372 



Locomotives on Highways. 



use of locomotives on highways. The light locomotives to 

 which the exemption applies are described in the Act as 

 vehicles propelled by mechanical power if under three tons 

 in weight unladen, and not used for the purpose of drawing 

 more than one vehicle (such vehicle with its locomotive not 

 to exceed in weight unladen four tons), and so constructed 

 that no smoke or visible vapour is emitted therefrom, except 

 from any temporary or accidental cause. 



The council of a county or county borough are empowered 

 by the Act to make bye-laws preventing or restricting the 

 use of light locomotives upon any bridge within their area, 

 where they are satisfied that such use would be attended 

 with damage to the bridge or danger to the public. 



The provisions of the Act for the most part relate only to 

 light locomotives as above described, but section 9 applies 

 to other locomotives on roads, and enables the Local 

 Government Board to vary the requirements of sub-section 4 

 of section 28 of the Highways and Locomotives (Amend- 

 ment) Act, 1878, with reference to the driving wheels of 

 locomotives. 



Under section 6 of the Act the Local Government Board 

 are empowered to make regulations with respect to the use of 

 light locomotives on highways, and their construction and 

 the conditions under which they may be used. Section 4 01 

 the Act limits the speed at which a light locomotive may 

 travel over a public highway to 14 miles an hour, or such 

 less speed as may be prescribed by regulation, and under 

 section 7 a person in charge of a light locomotive is required 

 to carry attached thereto a lamp so constructed and placed as 

 to exhibit a light, in accordance with the regulations which 

 came into force on the 14th November, 1896. 



The amount received in respect of licences for light loco- 

 motives on highways amounted to ^48 during the year 

 1896-97, the licences being levied under section 8 of the 

 above-mentioned Act, which provides that on and after the 

 1 st January, 1897, there shall be granted, charged, and paid 

 for every light locomotive which is liable to duty as a 

 carriage, or a hackney carriage, under section 4 of the 

 Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1888, an additional duty 



