JULY 24.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2239

PART VII.—HANDRAILS.

HANDRAILS TO BE PROVIDED.

46. Every fire-escape having a side or sides not placed against a building shall have such side or sides provided with a substantial handrail at a height above the footway (measured in the case of a stairway from the front edge of each step) of not less than 33 in. nor more than 38 in.

HANDRAILS TO BE SMOOTH.

47. Such handrails shall have a continuously smooth surface:
    Provided always that an iron handrail may be attached to its supports by tee-pieces projecting not more than 3/16ths of an inch from the surface of the handrail.

BENDS IN HANDRAILS.

48. Where a handrail changes direction either vertically or horizontally it shall be made in the form of a curve not sharper than a circular curve with an 8 in. radius.

GOOSENECK FINISH.

49. At the landing forming the upper termination of a fire-escape every handrail shall be shaped substantially in the form of a gooseneck.

PART VIII.—DISCRETIONS AND APPEALS.

DISPENSING POWER.

50. If in the opinion of the Superintendent safeguards other than fire-escapes are provided for prevention of danger from fire or for facilitating the escape of persons in case of fire in connection with any building then, according to the extent to which such safeguards are in the opinion of the Superintendent adequate for the purposes aforesaid, the Superintendent may, by notice in writing to the owner, waive compliance with any requirement of this by-law in respect of such building, either wholly or in part or for a limited time, and subject to such conditions as in any particular case he may think fit:
    Provided that no such waiver shall restrict the right of the Superintendent at any time thereafter, upon giving notice in writing to the owner of his intention so to do, to exact full compliance with any requirement so waived:
    Provided also that the powers hereby conferred shall not be exercised so as to permit any of the following matters:—
    (a) The provision at an access of a door or window arranged so as to open vertically contrary to clause 27 hereof or otherwise than by swinging outwards or sliding laterally (except where permitted under the provisos to the said clause 27).
    (b) The substitution of a fire-escape in the form of a ladder with rungs in any case where this by-law requires a fire-escape to be provided in the form of a stairway.
    (c) The use for the purposes of a fire-escape or any part thereof of rope or any other perishable material.

BOARD MAY ASSUME POWERS OF SUPERINTENDENT.

51. Where by this by-law power is given to the Superintendent to decide any matter, exercise any discretion or power, waive any requirements, or approve anything, the Board may of its own motion, and either before or after the Superintendent has taken action thereon, take such matter into its own consideration, and the opinion or discretion of the Board shall be substituted for that of the Superintendent, and the action of the Board shall be substituted for any action theretofore taken by the Superintendent.

OWNER’S RIGHT OF APPEAL.

52. Where by this by-law power is given to the Superintendent to decide any matter, exercise any discretion or power, waive any requirements, or approve anything, and action has been taken accordingly by the Superintendent, or by the Board in place of the Superintendent, any person affected thereby may, by notice in writing addressed to the Board or the Secretary and delivered at the office of the Board, apply to the Board to reconsider such action, and the Board shall thereupon take the matter into its consideration, and after the person affected has been afforded a reasonable opportunity of submitting to the Board any relevant matters of fact or opinion and any evidence thereon, the Board may either confirm, modify, reverse, or otherwise deal with the action previously taken.

PART IX.—OFFENCES AND PENALTIES.

OFFENCES.

53. Every person who does or omits, or causes, or knowingly permits or suffers to be done or omitted, any act, matter, or thing contrary to the provisions hereof, or fails to comply with any requirement hereby imposed on such person, shall be deemed to have committed a breach of this by-law, and if such act or omission or failure occurs on more than one day such person shall be deemed to have committed a separate breach of this by-law on every day on which such act or omission or failure has occurred.

PENALTIES.

54. Every person who commits a breach of this by-law shall be liable for every such breach to a fine not exceeding £20.

The common seal of the Petone Fire Board was hereto affixed pursuant to a resolution in that behalf duly passed and in the presence of the undersigned members and Secretary thereof, this 25th day of June, 1930.

D. McKENZIE, Chairman.
JAMES KERR, Member.
W. F. STURMAN, Secretary.

The foregoing by-laws of the Petone Fire Board are hereby approved this 15th day of July, 1930.

P. A. DE LA PERRELLE,
Minister of Internal Affairs.

Fixing Date on which certain Returns under the Fire Brigades Act, 1926, are to be furnished to the Birkenhead and Woodville Fire Boards.

Department of Internal Affairs,
Wellington, 17th July, 1930.

PURSUANT to section 28 of the Fire Brigades Act, 1926, it is hereby notified that the returns, showing the total gross amount of the premiums received by or due to fire-insurance companies during the year ended 31st December, 1929, in respect of insurances held by such companies within the Birkenhead and Woodville Fire Districts shall be transmitted to the Board concerned in the manner prescribed by the said section on or before the 16th day of August, 1930.

P. A. DE LA PERRELLE,
Minister of Internal Affairs.

(I.A. 11/1.)

Special Order made by the Patangata County Council merging Otane Town District.

Department of Internal Affairs,
Wellington, 18th July, 1930.

THE following special order, made by the Patangata County Council, is published in accordance with the provisions of the Counties Act, 1920.

P. A. DE LA PERRELLE,
Minister of Internal Affairs.

In the matter of the Counties Act, 1920, and its amendments, and in the matter of a petition of the resident householders of the Otane Town District.

SPECIAL ORDER.

Proposed by Cr. A. W. S. Longley; Seconded by Cr. C. Pattison.

In pursuance of the powers conferred by section 31 of the Counties Act, 1920, the Patangata County Council, on petition by a majority of the resident householders of the Otane Town District, hereby resolves, by way of special order, that on and after the 1st day of October, 1930, the Otane Town Board shall be dissolved and the said Otane Town District thereby merged into the Patangata County.

J. W. ELLIOTT, County Clerk.

Confirmed this 8th day of July, 1930.

C. PATTISON, Chairman.

I hereby certify that the above special order has been duly made.

J. W. ELLIOTT, County Clerk.

(I.A. 19/91/5.)