THE NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAPH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 244, 3 October 1872, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAPH.

Amongst the Parliamentary Papers last to hand is the eighth annual report of the Telegraph Department of the Colony, which gives a clear and minute account of the history of that department up to the end of the financial year. Probably no better index of the healthy change which has come over the affairs of the Colony could be taken than this same report, which is encouraging as it is practical and unvarnished. By quoting the few introductory lines, readers will obtain the essence of a great many details. It is as follows :—": — " The progress made during the past year in the extension of th<* telegraph has been greater than in any former year ; the larger increase to the business of the department through the introduction of the Is tariff becoming more apparent every day, and having already rendered it necesaary in some places to increase the number of wires. The great increase in business may also be attributed in a measure to the opening of the line to Auckland, and also to the general revival of trade throughout the Colony. With the exception of New Plymouth, every town of any size is now included in the telegraph system." The following para raphs present in a very compressed form the information contained in a schedule of tables ranging from A to X inclusive : —

During the year, 3,036 money order telegrams, representing LI 3, 936 0s sd, have been transmitted ; the jo<nt revenue to the Postal and Telegraph Departments being L 504 16s 6d. Of this amouut, Llsl 16s was collected by the Post-office for the Telegraph Department, the balance, L 353 0s 6d, being for commission. This shows a profit of over two and a half per cent to the Post-office on the year's transactions. It will be seen from Table G, that Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, including their respective suboffices, issued and paid the largest number of orders. Not oae mistake has occurred in the transmission of these telegrams — a fact which evidences the care and attention bestowed on this branch of the service.

Forty-two complaints have been made in writing during the year. Of these, sixteen proved not to involve fault on the part part of { the department, some of the errors complained of being caused by indistinct writing. In the twenty-seven other cases, the officers in fault were fined or severely reprimanded.

The ' number of telegrams of all codes transmitted during the year was 411,797, which exceeds those of the previous year by 98,893, or an increase of nearly 32 per cent. After making all deductions for salaries, maintenance of line, &c, there remains to the credit of the department for the year, L 6614 10s 2d.

Although the length of line maintained during the year has been in excess of th at during the previous year, the cost of maintenance has been reduced by L 2455 4s Id. Eighteen cadets have been trained in the learners' gallery, and have during the year been drafted off to various stations. Nine new offices have been opened.