BACKBLOCK TELEPHONES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 567, 14 May 1913, Page 5

BACKBLOCK TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION TO COUNTY COUNCIL TANGITU SETTERS' PROJECT. During last session of Parliament an Act to provide for the ejection and maintenance of telephones in country districts was passed. The provisions of the Ac.t enable the county council, with the approval of the PostmasterGeneral, to erect and maintain telephone lines and connect the same with the Government telephone offices or exchanges. The local authority is empowered to raise by way of special loan such monevß as may be required to erect and maintain the lines, and as security may levy a special rate over the lands of those settlers applying for the line. The Tangitu settlers are anxious to have a line erected to connect settlers on the Mapiu Valley road, Tata road, and Mangaiti road with the Tangitu telephone office and have applied to the Waitomo County Council to take the r;eces3aty steps under the Act to carry out the proposal. It is estimated the cost of the line apart from the labour of erection will be about £75, but it is probable considerable extensions to the line would be necessary at an early date. The first step necessary to carry the proposal into effect is for the ratepayers requiring the service to sign a petition to the council requesting the council to take the necessary action. The money is then raised, provision being made for the repayment of the loan within twelve years. The local authority in authorised to make by-laws regulating the use of the line, prescribing I charges or otherwise providing for the maintenance of the line. It also sets forth the condition on which the lands of persons, other than the original signatories to the petition, may be connected; also the conditions on which any person may cease to be a contributor to the line. These matters are all for the settlers to agree upon among themselves, and the council then carries into effect the Wishes of the settlers. Upon these details being arranged they are forwarded to the Postmaster-General for his approval.