The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 856, 31 August 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1871.

The seventh annual report of the New Zealand Telegraph Department has been published by Mr "Francis Dillon Bell, in the absence of the Telegraph Commissioner. The report is one of special interest, as during the whole of the year, ended June 30th, 1871, the reduced rates for messages were in operation and the public looked forward with some degree of anxiety to the result of this important alteration. They will be glad to learn that the reduction has led to a vast increase of business, and that it has also had the unlooked for effect of actually increasing the revenue of the department. By reference to a comparative table, showing the progress of the telegraph' department during the financial years, ISGG to IS7I, it will be seen how greatly the business has increased. The reduction from the 2s Gd tariff to the -Is for private messages not exceeding ten words, came into operation on April Ist, 1870. In 18G6, 27,237 telegrams were sent over 699 miles of wire ; now we have nearly three times the length of wire or about 2000 miles, and in 1871, 312,874 telegrams were despatched, or nearly twelve times as many as were transmitted in 18G6. Of this number, however, 253,582 were ordinary, press, and provincial government telegrams, the remaining 59,292 having been transmitted by the various departments of the Colonial Government. The cash receipts for last year, were as follows:—Ordinary telegrams, £18,432; press telegrams £2746; provincial government telegrams, £1041; together yielding a total of £22,219. The cash value of the telegrams transmitted by-the'General Government during the year was £9B7G 17s 6d ; an amount, which we may incidentally remark,appears to he singularly large in comparison with the total receipts of the service. On nnalysing these figures their distribution is equally singular. Considerably more than half the total has been absorbed by the departments of Defence, Justice, and by the Colonial Secretary, which amount together to £5690; the Customs and Postal Departments (perhaps the two most important branches of the service) figure only for ££l36 16s Gd; shipping reports represent the large sum of £942 19s, and the balance is made up by the Treasury, Public Works, Native, and sundry other departments. It is doubtless the Unlimited extent to which the free use of the telegraph lines has been resorted by the Government, that has led to the demand of the Opposition for a return, showing the names of such persons as have had these services performed gratuitously. The total value of business done, and the total expenditure, were in 1860, £6,045 and £6,377 ; in 1871, £32,296 and £32,593 ; almost exactly the same relation being apparently maintained: but, whereas it cost on an average close upon five

shillings for each message in 1866, it cost in 1871 only a fraction over two shillings. The total cost of construction for 1976 miles of line ia £163,539, which includes £29,864, the cost of the Cook Strait cable. The total average cost per mile is £67 14s; but in some districts this sum is greatly exceeded. The line from Greymouth to "Westport, sixty-seven miles iu length, cost £lO4 10s per mile; while the Christchurch and Greymouth line, purchased from the Canterbury Government, cost £2l 15s 9d per mile. The average cost of constructing lines in the South Island has been less than in the North Island, the respective figures being £64 14s and £72 per mile. On the whole, the progress of the last five years must be regarded as highly satisfactory.

Mr Dobson, Provincial Engineer, left WesVport ior the Karamea on Tuesday last. The object of his visit is to ascertain the facilities presented by the country between Mokihinui and Wanganui for the construction of a road. Whether the funds will be forthcoming for the purposo of immediately forming this necessary lino of communication, we are unable to state, but it would appear to be in contemplation to proceed with this greatly required work at no distant date.

The contractors who were engaged in launching the schooner Canterbury from her position on the South Beach succeeded in getting her afloat on Tuesday. Arrangements had been completed for the services of the s.s. Kennedy, and she pave valuable assistance. The schooner is slightly strained, and is now on the hard in the lagoon undergoing repairs. When caulked, a process which will occupy a week, she will proceed to Lyttelton. The contract price for launching the vessel was £l5O, wrtiich, wo believe, is exclusive of repairs. The services of the steamer Kennedy were obtained for the moderate remuneration of £ls.

The schooner Aspasia sailed yesterday morning for Picton, and the schooner Cora left at the same time for Havelock. Applications for gold mining leases are at present being considered by the Superintendent of this Province for ground situate at Shiels's line of reef and at Murray Creek. Mace and Trenery are each applying for twelve acres at the former locality; and Trenery has a second application for ten and a half acres at Murray Creek.

The application of Wall and party, frr a gold mining lease comprising ten acres of auriferous land at Addison's Flat, will come under the consideration of the Warden at Westport to-morrow. As far as we can learn there will be no objections urged against the grant and it will, therefore, probably be recommended.