REGULATIONS FOR STEAM AND SAILING VESSELS.

West Coast Times, Issue 914, 27 August 1868, Page 2

REGULATIONS FOR STEAM AND SAILING VESSELS.

In tho "New Zealand Gazette" of the 29th June, the following regulations aro published WI& fd^pect to Bfpoin un 4 piling yes»e]9, m^

which will eomo'm force on the Ist of September next; —

Br-iiVTs.

" 1. No vesaol, whether a j^-iiuor or staling vessel, shall be so lKvVj» &5 co show less of her "side abov'o^MVel 1 Amidships, aa measured from tier ciVsi'ing boards, than three incites for ivory foot of her draft of water 5 but paddlesteamers, plying in rough water or at sea, shall iv no case be laden so that their spoilsons shnll be less than one-fourth of the diameter of tlie paddles above the surface of the watoi*.

"2. No sailing v.'3-iil, traiing ou the coa3t of the colony, sh.sll be permitted to carry pasdengers unless she be, iv tho julgoieutof tho Collector of Customs, or a surveyor appointed by him for the purpose, in good order, "properly laden or ballasted, and iit for the intended voyage, commanded by a sober and experienced master, manned by an efficient crow, and properly equipped, and fitted all round with sutlioient. bulwarks, mils, or stanchions with ropo or chain, and cimcs at least one life-buoy and ono efficient boat iv such manner that both shall be immediately available in any eutergeucv. "3. It shall bo tho duty of tho Harbormaster or other port oiHcor of any port to survey any sailing vessel for the purpose of ascertaining whether the regulations contained iv theso byo-laws have been complied with, when called upon to do so, and to notify to tho Collector of Customs, in writing, the rosult of such survov*

''4. No sailing vessel, the duration of whoso voyage does not exceed one day, reckoned as per schedule hereto shall be permitted to carry a greater number of passengers than one to each ton register, or one to every five feet of clear deck space,free from all incuinbrances, aud all such vessels shall bo provided with at least two gallons of water for each adult ou board.

" 5. No decked sailing vessel) the duration of whose voyage exceeds one day, reckoned as per schedule hereto, shall be permitted to carry passengers, \i'sle:-s,' in addition to the equipments and fittings specified in tho 83co:id by-law, she be fitted with substantial and (Irmly secured booby-hatches over the pascengcr hatchway, so fixed as to be capable of being kept open in all weathers, and of affording the grenti-st possible amount of light, nir, a,i ul protection from wet, or unless she has on boaal sufliciouL water for «he intended voyage, to tlie eatisfaction of the Collector of Customs or the surveyor, and not less than two gallons for each adulc pussengnr for each duy of tlie average duration of tlie voyage ; and. no such vessel shall be permitted to carry more paweug'M than at the rato of ono adult to every seventy-two cubic feet of clear space alloted to passenger accommodation below .hatches, of a greater number of passengers than one for every registered tor. of her burden, or a greater number than one for every seven superficial foot of deck space, clear for exercise, ani properly protected by bulwark or rails as aforesaid. Tlie number ot" passengers allowed to bo carried shall in no case exceed the smallest number ascertained by auy one of the three alternative methods of measuring mentioned therein.

"6. •• No vessel carrying passengers shall be permitted to carry deck car^o unless it bo efficiently secured to tho satisfaction of the surveyor.

" 7. The following penalties for breaches of theso by-laws as hereinafter specified are hereby imposed, and may be recovered according to the provisions of the s.»id Act : — («) Por breach of any provision of these bye-laws or regulations framed for tho purpoao of preventing the overloading of steam or sailing vessels, any sum not exceeding live hundred pounds for any one voyage or attempted voyage of aay vessel. (b) For broach of any provision of theso by-laws or regulations framed for the purpose of preventing the overcrowding of sailing vessels with passengers, any sum not exceeding five hundred pounds for any one voyage or attempted voyage, to be computed at a rate not exceeding five* pounds for every passenger carried by any Eailing vessel iv excess of tho numbers by theso by-laws authorised. (c) For breach of any other provisions of these bylaws or regulations, any sum not exceeding fifty pounds. " Schedule A. "YoyagcS which shall be reckoned as of one day's duration when made by sailing craft : — "1. From port to port, within Cook and Foveaux Straits, when the distance does not exceed fifty miles. "2. From port to port, on the west coast of the Middle Island, when the distune.* doas not exceed twenty -five miles. " 3. From port to port on tho west co.ist of the North Island, or on the east of either island, or of Stewart's lalaiul, when tho distance does not exceed fifty miles. .£• "AH voyages not iucludod within the above limits shall, for tho purposes of these by-laws, be held to bo of more tha:i one day's duration."