Australian Telephones.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7734, 9 February 1905, Page 4

Australian Telephones.

TRIALS OF THK CONDENSER. I SYSTK.M. SEVERAL COUNTRY TOWNS TO BE SERVED. SYDNEY, Jan. 27. The Postmaster-General, who- i* in Svdncv at present, is actively pursuing "his labours in the- direction of cheapening the long-distance Uvcphone processes, in order that this extremelv valuable convenience may be more* generally extended to the public. Mr Svdnev Smith is anxious to let Sydney people talk over the wire to Melbourne at a cheap rate. To this end he is experimenting largely with the condenser system, which permits the use of the telegraph lines for telegraphic purposes. Yesterday some experiraenfa were conducted on one of the busiest telegraph lines in the State, that passing through Liverpool and Campbell-town. The voices were heard perfectly, and the apparatus seemed to work as smoothly as coutd be desired, No interruption whatever was caused to the telegraphic business. The cost of extending a Ispecial telephone wire to Liverpool and Campbell-town would be £3OO or £4OO, but by means of the condenser these towns may have the telephone service for £ls. The difference in the cost by the adoption of the new system is tremendous, one instance being given of a reduction of an estimate of £-1000 to under £IOO by the use of the condenser* Tho condenser is to be tried between Bathurst and Orange, a distance of about 50 miles, and, if successful, an attempt will be made to connect it with the trunk line to Sydney, thus giving Orange through tttllrfng with the capital. It Is intended to connect Albury, Howlong, and Corowa, where successful experiments have made by means of the condenser. It has been estimated that to connect Wollongong l>y telephone with Sydney would cost £3IOO, but an experiment is to be made with the condenser on the telegraph line there, at a cost of £SO, and. if successful, the service will be introduced. Mr Smith says Ihc system has already worked satisfactorily over such distances as these in Victoria. In addition to these experiments, the Po9tmastei--General is using trees for posts wherever possible in the country, and is) so materially cheapening the cost of telephonic commum'catjion. Jf he progresses as he has started, In a very little time telephones will be as mnrnroas in the backblocks of New South [Vales as they are now in Stock-: holm.