APRIL 19.]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

GENERAL—continued.

4. Where classified or local rates are prescribed to be increased or decreased and a fraction of ld. occurs in the rate per ton as so increased or decreased, such fraction shall if less than ½d. be omitted, and if ½d. or over shall be taken as ld.

5. Weights of less than 1 cwt. will be taken as follows for the purpose of computing charges at tonnage rates:—

Under ¼ cwt. as . . ¼ cwt.
Over ¼ cwt., but not over ½ ,, . . ½ ,, ,, ½ ,, ,, ¾ ,, . . ¾ ,, ,, ¾ ,, ,, 1 ,, . . 1 ,,

6. In computing rates and charges odd fractions of a mile amounting to 5 chains and over will be taken as an additional mile; less than 5 chains will be omitted.

7. Charges collected on Behalf of Consignors.

When notice of charges to be collected from a consignee of goods on behalf of the consignor of such goods is given to and accepted by the Department such acceptance shall in every case be expressly subject to the condition that though the Department will use reasonable care for the collection of such amounts before the goods are delivered up by the Department to the consignee, the Department gives no guarantee that such charges will be collected by it. In particular every person desiring the Department to collect charges on his behalf shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by all the rules and practice of the Department in connection with the collection of moneys, either in respect of the granting of credit accounts or otherwise.

119. Refunds and Adjustments on Freights.

120. Except where a special arrangement is entered into, a commission of 2½ per cent. will be charged on all amounts collected by the Department on behalf of express companies and forwarding agents, coach and steamship companies, picnic parties, racing or sports clubs, or any other persons or bodies. Minimum charge, 4d.

121. A deduction of 10 per cent. (minimum 1s. ld., maximum 5s. 6d.) may be made on all sums payable by the Department by way of refund not being sums coming within the provision of the first paragraph of this regulation, unless it is shown that the Department is entirely responsible for the circumstances giving rise to the refund in each case.

122. In cases where a charge of 2s. 9d. per wagon is enforced, as provided in paragraph 23 of Regulation 114 no further deduction will be made as provided in paragraph 2 of this regulation.

123. Where wrong declarations of weight or other errors are made by consignors or senders which give rise to overcharges necessitating adjustments in freight by the Department, either before or after delivery at the destination station, a deduction of 10 per cent. (minimum 1s. 1d., maximum 5s. 6d.) may be made on all sums payable by the Department by way of refunds in connection with such adjustments.

124. Traffic to or from Stations or Sidings where there is no Stationmaster.

125. Traffic tendered for transport from or to a station or siding where there is no Stationmaster in charge will be accepted for transport and will be left at the station or siding only at the risk of the owner.

126. Freight on traffic consigned to a station or a siding where there is no Stationmaster in charge must be prepaid unless the consignee has a ledger account with the Department.

127. Explosive goods will not be accepted at, or delivered to, a station or a siding where there is no Stationmaster in charge unless by special arrangement with the Department.

128. Packing of Goods.

129. Where goods are described as “packed” it is intended that they shall be properly and securely packed in cases, casks, bags, crates, or otherwise, for safe transit by rail, in the manner in which such goods are usually packed in the trade, and that they shall not be carried loose or in bulk. A number of articles tied together by string or wire will be treated as not packed. The Department reserves the right to decide whether any goods are packed within the meaning of this regulation.

130. Poisonous or injurious substances will not be received on the railways unless securely packed.

131. The Department may decline to receive broken, damaged, insecurely packed, or leaky packages.

132. The Department will not be responsible for loss of or damage to goods arising from their being insufficiently protected or packed.

133. Goods packed in fibre-board containers may be accepted as sufficiently packed for carriage under the conditions provided in the classification for the particular class of goods so packed, provided, however, the gross weight of the package does not exceed 65 lb. The term “fibre-board” includes cardboard, leatherboard, millboard, strawboard, or other material of a similar nature.

134. Where any container is, in the opinion of the Department, unsuitable for the packing of the goods contained therein, any consignment so packed will be accepted only at “Owner’s risk,” notwithstanding that in the classification may be provided that such goods will be carried at “Railway risk.”