TELEPHONE EXTENSION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 656, 1 April 1914, Page 5

TELEPHONE EXTENSION.

MAROKOPA linked up. Own Correspondent. After years of persistent agitation, tho telephone line between Te Kuiti and Marokopa baa been linked up by the completion, last week, of the stage between Mangaohaa and Moeatoa. The benefits that are certain to accrue to Te Kuiti ought to handsomely compensate the interest manifested by buaincs3 people iu assisting settlers in getting this line completed. It was n long and h3rd struggle, but i t has been done at last, and is now a matter for general rejoicing throughout the district; more especially that in this one and important respect of established direct communication with Te Kuiti. Although this important factor in the progress of our district has been achieved tha question of roads continues to present a seriou3 obstacle to us. Tho completion of this line now establishes it as one of the most important leading into Te Kuiti, as it not rmlv links up tho vast Marokopa district, westward of Mangaohae, but the whola of South Kawhia. Communication has now been established with the outside world as well as a largo district immediately surrounding us, extending on the southern side to Awakino. SetMers express their gratitude to tbo Chronicle, and the Chamber of 'Commerce in assisting to overthrew opposition, and for their valuable assistance during these five years of agitation. Tho party of linemer who completed the Moatoa line last week have procseded to Awamarir.o to run a Bhort line on tho Marokopa-Kawhia line to Mr C. Havlock's residence, whsre a telephone bureau office is being opened. In anticipation of through telephone communication to Te Kuiti a number of private telephone lines have been rrected in the district during the p~Bt eighteen months. The parties interested are now actively engaged in the making of arrangements for switches in the various p)st offices en route, with a view of being able to conduct their business with Te Kuiti from their own doors. A few more private lines are spoken of as likely to be erected in the near future. The district will then be a network of telephone lines, and one of the foremost in the King Country in the installatoin of such means of communication.