NEW TURANGI EXCHANGE IS ONLY TEMPORARY

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 43, 3 June 1965, Page 1

NEW TURANGI EXCHANGE IS ONLY TEMPORARY

The new Turangi automatic telephone exchange is only a temporary one and will be replaced in 1967, says an assistant engineer at Rotorua, Mr V. A. Rowland. The exchange was "switched over" on Monday. It will provide continuous service for subscribers in the Turangi, Tokaanu, Kuratau and Waiotaka areas, and in the MoW township being built at Turangi for the Tongariro power development scheme. The need for the new exchange was brought about by the MoW township — the old manual exchange did not have the capacity to cope with the demand anticipated to be required. The old manual exchange had a 300-line capacity, the new automatic exchange has 1 a 700-line capacity. This is estimated to be sufficient to meet the demand for telephone service until 1967. At this time a new permanent exchange sited within the MoW development area is expected to be brought into service. Planning for this exchange, which will have a capacity of 2200 lines, is already well advanced. The exchange building \ measures 32ft, by 16ft. and;

was constructed by a private firm in Rotorua. The equipment, costing £33,000,. was installed by Post Office technicians in Rotorua at a cost of £4000. Installation of this equipment began in February. Emergency . power equipment housed in a separate building measuring 12ft. by 8ft. and costing £1200 was also installed. Outside installation (cable, line, tele-phon-es) was begun in March. This equipment cost £7000 and installation cost £5000. The exchange building with equipment installed was transported from Rotorua two weeks ago. The outside cables were then brought into the building and tested.