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77
PETROLEUM ACTS, 1871 TO 1881.
The above Acts provide for the safe keeping of petroleum
which, when tested in a prescribed manner, gives off an inflammable
vapour at a temperature below 73 degress
Fahrenheit.
The ordinary petroleum oil, which is commonly used for
burning in lamps, flashes above the temperature of 73 degrees
Fahrenheit, and is therefore at present exempt from the operation
of the Petroleum Acts.
Eleven applications for licences to keep petroleum were
received and reported upon during the year, and in ten instances
licences were granted by your Council on the recommendation
of the Public Health Committee. In one case the
applicant did not carry out his original proposal, but submitted
an amended application which was, however, refused,
as the method of storage was considered to be dangerous. The
applicant thereupon applied for a certificate of the grounds
of your Council's objection, in order that he might appeal
against the decision to the Secretary of State. He subsequently
withdrew his request, and agreed to so arrange his
installation that the cause of your Council's objection would
be removed. The necessary licence was then granted.
The quantity of petroleum allowed to be kept at each of
the licensed stores varies from 20 to 2,000 gallons. These
premises have been periodically inspected in order to see that
the conditions annexed to the licences were being properly
carried out, and it was occasionally necessary to caution several
of the licensees with respect to certain infringements.
No application has as yet been received for a licence to
keep Carbide of Calcium, which, by an Order in Council made
in 1897, was brought within the provisions of the Petroleum