TELEPHONE SERVICES

Southland Times, Issue 18823, 17 May 1920, Page 6

TELEPHONE SERVICES

AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE FOR DUNEDIN. INTER-ISLAND COMMUNICATION. (Per United Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 14. With a view to installing an automatic telephone exchange in Dunedin, the Telegraph Department has purchased a full quarter-acre in Dowling street opposite the Commercial Travellers’ Club. The intention is to immediately erect a new telephone exchange which'will be wholly automatic and will be completed in a year, and it is expected that Duuedin/will have a full automatic system in. operation within two and a half years. Mr E. A. Shrimpton, Engineer in Chief of the Telegraph Department, leaves for London shortly, and part of his business will be to make final arrangements for the purchase of submarine cable and apparatus to connect the North and South Islands by telephone. It will thus be possible for South Island centres to communicate with Wellington or Auckland by telephone, or vice versa. Mr Shrimpton explains that this work will be large and costly. One cable will weigh some fifteen tons per nautical mile, and the cost will not be less than £IOOO per mile. As the distance is about sixty miles, the total capital cost, including apparatus and cost of laying, will easily absorb the best part of £IOO,OOO.