GENERAL 182

7. Perishable Goods—Fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, and other goods which become, while still in the custody of the department, offensive through putrefaction or other cause may be buried or otherwise disposed of by the department without prejudice to the right of the department to recover railage or other charges that may be payable thereon, and any such goods so dealt with shall be deemed to have been duly delivered to the consignee.

8. Liability—The department will not be responsible for any loss of or damage or delay to any goods in any of the following cases:

(a) If a consignment note properly filled in and signed by or on behalf of the consignor is not delivered to the railway employee (or agent) receiving the goods on behalf of the department with the goods:

(b) If a written receipt signed by a railway employee (or agent) receiving the goods on behalf of the department is not obtained by the person delivering the goods:

(c) If the goods are wrongly or insufficiently described in the consignment note or are not properly or sufficiently addressed or marked:

(d) If the goods are put into packages described as “Empties”:

(e) If the loss or damage arises from act of God, civil commotions, act of war or of the Queen’s enemies, orders or restrictions imposed by the Government or any department thereof (other than the Railways Department), the inherent defect, quality, or vice of the thing carried, riots, strikes, lockouts, or labour disturbances (whether of railway employees or of other persons), seizure under legal process or casualty (including fire and explosion):

(f) Unless the claim for such loss or damage be lodged in writing with the department within 7 days after the date of delivery, or in the case of non-delivery within 14 days after the date the goods were handed to the department:

(g) If the loss or damage arises from any act or omission of the consignor.

9. Damage to Wagons, etc.—Consignors shall make good all damage to wagons, tarpaulins, or goods caused by or arising out of the absence of packing or out of consignments being tendered for transit in broken, damaged, leaky, defective, insecure, or improper packages or containers.

10. Wagon Supply—Notices for the supply of wagons given by persons intending to consign goods or livestock will be accepted for fulfilment conditionally only upon its being found convenient to the department to supply the wagons upon the due date. The department will not be responsible for any loss or damage arising through failure from any cause to have wagons available by any particular date or train.

11. Holidays—Except where inconsistent with the context or otherwise specially provided, the following days shall be public holidays, namely:

(a) New Year’s Day.
Good Friday.
Easter Monday.
Anzac Day.
Sovereign’s Birthday.
Labour Day.
Christmas Day.
Boxing Day.
(As to each provincial district) the day recognised in such district as Anniversary Day.

(b) Any day declared by the General Manager to be a public holiday and publicly notified as such.

GENERAL 183

126. Cranes and Loading Banks Used for Other Than Rail-borne Goods

127. The following charges will be made for the use of the department’s loading banks and cranes when used for handling goods or livestock other than those which have been received, or are to be dispatched, by rail:

For use of loading banks—
Merchandise .. .. .. $1.48 per tonne. Minimum charge, 84c.
Horses .. .. .. $3 each.
Cattle .. .. .. }
Calves, pigs, sheep, and goats .. }
Under the provisions of section 101, paragraph 1.
For use of cranes—
All classes of goods .. .. $2.95 per tonne. Minimum charge, $1.48. Cost of labour and/or supervision additional.

For use of wagon weighbridges—
Motor vehicles .. .. .. $1.66 per weighing.

127. Charges on Ships’ Goods

128. Charges on ships’ goods will be computed on cubic measurement or on actual weight, whichever charge is greater, when conveyed on the port lines from Breakwater to New Plymouth, Lyttelton to Christchurch, Port Chalmers to Dunedin, or Bluff to Invercargill.

129. The term “ships’ goods” for the purposes of this section means and includes goods received direct from ships on to the railway, and, except where otherwise provided, refers only to goods of Classes C, D, and G (including such goods which are subject to a percentage or other increase).

130. In computing the railage charges on goods ex ship each bill of lading shown on the manifest is to be treated as covering a separate consignment. In the event of there being more than one entry on the manifest for the same consignee such entries shall not be grouped but the charges shall be computed separately.

131. Ships’ goods railed from Cashin Quay berth, Lyttelton to Christchurch, will not be charged under the provisions of this section (such goods will be charged at classified rates).

132. Quotation of Rates and Freight Charges

133. The department will not be responsible for quotations of rates, or conditions of carriage, or particulars of freight charges given verbally or by telephone unless confirmed in writing.

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