FIRST TELEGRAPH LINE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2300, 9 July 1921, Page 2

FIRST TELEGRAPH LINE.

A QUESTION ns to the year in which the telegraph service was instituted in New Zealand necessitated a hunt through records, and many people will doubtless be interested in facts that Mr W. H. Ferens has “dug out’’ of Dr. Hockeu’s works (says the Dunedin Star). The iirst telegraph line to be erected in New Zealand was between Dunedin and Port Chalmers and the Heads. The contract was let to Woodley and Co. to construct the line between Dunedin and Port Chalmers on March Ist, 1862, the first pole was erected on 24th May,' the lino between Port Chalmers and Dunedin was completed on 18th August, and it is presumed that the first official telegram was sent on that date. The next line to receive attention was* between Dunedin and Invercargill, which was constructed and opened for traffic on 15th May, 1865. The first press telegraphic communication was from the Bluff to Dunedin on the same date, and the Dunedin to Christchurch line was opened for traffic on 23rd~May< The Cook Strait telegraphic cable was successfully laid after two attempts on 24th August, 1866, and the first cable message from M ellington to Dunedin was sent on 28th August. For Bronchial Coughs, take Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.*