THE TELEGRAPH CHRISTMAS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1943, 29 December 1913, Page 4

THE TELEGRAPH CHRISTMAS.

WORK VERY HEAVY. Christinas Evo in the Telegraph. Office is tho operators' hoto noir. This year an exceptionally busy time was experienced. 1/ueliily, line weather prevailed, and the wires worked excellently. A large staff was provided to meet an increase of work, hub thin exceeded expectations. Fr&m opening time tho work, <iamo tii fast, and by noon it was cvidciit thut the record of' former years would bo -easily broken. All circuits were hopelessly btecked b,v midday, and, as tho day wo.ro on, be. came more so. 'Despito the energy of the staff at 8 p.m. 5017 messages \?er« unseat in tho Wellington office. At other offices many thousands had accumulated, Tho operators ' worked throughout tho night, ftiid. at 9,30 a .111., when tho office was roottcncd for fresh business on-Christmas Day, 1200 messages presented tho .previous day, remained irosont, and it was not until 4.30, p.m. on .Christmas pay, that tho work presented the previous day had been cleared off--tho operators bcint; juded a»td Worn out. 'Tho message boys also had a only on December 24. but for two -flays nreccd» int>, On Oliri.stmns Day tin?}* delivered over GOOO telern-.ims--they wero brought on duty at 7.30 a.m. to .distribute'tho neenmuiatie.rt, which reached here after 11 o'clock tho jirevious nkdvt. The number of telegrams handled by the Wellington office this yew on T>ciuubin- 24 was 133,49" -as against 56.083 ; the previous voir, and 44,2(53 mi ftprow her 24 o.f 19U. The total number dealt with for the four days nreeerlkg Christmas Dnv this jw wjis 135.0fi4 as against 121,197 for a similar period last year.