DEPUTATION AT TE KUITI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 81, 8 May 1908, Page 2

DEPUTATION AT TE KUITI.

While Mr Meddings, Inspector of Telegraphs, was in Te Kuiti, on Wednesday last, a deputation of local residents waited on him at Mr Sims' boarding house, and brought before his notice the urgent necessity of improved arrangements at the Te Kuiti post-office. Mr Boddie, who acted as spokesman, brought before the Inspector's notice the importance of having more privacy in connection with telephone messages, and stated that persons standing outside the office could hear private messages being transmitted. Mr Meddings, in reply, stated that as soon as the new line, which was now in course of construction, w; s completed, the Morse instrument would be installed at Te Kuiti, which would then be a telegraph, as well as a telephone office. When the new circuit was up the office would be very up-to-date. A telephone soundproof box would be erected immediately, and all messages would then be strictly private. The question of a telephone exchange was next brought before the Inspector's notice, who stated that if twenty subscribers could be got he could promise an exchange almost immediately, and that this would be built so that when erected it would be very little trouble to shift. Mr Meddings gave the deputation all the information they required re the working of an exchange, the charges for installation, and, the fees for messages. The erection of a post-office was also mentioned by Messrs Hardy and Darrow, and the Inspector said he fully recognised the importance of an up-to-date ioffice, and promised to make a strong recommendation to the authorities when lie got back ;o Auckland. In the meantime Mr Hardy promised to ascertain the prices for other suitable sites in the township, which Mr Meddings agreed to inspect before leaving the district. Mr Meddings also gave some very useful information as to the working and erection of private lines to be connected with the exchange. The extension of the telephone line to Mangaotaki Valley was also discussed, and the Inspector promised to go into the matter, at the same time explaining to the deputation the course that should be adopted by the settlers. Mr Boddie then thanked M* Meddings for the information and patient hearing he had given them. The Inspector said that all the requests were urgent, and he was very pleased to be able to give the informa lion he had.