Section 0

An Act to regulate the importation, possession and transport of Petroleum and other fluids of a like nature. Preamble. WHEREAS it is expedient to regulate the importation, possession and transport of petroleum and other fluids of a like nature; It is hereby enacted as follows:— Preliminary. Short title. 1. This Act may be called "The Petroleum Act, 1881"; Commencement. and it shall come into force on the first day of July, 1881. Local extent. The provisions of this Act relating to dangerous petroleum, and the importation of petroleum, extend to the whole of British India. The rest of this Act extends only to such local areas as the Local Government may, from time to time, by notification in the official Gazette, direct. Repeal of enactments. 2. The Indian Ports Act, 1875, section thirty-seven, and Bengal Act No. III of 1865 (to make better provision for the prevention of injury from fire in Ports, and to provide for the safe keeping of Inflammable Oils in Ports and places, within the Provinces under the control of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal) are hereby repealed. Interpretation-clause. 3. In this Act, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context,— "petroleum:" "petroleum" includes also the liquids commonly known 1881.] Petroleum. 75 known by the names of rock oil, Rangoon oil, Burma oil, kerosine, paraffine oil, mineral oil, petroline, gasoline, benzol, benzoline, benzine and any inflammable liquid that is made from petroleum, coal, schist, shale, peat or any other bituminous substance, or from any products of petroleum, but it does not include any oil ordinarily used for lubricating purposes, and having its flashing point at or above two hundred and fifty degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer. Explanation.—The flashing point of petroleum means the lowest temperature at which the petroleum yields a vapour which will furnish a momentary flash or flame when tested with the apparatus and in the manner described in the Schedule hereto annexed: "dangerous petroleum" means petroleum having its flashing point below seventy-three degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer: "import" means to bring into British India by "import:" sea or land: and "importation" means the bringing into "importation:" British India as aforesaid: "transport" means to remove from one place to "transport." another within British India. Dangerous Petroleum.