PLAINS ’PHONE SERVICE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4373, 3 February 1922, Page 3

PLAINS ’PHONE SERVICE

AUCKLAND TO PAEROA. ON RAILWAY ROUTE. Further to the important matter of the proposed trunk telephone line, Auckland-Paerpa, across the Hauraki Plains, the following information has been given out from the Auckland Telegraph Engineer’s office : The route of the line is from Auck-t land to Paeroa via Pokeno, Miranda, Waitakaruru, Ngatea, and Netherton, and thence to Paeroa, crossing the Waihou River at the Puke bridge. The route originally proposed was from Waitakaruru via Pipiroa and Turua to Thames. The reasons for adopting the new route arc : (1) It will be much easier to maintain, as the Piako and Waihou rivers are fairly narrow where the line crosses them, and the proximity of bridges enabled the line to be followed without Interruption. On the other route long lengths of cable would have been necessary, and a faultman would lose much time in getting from one end of the cable to the other. (2) Had the district route to Thames been adhered to the available traffic would only have justified the erection bf one circuit, which, at present prices, is estimated to cost £lO 000. Once the pole .line is up a second circuit can be erected for about £3OOO, and by special devices two circuits can be super-imposed or “phantomed,” thus producing a third circuit without running any extra wirek and at a cost of less than £2O. The “phantom” circuit is equal in efficiency to each of the other two. It will thus be seen that three circuits can be got at a cost only 30 per cent, greater than for one circuit. Paeroa Is so situated as to be a natural switching centre, and the traffic offering there should justify the provision of th? three circuits. Paeroa will switch for Thames and Coromandel in the one direction, Auckland and the Hauraki Plains to the north, Te Aroha and Waitoa to the west, and Tauranga to the south. Thames ha-, three circuits to Paeroa, and a "phantom” can also be arranged if neces-. sary, and will be brought into operation, before the Paeroa-Auckland line is completed. There should, therefore, be no delay in this section. Thames will get practically as good a service as if it had one direct telephone line to Auckland, whilst many other exchanges will get a greatb improved service ,as compared with the facilities at present enjoyed.

ON THE PLAINS. As the circuits are trunk circuits none of the Hauraki Plains telephone offices will be connected, except, possibly, Ngatea, when the telephone exchange there is ’in operation. The department has plans, However, for giving improved service between Auckland and the Hauraki Plains. Two line-erection parties are 'it work on the AncklandrPaeroa line one at Waitakaruru, and one at Ngatea. Material and gear for a third party are now going forward to the Puke wharf. All three parties will continue on this work until it is completed. PATETONGA EXCHANGE. The engineer further stated thav the proposed Patetonga telephone exchange would be established as-soon as a suitable building had been arranged for. Nearly all of the 80 or so subscribers had their" ’phones Installed. AT NGATEA. At Ngatea there would be a very important telephone exchange. The erection of some of the lines for thjs exchange would be commenced in the immediate future in conjunction with the Aucklandj-ißaeroa line. As in Patetonga the establishment of an exchange at Ngaitea might be retarded somewhat on- account of having to await the erection of a suitable building.