59

Rates and Fares for Hackney Carriages

In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, and in the respective months of June and December in every succeeding year, to regulate and fix, by a table to be by them for such purpose made, the rates and fares to be charged by the owners and drivers of hackney carriages, and the said rates and fares to vary and alter from time to time, and other rates and fares to fix and establish in lieu thereof; and such rates and fares, when so regulated and fixed or altered, shall be published in one or more of the newspapers published in the said city, and shall be deemed to be the rates and fares which, from and after such publication, may be lawfully demanded, received, or taken by any hackney carriage owner or driver as aforesaid; and until otherwise provided, the rates and fares specified in the Schedule hereto shall be the rates and fares which may be lawfully demanded, received, or taken by any such hackney carriage owner or driver.

4. Where table is to be affixed.

The table of fares for the time being authorised to be charged shall be affixed at the upper part of the front panel, or in such other place as the said Council may direct, inside of such carriage, and shall be kept so affixed, conspicuous, legible, and undefaced, during all the time the carriage shall ply or be used for hire.

5. Children—how counted.

No child under seven years of age shall be counted as a passenger, unless there shall be more than one, in which case two of such children shall be considered as one passenger, and so on in respect of every two such children. Children at the breast shall not be counted as passengers in any case.

6. Carriages must drive at a walk by Places of Worship during service.

The driver of every licensed carriage, driving the same by any place of public worship, during the hours of Divine Service therein, on any Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday, or Fast Day, shall drive such carriage, while passing such place of public worship, at a walking pace.

7. Computation of distances.

The distance for which any charge shall be made shall be computed from the stand or place where the carriage was hired, but in case the carriage be taken from any place of public amusement or public building, the distance shall be computed from such last-mentioned place or building, and not from the stand where the carriage may usually ply.

8. Distinction of Vehicle as regards Fares.

Licensed vehicles having four wheels, and being drawn by two or more horses, shall be deemed a carriage; and having two wheels or more than two wheels, if drawn by one horse, a cab.

9. Owner or Driver must keep engagement.

No owner or driver of any licensed vehicle, having agreed to take any fare at any time, or from any place, shall delay, neglect, or refuse to fulfil such agreement.

10. Stands for Carriages, and Fares.

Such places as the said Council shall from time to time appoint shall be the public stands for hackney carriages plying for hire; and the appointment and alteration of the situations of the stands shall be given by advertisement in one or more of the newspapers published within the said city. And until otherwise provided, the places following shall be public stands:

• Princes-street, east side, from Bank of New Zealand to opposite Custom House; and Water of Leith Hotel. Fare, each way, Sixpence.
• Queen’s Arms Hotel, Princes-street south; and Edinburgh Hotel, Caversham. Fare, each way, Sixpence.
• Imperial Hotel, Princes-street south; and Anderson’s Bay Hotel, Anderson’s Bay. Fare, each way, Ninepence.

Double fares will be allowed in all cases after nine o’clock p.m.

The stands shall not be less than two feet from and outside of the watertables, to prevent the latter being damaged, except when taking up and setting down passengers.

11. Order on Stand.

Carriages shall take their stations on the stand in the order of their arrival, and when any carriage shall be called or driven off any stand, the carriage immediately behind shall draw up to the place vacated, and any other carriage behind in the like order.

12. Owner or Driver must Hire.

Every owner or driver of a hackney carriage standing or plying for hire at any public stand appointed by the said Council shall, unless previously engaged (the proof of which engagement shall be on such owner or driver), be bound to take immediately any fare not exceeding the number of persons which his carriage is licensed to carry; and no owner or driver of any hackney carriage shall refuse to carry thereby a reasonable quantity of luggage for any person hiring or desiring to hire such carriage, nor shall refuse to drive the same to any place within the said city, or for any time not exceeding eleven hours, if so required by any person hiring or intending to hire such carriage, nor shall fail to drive the same at a reasonable speed, not less than six miles an hour, unless unavoidably delayed or required by the hirer to drive at any slower pace.

13. Carriage must not stand across Street.

No driver of any licensed vehicle shall suffer the same to stand for hire across any street or alongside of any other licensed vehicle, nor obstruct the driver of any other vehicle in taking up or setting down any person, nor wilfully, wrongfully, or forcibly prevent, or endeavour to prevent, the driver of any other vehicle from taking a fare.

14. No damage must be done to other Vehicles or to Persons.

No driver or conductor shall, at any time whilst loading, unloading, or attending any licensed vehicle, wilfully or negligently do, or cause or suffer to be done, any damage to the person or property of any one, or be guilty of any breach of the peace, misconduct, or misbehaviour, whereby a breach of the peace may be occasioned in any respect in such employment.

15. Carriages to be on left or near side of the Road.

Every person having the care or conduct of any vehicle shall keep the same on the left or near side of the road, except in case of actual necessity or other sufficient reason for deviation, and shall not interrupt or interfere with any person or vehicle passing or attempting to pass his vehicle.

16. And not to remain longer than necessary.

No owner or driver shall permit his vehicle, with or without horses, to stand in any street, lane, thoroughfare, or public place longer than may be necessary for loading or unloading or taking up or putting down passengers, except while standing for hire in some lawful place for that purpose, or waiting for the hirer.

17. Carriages how placed in setting down or taking up Passengers.

Every driver, whilst engaged in taking up or setting down any passenger shall, during such taking up or setting down, place his vehicle as near as conveniently may be to that side of the street at which the taking up or setting down is required.

18. Furious Driving, &c.

No owner or driver shall, while having the care of, or being attendant upon any licensed vehicle, drive the same furiously, wantonly or carelessly, or be drunk, or use any obscene or blasphemous language, or any threatening, abusive, or insulting words or gestures.

19. Number of persons named in License must be carried.

No owner or driver of any licensed vehicle shall refuse or delay to admit and carry in and by his vehicle the number of persons painted or marked thereon, or specified in the license granted in respect thereof.

20. Violent or noisy persons to be only carried to Police Office.

No driver shall carry or knowingly permit to be carried, in any licensed vehicle, except to some police office, any person who is violent or noisy.