The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1869.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 211, 8 September 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1869.

The fifth annual report of the Telegraph Department, laid on the table of the House a few days ago, shows on the whole a steady and satisfactory increase in the amount of business transacted and a considerable extension in the number of lines. Since the last report was published, seven new stations have been opened, four iv tbe Middle, and three in the Northern Island, and there are now in course of construction two new lines, namely, the Taupo line on the East Coast, to the northward of Napier, and the one between Wellington and Wanganui. The Greymouth and Westport line,- which has been opened during the past year, and on the cost of which interest at the rate of 6 per cent., together with the payment of working expenses, was. guaranteed by. the Provincial Government of Nelson, has proved one of the most remunerative portions of the department, although its erection cost a larger sum per mile (£104) than any other line in New Zealand. The following figures show the receipts and expenditure from Ist September to 30th June; also the position in which the Provincial Government stands in regard to its guarantee : Salaries, maintenance of line, and contingencies, £882 18s 3d ; interest on £7000^ for 10 months, at 6 per ceut. per annum, £350. Total expenditure, £1232 18s 3d ; whereas the total receipts amounted to £1327 Is 4d, leaving a balance to credit of £94 3s Id. The 'lino between Blenheim and Canterbury has been almost entirely re-con-structed at a cost of £20,743, which expenditure has ;been rendered necessary by the inferiority of the poles used, and the ill-judged route adopted in the first instance. It has 'been found to be more economical to erect totara poles, even if they have to be imported from other parts of New Zealand, than to make use of the very inferior descriptions of wood that were employed for that purpose when the line was first constructed. The total permanent cost of the telegraph throughout the Middle Island, including the outlay on the Westport line, amounts, up to the present time, to £62.288 3s lOd, being an average cost of £68 4s 5d per mile. A very great amount of trouble has been experienced on the section between Blenheim and Nelsou, caused principally by the bush through which the line has to pass, the wires being constantly damaged by falling trees. To avoid the interruptions which have arisen from this cause, a gang of men has been sent along the line with instructions to remove all trees that were likely, in falling to damage the wires. When this has been done, and totara poles erected between Picton and Blenheim, it is not anticipated that any further expen-. diture of consequence will be required on this section for the next two years. It is expected that telegraphic communication will be established between Wellington and Wanganui within three months, while the East Coast line is also being proceeded with. " If," says the manager, "the political difficulties in the way of the rapid construction of this line be soon overcome, we shall be able to reach Auckland, by way of Tauranga and the Thames, by June, 1870. If, however, the line could be carried from Oruanui along the old mail track to Cambridge, there would be nothing to prevent telegraphic communication being open between Wellington and Auckland by January next. *- A reference to the elaborate tables which are attached to the report. shows. tbat Marlborough makes the largest use of the telegraph, in proportion to the letters despatched, and that Nelson and Hawke's Bay very nearly reach the same proportion, which is: in Marlborough, for every, hundred letters sent, .14-90; in Hawke's Bay, 13*84 ; and in Nelson, 1 1/09 ; or in other words, Marlborough despatches 4s,s23 letters and 6;819 telegrams ; ' , Hawke's Bay, 62,539 letters, 1 iand 8,861 telegrams jand Nelson, 203,537 letters, and 22,592 telegrams.

The number of telegrams of all cddeS transmitted during the past amouhts to 156,167, which shows an increase of 53,130 on the number transmitted during the previous year. The total cash receipts of the line from Bluff to Napier, for the year, amouut to £18,173, and the total value of business done to £31,227, which, after deducting the cost of maintenance of stations, and of the lines, leaves a balance of £11,189 to the credit of this portion of the line, but the returns of the Aucklaud and Waikato line show an excess of expenditure over receipts of £2,052. The registered number of complaints made by the public during the year was nine, which may be classified thus : six telegrams late delivered, and three with errors in wording. Considering that the number of messages sent was 156,167, this speaks highly for the efficiency of the staff engaged in the transmission, receipt, and delivery of telegrams. The manager thus concludes his report: " I have every reason to believe tbat the day is not far distant when the revenue of the colony will be considerably augmented by the receipts of this department. There is no doubt that the use it has been to the Government during the past year has been the means of saving thousands of pounds to the Colony."

Select Readings. — Mr J. TSTeill has, by particular desire, undertaken to give an entertainment, consisting of select readings, at the Temperance Hall this evening. The extracts are well selected, and as the price of admission is exceedingly low, we hope to see a bumper house.. The Karamea. — We are glad to learn that several parties are preparing to start for the Upper. Karamea diggings, as soon as the snow will allow of their crossing the Mount Arthur range. At the Upper Buller, too, prepai'ations are being made for the coming summer season, by erecting races whereby the water is to be brought on to the ground. There is every prospect of the yield of gold turning out satisfactorily in this district. The Government have sent out parties of men to work on the road to the Baton, which will shortly be in a state to allow of supplies being taken up there without much difficulty. Arrival of the Barque Glencoe. — This clipper barque, uuder the command of Captain Phillips, arrived iv harbor this morning from Hobart Town, which place she left on 26th ult. She brings a cargo of palings, shingles, fruit, and jams for Mr, Mabin, and the material for the new lighthouse to be erected on Cape Farewell. Camellias. — To those of our readers who can appreciate a really beautiful sight, we recommend a walk up Washington Valley as far as Mr Bartlett's, where may be seen a white camellia bush in full bloom. The shrub is one mass of buds and blossoms in. every stage, from the newlyformed bud to the full-blown flower; and as great care has been taken of it, and the flowers, by the erection Of a tent over them, have been preserved from the withering effects of the sun, and the staining influences of the rain, it presents a sight which is well worth walking a long distance to see. The Rooks. — Our old friends the rooks have again made their appearance in Kelson, and were to be seen a few days ago busily engaged in picking up worms on the mudflat near All Saint's Church. Chess Match Extraordinary. — We learn from the Westport Times that the v tailing washers" of the Caledonian Te?aace and Ballarat Gully have challenged the " tailing washers" of German Creek to play them chess for a dinner for thirty. The challenge has been accepted, and the match is to come off in a fortnight. We do not clearly understand whether the game is to be plaped by the whole of the thirty dinner eaters, of whether the contest is lo be confined to the customary n_umber of two. . . H.M.S. Rosario arrived at Wellington* from Sydney on Saturday evening, , .and reported that the U.S.S. Kearsage might be expected at that port during ibis week.