Nov. 11.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3193

at well operations where gas and oil have been dealt with, and that (c) he is a person of ability, sobriety, and good conduct:

Provided that such Board may, if it thinks fit, waive the requirements specified in conditions (a) and (b) of this regulation in the case of a borehole which has been drilled in search for coal producing gas. The fee for a service permit shall be £2 2s., and such fee shall accompany each application.

187. The Board of Examiners shall have the power to refuse to grant a service permit or to cancel any permit granted as aforesaid.

188. If a well-manager is at any time incapacitated from performing his duties, or is about to be absent from the well operations for more than six working-days, he or the well-operator shall appoint some person, approved in writing by an Inspector, as deputy manager during such incapacity or absence; but no such deputy shall act for more than fourteen working-days at any one time, unless authorized to do so by an Inspector.

189. A license to prospect or bore for petroleum or other mineral oils or natural gas shall be issued, in the case of Crown lands, only to the holder or holders of a mineral-prospecting warrant or a mineral lease granted under the Mining Act, or, in the case of any lands other than Crown lands, to the owner or owners of the land to which the license shall relate (the word “owner” includes any person or body corporate to whom such owner shall have granted a lease or license to prospect or bore for petroleum or other minerals oils or natural gas).

190. Application for a license to prospect or bore for petroleum or other mineral oils or natural gas shall be addressed to the Minister on the form numbered 110 in the Fifth Schedule hereto, and shall be accompanied by a fee of £5.

191. The license shall be in the form numbered 111 in the Fifth Schedule hereto. An owner or operator having obtained a license to drill shall not be under the necessity of confining his operations to one bore, but may drill any number of bores during the currency of his license, provided that Regulations 192 and 193 shall be complied with in respect of each and every bore, and the approval of an Inspector obtained before any bore is commenced.

Commencement of Drilling.

192. The owner, agent, or manager of any well or bore shall, before commencing the work of drilling, give written notice to an Inspector of his intention to drill, and such notice shall contain the following information:—

(a.) Statement of location and elevation above sea-level of the floor of the proposed derrick and drill rig.

(b.) The number or other designation by which such well shall be known.

(c.) The owners’ or operators’ estimate of the depth of the point at which water will be shut off, together with the method by which such shut-off is intended to be made, and the size and weight of casing to be used.

(d.) The owners’ or operators’ estimate of the depth at which oil- or gas-producing sand or formation will be encountered.

The foregoing provisions shall also apply so far as may be to the deepening or redrilling of any well, or any operation involving the plugging of any well, or any operations permanently altering in any manner the casing of any well.

193. No well shall be drilled within a distance of 132 yards from an adjoining well or within a distance of 66 yards from the nearest boundary of an adjoining property, the mineral rights of which are owned or leased under different ownership.

The Surface.

194. If required by the Inspector, that part of the drilling-area containing the derricks and engines and boilers shall be fenced. Sufficient gates shall be provided to give free egress for the workmen in case of emergency, and no timber or inflammable material shall be used in the construction of fences or gates. Holes, abandoned wells, or other excavations shall be filled up level with the surrounding surface, and, where necessary, shall be protected with a fence 5 ft. high. The boundaries of unfenced well operations shall be marked in a conspicuous manner. Wells which are only stopped temporarily, water-wells, mud, oil, and residue pits shall be adequately protected.

195. No person other than those actually engaged therein shall come within the enclosed or fenced portion of well operations.

196. A conspicuous notice-board to the above effect shall be continuously exposed at all entrances to enclosed places.

197. Mud and oil from a well shall not be allowed to flow over the surface, but shall be collected in suitably arranged tanks or pits. All tanks or pits for oil, or for mud containing oil, shall be covered with waterproof material and fenced.

198. The boring-area shall always be kept clean. The removing of oil from any tank shall be carried out in such a manner that the spilling of oil over the surface of the ground is prevented. The surface-earth which has been saturated with oil shall be removed or covered with dry earth.

199. Oil or other objectionable matter shall be prevented from running into rivers or streams.

200. There shall be constructed near the derrick a gas-proof tank or tanks of adequate capacity for oil from outbursts or from well operations where outbursts are probable, and the oil shall be conveyed thereto through iron pipes in such a manner as to prevent loss of oil or pollution of the surrounding surface.

201. No hot iron, naked light, matches, or other appliance for the production of fire or for smoking shall be taken into the derrick and buildings connected thereto, or into places in which oil is exposed, used, or handled.

202. The use of firearms, the making of open fires, and the stacking of inflammable material shall not be permitted within the fenced area of well operations, or in any building or enclosed places used in connection therewith.

203. No artificial light, other than an electric safety-lamp of type permitted by the Inspector, shall be taken into the buildings where oil is handled, treated, or distilled.

204. There shall be provided and maintained at all productive well operations and in the vicinity of all oil intended for sale or commercial use fire-extinguishing appliances, also shovels, axes, sand, and water, immediately available to extinguish fire. Where steam is available, provision shall be made for utilizing it readily for fire-extinguishing purposes.

Buildings and Installations.

THE DERRICK AND ADJOINING BUILDINGS AND INSTALLATIONS.

205. The derricks and buildings connected therewith, also the machinery and tools for drilling, shall be of good material and strongly and securely erected. No other building but that covering the drill plant and stationary drilling-engine shall be attached to or in proximity to a derrick.

206. Except with the previous consent of the Minister, timber shall not be used in the construction of any derrick, except for the framework. This regulation shall not apply to the buildings existing at the time these regulations come into operation.

207. The derrick shall be securely guyed by strong wire rope, or otherwise adequately supported.

208. Where drilling-rods are used galleries shall be constructed within the derrick, having a railing 3 ft. high and a footboard. Ladders leading to such galleries shall be of adequate strength, strongly secured, and maintained in good repair.

209. There shall be provided in each derrick opposite the highest gallery a window which opens to the outside, and in front of this window, on the outside of the derrick, there shall be constructed and maintained a platform having a railing 4 ft. high, to which suitable ladders shall be connected to provide the workmen engaged in the top of the derrick with adequate means of escape in cases of emergency.

210. The buildings over the drilling plant and machinery shall be of adequate dimensions to allow safe access to all working-places.

211. The floors of the derrick and engine-house shall be sanded, to prevent workmen from slipping.

212. If drilling-rods are placed on a table or rack it shall be provided with an arrangement for preventing them from falling therefrom.

213. Operations at gushing or extremely gaseous wells shall not be permitted unless adequate provision is made for the immediate closing of the well by a blowout preventer or capping, which will also permit the removal of the oil and gases into storage-tanks.

214. All operations to recover lost drilling-tools from any well where unusual force is being used in turning the rods or tubes shall be carried out under the direct supervision of the manager. The use of more than one lever fastened to the rods or tubes, and the use of keys, is prohibited during operations for such recovery. In all heavy and dangerous work with the pulley-blocks, and also during the so-called racing of the engine, the presence in or near the derrick of persons other than the driller and the workmen assigned to the work by the driller is prohibited. The manager shall give great attention to the work when pulley-blocks or screw-jacks are being used. When working with screw-jacks, precautions must be taken to prevent the parts from flying about in the event of the breakage of the rods.

215. The walking-beam shall be so balanced that it may be lowered easily by hand after the drilling-rods have been unscrewed. Under the walking-beam on the well side of the drill there shall be fixed a post to protect the workmen in the event of the breakage of the pitman.