NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAPHS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4816, 29 August 1876, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAPHS.

The following appears in the annual report of the Commissioner of Telegraphs ; The revenue for the year 1875-76 was estimated at £62,000. It has, however exceeded that amount by more than £I3OO. The number of telegrams transmitted during the year was 1,051,086, being an increase over the previous year of 133,958. Including the value of General Government telegrams, the gross earnings of the department for the year amounted to £79,537 7s. lid. It will be seen, on reference to the debtor and creditor' statement, that the expenditure exceeded the receipts by £2803 Is.; the expenditure incurred in the repairs of the Cook Strait cable, amounting to £3363 15s. 5d., having been debited against the vote of the department, has placed the balance on the wrong side. Owing to the increased number of stations, and the additional lines, the expenditure is greater than in any previous year. Several amounts have also been charged against the vote of the department, which might with justice have been charged upon construction, and taken out of the telegraph portion of the loan. The-number of telegrams transmitted during the year, as compared with the number of letters posted during the same period, shows that 22*21 telegrams were sent for every 100 letters posted. This proportion is rather less than last year, when the comparative number was 2*2*59. It must, however, be remembered that there is an increase in the number of letters of almost 700,000, so that the proportion of telegrams is very satisfactory. Since the date of the last report, direct communication has been established with Australia. The cable was opened for business on the 21st February last, and has been largely used. It will be seen, on reference to Table A, that the Wakapuaka station has, since the date mentioned, forwarded to New Zealand stations 3467 telegrams. Of this number, 3395 messages were received through the cable from Sydney and places beyond, the average of words per message being 19*3. The number forwarded from New Zealand through the cable to Sydney and places beyond during the same period was 3268, the average of words per message being in this ca»e also 19*3. The number of money order telegrams sent during the year was 10,712, representing a value of £48,988 17s. 3d., or au increase of 1062 messages, and of £2498 17s. sd. as compared with the previous year. The commission collected by the'Post Office was £1352 Is. 4d. ; and after deducting £535 12s. due to the Telegraph deparment as fees on the telegrams, there remained to the credit of the Post Office, as commission on exchange, £Bl6 9s. 4d., almost £lg per cent on the amount transmitted. The largest number of orders was issued in Wellington, Dunedin coming next, and Christchurch next.

During the year, 118 miles of line carrying double wire, and 50 miles carrying single wire, have been erected ; and 335 miles of wire have been added to the original lines, making a total addition of 621 miles of wire.

There are now opened to the public throughout the colony 142 stations, 15 of which have been opened during the past year; 9 in the South Island, and 6 in the North Island. The length of line maintained during the year was 2980 miles, the average coat for maintenance being £5 18s. lOd. per mile. This is exclusive of the amount expended in the repair of the Cook Strait cable, which is referred to elsewhere.

At the close of the year, 3154 miles of line, carrying 7247 miles of wire were in circuit, showing an increased mileage upon the previous year, in line 168 and wire 621.

The nominal strength of the department, including linemen and inspectors, on the 30th June, 1876, was 567, against 509 of the previous year.