Oct. 12.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3251

Rule XII.—Carriers or Sockets.

Carriers or sockets for hatchway beams and fore-and-afters are to be of steel at least ½ inch thick, and are to have a width of bearing surface of at least 3 inches.

Rule XIII.—Cleats.

Strong cleats at least 2½ inches wide are to be fitted at intervals of not more than 2 feet from centre to centre; the end cleats are to be placed not more than 6 inches from each corner of the hatchway.

Rule XIV.—Battens and Wedges.

Battens and wedges are to be efficient and in good condition.

Rule XV.—Tarpaulins.

At least two tarpaulins in good condition, thoroughly waterproofed and of ample strength, are to be provided for each hatchway in an exposed position on freeboard and superstructure decks. The material is to be guaranteed free from jute, and of the standard weight and quality laid down by each Administration.

Rule XVI.—Security of Hatchway Covers.

At all hatchways in exposed positions on freeboard and superstructure decks ring bolts or other fittings for lashings are to be provided.

Where the breadth of the hatchway exceeds 60 per cent. of the breadth of the deck in way of the hatchway, and the coamings are required to be 24 inches high, fittings for special lashings are to be provided for securing the hatchway covers after the tarpaulins are battened down.

Rule XVII.—Cargo and other Hatchways in the Freeboard Deck within Superstructures which are fitted with Closing Appliances less efficient than Class 1.

The construction and fitting of such hatchways are to be at least equivalent to the standards laid down in Rule XVIII.

Rule XVIII.—Hatchway Coamings and Closing Arrangements.

Cargo, coaling, and other hatchways in the freeboard deck within superstructures which are fitted with Class 2 closing appliances are to have coamings at least 9 inches in height and closing arrangements as effective as those required for exposed cargo hatchways whose coamings are 18 inches high.

Where the closing appliances are less efficient than Class 2, the hatchways are to have coamings at least 18 inches in height, and are to have fittings and closing arrangements as effective as those required for exposed cargo hatchways.

Rule XIX.—Machinery Space Openings in Exposed Positions on Freeboard and Raised Quarter Decks.

Such openings are to be properly framed and efficiently enclosed by steel casings of ample strength, and where the casings are not protected by other structures their strength is to be specially considered. Doors in such casings are to be of steel, efficiently stiffened, permanently attached, and capable of being closed and secured from both sides. The sills of openings are to be at least 24 inches above the freeboard deck and at least 18 inches above the raised quarter deck.

Fiddley, funnel, and ventilator coamings are to be as high above the deck as is reasonable and practicable. Fiddley openings are to have strong steel covers permanently attached in their proper positions.

Rule XX.—Machinery Space Openings in Exposed Positions on Superstructure Decks other than Raised Quarter Decks.

Such openings are to be properly framed and efficiently enclosed by strong steel casings. Doors in such cases are to be strongly constructed, permanently attached, and capable of being closed and secured from both sides. The sills of the openings are to be at least 15 inches above superstructure decks.

Fiddley, funnel, and ventilator coamings are to be as high above the deck as is reasonable and practicable. Fiddley openings are to have strong steel covers permanently attached in their proper positions.

Rule XXI.—Machinery Space Openings in the Freeboard Deck within Superstructures which are fitted with Closing Appliances less efficient than Class 1.

Such openings are to be properly framed and efficiently enclosed by steel casings. Doors in such casings are to be strongly constructed, permanently attached, and capable of being securely closed. The

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