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Dunstan Times, Issue 415, 1 April 1870, Page 2

The Gouera] Government, are becoming enlightened upon the subject of telegraphic communicatian, and from to-day messages of ten words can he sent all over New Zealand at the uniform rate of one shilling ; press massages, some fifty per cent. less. To the business man the telegraph has become almost as indispensable as the postal service, and, where the course of post is so slow as is the case here, the telegraph must necessarily come very largely into use. The old rate of halfaxrown was excessive, especially for short distances, and consequently the wires were not used to the extent they otherwise would have been. At the present rate the inhabitants of Clyde, Alexandra, and Cromwell will, doubtless, avail themselvas largely of this ready means of communication, not only between each other, but with the more distant parts of the province and colony. In the old country and

jin Victoria a low uniform rate for I telegraphic messages lias”answered the j most sanguine expectations of its supporters. The electric telegraph, like many other things! i daily use,[creates its own demand, and the greater the facility thiqmore largelyjwill the public avail themselves of this method of communication. A one shilling rate is certainly a hold undertaking for a new and thinly populated country ; but, so far as actual wear and tear are concerned, the increase amounts to little or nothing. It is just as easy to send a message one hundred miles as one. No increase in the staff of officials is required. The telegraph clerks are not so hard-worked but that they can do much moi-e, and, if any extra help is wanted, it will be only at the principal stations. It may be argued that the revenue’’ of the postal department will suffer but such is not likely to be the case. Telegrams may convey advices of letters, but they are not likely to Supersede’letters themselves; and, iu the experiences of other countries, where the use of the telegraph is within the reach of even the poorest classes, there is nothing to justify such a conclusion. The residents of those of our goldfields townships who have not yet enjoyed the convenience and advantage of the elect dr telegraph should at once exert themselves to secure its services especially now that the rates are so very much reduced. There a re'several important centres of population through which die wires now pass or are in such close proximity that a small outlay would make them available. It is not unreasonable to ask, taking pre sent reductions into account, that the public should have increased facilities for using the line.