REPORT OF THE TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 94, 20 July 1880, Page 2

REPORT OF THE TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

The annual report of this department has been laid before Parliament. Owing to the change in the financial year, it deals only with a period of nine months, and it is unsatisfactory to note that the receipts show a considerable falling off. The revenue was estimated at £80,000, but the earnings reached only £77,827, which represents (according to Dr. Lemon) a falling off of something over £15,000 upon the nine months. Though this is " accounted lor by the commercial depression which has been so strongly felt throughout the Colony for some time past," the report proceeds to state that the " expenditure exceeds the receipts and value of work done by £5,582 5s 9d," which is characterised as " a more unsatisfactory statement than has had to be made for many years." This loss is accounted for by the decrease of revenue, and the heavy removal expenses entailed through an attempt to carry out the wish of the House that officers should be frequently removed from one part of the Colony to another. When it is remembered that the value of the

Government telegrams sent amounted to £19,707, it will be seen that^he receipts of the department were onfsSfc J< *a fl £58,1 20, $he earnings for ordinary and Pi-ess telegrams (including £ 860 collected in postage stamps), being £53,914. Tbe cost of maintenance of lines and stations was £88,409, and it will therefore be seen that financially the department was not a success during the nine months with which the report deals. The report shows that the proportion of tolegrams transmitted to letters posted during 4he«me^aenths was abotjt^ per cent, less than , last yea,r, and that in money order telegrams there has been a . slight proportional decrease, T)otT{ In messages and value. Tho report states that as the result of a inspection made with the view of reducing expenditure, with one or two exceptions.no station was found overmanned, although the staff was equal to the work required of it. Amalgamation of telegraphic and postal duties has been effected at several large stations, and out of 214 stations in existence in the Colony there are now only 19 where the Post and Telegraph Departments are not so amalgamated. The " Urgent " and "Delayed" codes continue to grow in public favour, as shown by the increase of telegrams sent under them. There are now in the Colony 3,638 miles of line, and 9,333 miles of wire. During the year 79 miles of line, carrying 88 miles of wire, were erected, and 806 miles of wire were run on existing lines. Eleven new stations were .opened in each Island, and two stations were closed. The nominal strength of the department is 843, being an increase of 42 during the nine months, caused by opening of additional stations, and the enrolment of cadets. The total cash received for private and Press messages for the nine months was greatest at Wellington, the amounts being — Wellington, £5,874 ; Dunedin, £5,546; Auckland, £4,885; Christchurch, £4,620. The following figures will be of interest to our readers, as they deal with stations in this County : —

may be mentioned that the Government have issued a new regulation, charging 6d extra on each telegram sent to or forwarded from certain stations, in addition to ordinary rates. This comse has been found necessary to reduce as far as possible the actual loss at stations which do not pay, ' The regulation comes into force from and after the . first of August. Amongst the list are the following stations, viz., Cartertou, Gastlepoint, Featherston, Greytown, Halcombe, Hutt, Tenui, Turakina, Upper Hutt, Waitotara, Waverley, Woodville, and Sauson. The whole of the above are in the Wellington Provincial District.

Value of Cost of Station. Messages. Maintenance. £ b. d. £ s. d. Eoxlon 409 19 11 253 6 7 Palmerston N. ... 378 211 237 12 7 Feilding 241 811 170 7 0 Otaki 163 8 10 115 14 9 Halcombe .. 88 2 10 96 3 10 Sanson .... ?7 18 6 138 5 2 In connection with this subject, it