TELEPHONE TO STANWAY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9003, 16 November 1907, Page 2

TELEPHONE TO STANWAY.

Oulv three attended the meeting called” at the Oroua County Council Office yesterday ’to consider a proposal to lay a telephone from ' the borough limit to Marshall’s corner, a distance of teu miles. These were Messrs Wheeler, Fry aud James. Mr Wheeler stated that ho had received quotations for wire aud pole timber, which ho gave to the meotr lug, and from which it may be pre.sumed that the cost would amount to at least £3O a mile. He stated that tho Department would run a connecting wire to the borough limit. Wo have since learned that for this privilege the owners of such private line as proposed would he required to pay £7 a year for tho connecting link.

Mr W. G. Pearce was present at the meeting by request, and told the meeting that twelve settlers at Oolyton iiad erected five miles of telephone wire at a cost of £45, but several of them had given labour, therefore the total cost could not be computed. In addition, of course, each subscriber had to purchase an instrument at a cost _of £5. Tho wiro was connected with the omco and dwelling house of the Colyton storekeeper, who gave them connection with Fcildiug when requires. TlVey had found the wire of great value, not oul'v from a social point of view, but also there were occasions when one of them might notice, ■when going over ins own farm that certain cattle or sheep needed attention on that of his neighbour and could promptly advise the latter. Ho had been reminded of things which had enabled him to save, in one day, more than Ids contribution to the wire in a year. In regard to tho cost of construction, that had been apportioned amongst them according to the distance from Colyton, running from £4’ 8s to £7, and those who required private extensions off the main wire bore the cost themselves, Mr Pearce remarked that they sometimes held committee meetings by meaui of the telephone. Mr Wheeler was of opinion that if a wire was erected to Stanway it would need to be in connection with tho Feilding Bureau. It was decided that Messrs Wheeler, Pry, and James be a committee with power to add to their number to Interview settlers interested in the matter and obtain information as to cost, etc., and- report to a future meeting.