Jan. 17.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 53

98. If any upright forming part of the staging is used as a lead for a block for hoisting material, it shall—
    (a) Be fitted with a cross-piece at the base and be properly housed in the ground to prevent its rising;
    (b) Be suitably protected against damage by the action of the chain or wire to which the block is attached.

All planks forming a rising stage at the bow end of the ship shall be securely fastened to prevent slipping, and all planks forming other stages shall be so fastened unless they extend 18 in. or more beyond the inside edge of the thwart or support on which they rest.

99. (a) All stages shall be of sufficient width, as is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case, to secure the safety of the persons working thereon. In particular, no stage at a height of 6 ft. or more above the ground, dock-bottom, deck, or tank-top, and used in repair work, shall be less than 18 in. wide.
    (b) Planks supported on the rungs of ladders shall not be used to support stages.
    (c) Stages suspended by ropes or chains shall be secured as far as possible so as to prevent their swinging.

100. All staging suspended on the inside of the ship, staging supported by brackets, the staging on the outside of the ship at the fore and after ends, and, where there is a gap in the stage caused by the inside uprights, the plank in the way of such gap, shall be erected and adjusted by staging gangs, specially, though not necessarily exclusively, employed for the purpose.

101. When any stage, other than a stage used in the ordinary routine of painting-work, is in use at a height exceeding 12 ft. above the ground, dock-floor, deck, or tank-top, as the case may be, it shall be provided with man-ropes extending the full length of the stage, and effectively secured at a height of 3 ft. from the stage.

102. Ladders as a means of access to stages shall be provided, and shall be so secured as to prevent slipping.

103. (1) In every case where there occurs any accident causing death or serious injury to any person engaged in loading or discharging or handling cargo or coal, or in repair, overhaul, or repair work on a ship, the person having the control or management of the work in connection with which the accident occurred shall forthwith after such accident deliver to the Superintendent of Mercantile Marine written notice of the same on the prescribed form.

(2) In every case of breakage or failure of any derrick, chain, sling, rope, or other appliance used in loading or discharging cargo or coal on or from ships, the person in charge of the work in connection with which the break or failure occurred shall, as soon as is reasonably possible thereafter, deliver to the Superintendent of Mercantile Marine written notice thereof on the prescribed form.

104. When a ship is in dock a gangway plank not less than 1 ft. 10 in. wide and extending from the ship to the dock-head shall, if practicable, be provided by the owner of such dock, and on one side of the plank there shall be a side-rail or stanchions with ropes hove taut through them, the top rail or rope being not less than 2 ft. 9 in. high. Such gangway shall be securely fixed. If the provision of a gangway is not practicable, other suitable and safe means of access shall be provided.

105. When men are working on a ship which is in dock or on a slip all latrines on the ship shall be kept locked, and all discharge pipes on the ship shall be so closed that no discharge can be made from them.

106. When persons are working on the outside of a ship the person in charge of the work shall have a man kept on deck whose duty it shall be to prevent interference with ropes fastened to the deck, to prevent anything from being thrown overboard which might injure the persons working on the side, and to take all steps necessary to minimize the risk arising from loose articles or materials being left about in any place from which they might fall on persons working or passing underneath.

107. It shall be the duty of the master of any ship in dock or on a slipway to take adequate steps to prevent any drainings of oil from running on to the floor of the dock or on to the slip-