WAITOMO.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 494, 24 August 1912, Page 6

WAITOMO.

Own Correspondent. The history of telephone communication in Waitomo district dates back to 1906, when Mesrss Powell and Wratten erected a. private line between their properties and Mr Kirk's store. A year-later Mr J. Dunning joined the line. Some two years ago a company was formed to take over the old line, and re-erect it in a more substantial manner. Some additional branch lines were also erected, and brought the total length of line to 14 miles. Practically all the settlers along the routs took a share in the new arrangement, and, of course, considerably reduced the individual cost, which worked out at about £ll per mile. This includes instruments for each of the 14 subscribers. About the same time another company was formed to erect a line between Forster's (late Kirk's) store and Putake, which, with branches totalled 20 miles in length. This also has 14 subscribers. In this case the line was erected by the settlers themselves, each one putting up his own length. The cost for material including instruments, was about £7 per mile. Another line was erected last autumn between Hangatiki and Waitomo, which with branches required about eight miles of wire. The cost per mile including instruments for the nine subscribers was about £l3 10s per mile. The posts used were acacia, which waß considered to be both stronger, cheaper and less liable to be damaged by fire than totara. Two more lines are projected, one from Tumu Tumu and another from the direction of Oparure. When these are completed there will be over 50 iniles of telephone wire in the Waitomo district. We have been agitating for some time for a bureau at the Caves Post Office, and at last the department has acceeded to our reque a t. Mrs Gollan, our capable and obliging postmistress, is in charge, and has had her duties very considerably increased thereby. The comfort and convenience of a telephone connection are difficult to over estimate. Both from a business and social standpoint it is a boon, especially to those who are living away back in the bush, where roads exist only in name and neighbours are few and far between. Then, again, in cases of accident or sickness, medical aid can be secured and assistance brought without loss of time, which may, and in many cases does, mean all the difference between life and death. Few of us who have spent any length of.time in the bush but can recall cases in which life or limb was lost for want of the timely attention, which a telephone would have enabled to be promptly brought. In discussing telephone matters the question often crops up "which is the best way of getting a telephone connection — get the Government to to erect it, or form a company of intending subscribers and let the work by contract or otherwise?" Thera are advantages and drawbacks to each method, no doubt, but after reviewing the pros and coris of the matter, it seems to my mind that private enterprise is the best. Taking the three private lines mentioned above we notice that the average cost to subscribers is about £ll for everything, instrument included. The interest on this amount at 5 per cent, is lis add to this 30s per annum for switching, and we find that our plant debits us the sum of £2 Is. Now, I understand that in Te Kuiti and Otorohanga where the Government find and erect the plant, provide instrument and keep it in working order, the charge is about £5 per annum. This leaves us about £3 for repairs, etc., which should be considerably over the amount required under ordinary circumstances. Then, again, when private enterprise takes anything in hand it is more likely to be pushed on to what may be called a paying point, than when a petition is sent in to a Government Department to run the risk of being pigeon-holed and lost sight of or else for the petitioners to be informed that their application "will receive favourable consideration." From past experience we know that may mean anything. even a patient (more or less (waiting until election time approaches. If someone who has had experience in connection with the construction of Government telephone lines in'the back blocks, and the advantages or otherwise of that method would give us an account of the same, it would be interesting and help tu create interest in a subject of so much importance tu those who have the welfare of the residents of country districts at heart. In conclusion I might just mention that should anyone care to enquire into fuller particulars of the cost of and working of private telephones the secretaries of any of the Waitomo companies will, I, am sure, give them all the information in their power.