TELEPHONE FACILITIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2103, 11 June 1907, Page 1

TELEPHONE FACILITIES.

j The following in reference to telephones is taken from the N.Z. Gazette of 30th May:— iVhen a private line is connected with a telephone in charge of a permanent officer of the Department, ai fee of £2 per annum will be charged for each subscriber on the private line, the service to be given being attendance for switching the private line to the bureau line and the transmitting and receiving of telegrams on the private lino. The usual bureau lees and the cost of tbo trailsmi.'S'on of telegrams over the publie l'ne will also bo chargeable. Where a private lino is joined up to a telephone exchange connection either through a subscriber’s wire oi direct to the exchange by a Departmental wire not exceeding a mile in length the following rates, in addition to the entrance fee, shall apply: —(a) for private residence connections— If one connection on the private line, £5 per annum; if more than one connection, either to the same of to different persons, £4 per annum for each connection, (h) For business connections: If there is more than one connection cither to the same or to different persons on the private line, the business rato chargeable for each connection is reduced by £i. With regard to the first statement, it will thus lie seen that a valuable concession is made, as the annual fee for telephoning telegrams is £5. The second intimation discloses a reduction of £*l.

The multiple system is to bo arranged locally. This is much more convenient to all concerned. It will then only be necessary to ring the exchange in the first instance, give the desired number, keep the receiver to the ear and await the answer of the subscriber. There is thus no necessity for the second ling, that task being performed by the exchange clerk. It is understood that this system does not lend itself very readily to overnight connections and therefore those so treated at present (there are a considerable number) wili require the extension, < of hours from 7 a.in. to 11 p.m. to continuous. At present some subscribers are connected to four or five others after 11 p.m. and with the installation of the multiple switchboard system, which will take about two mouths to complete after all the apparatus arrives, doctors, shipping agents, etc., will be seriously inconvenienced without the full extension.