee of an inland, cable, or radio telegram, or his duly authorized agent, may inspect such telegram at the office of origin or of destination without charge, or be supplied with a certified copy of it on payment (in advance) of a fee of 6d. for each one hundred words or fraction thereof, provided the telegram has not already been sent to the General Post Office. If it has been so sent, the sender, or the addressee, or the duly authorized agent of either, may inspect such telegram on payment (in advance) of a fee of 1s. if the necessary particulars enabling the telegram to be found without any delay are supplied, or 2s. 6d. if such particulars are not furnished. If the search extends beyond one hour an additional charge of 2s. 6d. for each and every subsequent hour will be made. A certified copy of the message will be supplied upon payment of an additional charge of 6d. for each one hundred words or fraction thereof. Satisfactory proof of identity of the applicant as the sender, addressee, or agent must in all cases be given. If desired, the copy of the telegram, or an extract therefrom, will be telegraphed upon payment by the applicant of the telegraph fee in addition to the before-mentioned charge. When complaint is made of errors, omissions, or delays in the transmission of any telegram, or non-delivery or non-transmission of any telegram, a complainant may be called upon to pay search fees in accordance with the regulations.

Weather Telegrams for Shipping or for Farmers.

Masters of vessels shall be permitted to forward telegrams at a uniform rate of 1s. for each message (including reply) to the Harbourmasters of the several ports or to “ Weather,” Wellington, seeking information as to the state of the weather, &c., at the port to which they are bound, or at any port which may lie in their route. These telegrams must be concise, and marked “ Reply paid, Weather ” in the instructions. In no case will a larger number of words than twelve be allowed in the body of the telegram. Farmers shall be permitted to forward similar telegrams to “ Weather,” Wellington at a uniform rate of 1s. for each message (including reply). The number of words in each telegram must not exceed twelve. If required, the telegrams may be made urgent, at double the above rate, in which case the instruction “ Reply paid, Urgent Weather ” is to be inserted.

Weather Forecast and Weather Report.

A subscriber to a telephone-exchange whose connection is not less than one mile in length, and a private telephone-line owner connected with a telephone bureau which regularly receives a weather-forecast telegram, may have the same telephoned for an annual payment of £1, or for 10s. for one season of three months, commencing from any date desired. At any station where the telegraphic report, giving the state of the weather in different parts of the Dominion is exhibited, a person so desiring will be supplied with a copy daily, except Sunday, at a charge of £1 per annum.

Night Letter-telegrams.

(1.) Subject to the conditions set out hereunder, night letter-telegrams shall be accepted at any telegraph or telephone office for transmission within the Dominion.

(2.) They must be written in plain English language. No code or cipher words shall be permitted. The use of a code address or a code signature shall be prohibited. Trade terms in general use, such as f.o.b., c.i.f., shall be permitted. Figures shall be permitted only in the address and signature. When required to be used in the text, numbers must be written in words.

(3.) They shall not be sent as “ Urgent,” “ Collect,” or as “ Multiple ” telegrams, and such instructions as “ Reply paid ” or “ Repetition paid ” shall not be permitted.

(4.) They may be accepted throughout the day up to the time of closing of either the office of origin or destination, whichever is the earlier.

(5.) They shall not be accepted on Sundays or departmental holidays.