The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, NOV. 25, 1886. Telephone to Awahuri

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 62, 25 November 1886, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, NOV. 25, 1886. Telephone to Awahuri

— ♦— - ' The want of telegraphic communication between Awahuri and the rest of the Colony has long been keenly felt by the residents and business men of that flourishing settlement. Owing to a variety of circumstances the question has never been publicly agitated, or brought prominently before the notice of the Government of the day. The time has now arrived, however, when steps may be taken which will lead to the accomplishment of this very necessary work. As the expense of maintaining a regular telegraph office would be too heavy for the district to undertake, the economical Telephone Exchange is suggested. For the information of such of our readers who have not the Government Postal Guide at hand, we quote from it as follows : — " A Telephone Exchange means any telegraph office to which a number of private telephone wires are led in for the purpose of intercommunication among the subscribers. A Bureau Station means any ordinary telegraph station connected by telephone with an exchange." The following are the charges paid by the public for the use of Government telephones wherever established in the Colony at a bureau station in connection with an exchange: — Where the line used is not more than six miles long, a uniform charge of 6d for the use of the same for any period not exceeding five minutes, and a further charge of 6d for every additional five minutes or portion of five minutes. Messages telephoned by subscribers through an exchange to a j bureau etation will be charged half the above rates. When a message is delivered by the Department from a bureau station, 3d will be charged. The cost of constructing the line, including poles, wire, and would be under £150. That is estU mating the distance between Feilding and Awahuri post offices at four miles. We do not expect the settlers to be at this outlay, as we think they have a perfectly valid claim on the Government to undertake the work. Wo would suggest that a petition be prepared to the Postmaster - General, asking for this concession. The member for Manawatu, Mr Macarthur, and the member for Foxton, Mr Wilson, would, we feel convinced, heartily co-operate with the petitioners. There is no doubt whatever on our minds that this would He a good paying investment for the Government.