Telegraph Department.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3612, 24 July 1880, Page 2

Telegraph Department.

(16th Annual Eepobt.)

The following items in the above report may be of interest to our readers:—

WELLINGTON TO NAPIEB AND NAPIIB TO

GBAHAMBTOWN.

This line, during the running of the fourth wire, had in places between Masterton and Wainui, received considerable attention, and had undergone large repairs; but during the heavy floods at the beginning of March a good deal of damage was done to the line, and a portion of it between Taueru and Tenui will have to be re-constructed as soon as the weather is sufficiently favourable. The Castiepoint He . will also require attention. Between N;:pier and Grahamstown many of the old poles are showing signs of decay, and will have to be removed. It is intended as soon as native opposition is removed to erect a line from Katikati to Hamilton via, Ohinemuri. This will give another wire to Auckland over a tolerably easy and open country, and obviate the exceed-; ingly wooded country between Grahams* town and Katikati. NAPIEB TO GISBOBNE. On this line three miles have been diverted to the Waipaoa bridge to facili. tate repairs. Permanent 30 feet and 35 i feet poles have been erected on the town of Napier, bad joints have been removed. A portion of the line has been removed off the road in the course of formation near Wairoa, and the line generally overhauled and put into an efficient state. AUCKLAND LINE. The sections of the line between Auckland, Waikato, and Grahamstown have received attention. During the year a few decayed poles have been removed, and several alterations made in different offices. along the line, on account of the extra wires that have been run; but the lines generally have required nothing beyond the usual repair necessary for ordinary maintenance. CASH BEVENUS. The total cash revenue derived from the private and the Press telegrams for the nine months ending 31st March 1880, at Grahamstown, was £898 18s 4d; the value of Government messages £349 17s lOd ; the total value of messages of all codes £1,31816s 2d. The number of prij vate and press messages was 12,627; and the number of Government messages 1,826. The total number of messages of all codeß was 14,453. The amount paid for salaries was £1,171 3s 4d, and for contingencies £282 2s 6d. The total cost of the maintenance of the station is therefore £1,453 5s ]od, or an excess of expenditure over actual receipts of £554 7s 6d. The following stations are now Jfclosed :— Dunedin North, Government'fßuildings, Oakura, and Sheffield.

The total number of interprovincial letters forwarded during the nine months ended 31st 1879*80 was 7,065,510, and the total number of telegrams is 1,008,409, showing a proportion of 14.27 to every hundred letters. This shows a decrease of 5.87 on the number sent in 1878*9, and an increase of 6.47 on the number sent in 1869*70.