FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT ON THE WORKING AND PROGRESS. OF THE NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1868 Session I, E-05

E.—Fo. 5.

FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT ON THE WORKING AND PROGRESS. OF THE NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OP THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY ( COMMAND OF HIS EXCELLENCY.

WELLINGTON.

1868.

E.—No. 5

FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

ON THE

TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT, NEW ZEALAND.

General Post Office, Sir, — Wellington, sth July, 1868. I have the honor to submit for the information of your Excellency the Annual Report on the Telegraph Service of the Colony, for the year ended 30th June, 1868. At the date of the last Annual Report I was compelled to state that the Telegraph Department was in a condition far from satisfactory; lam now able to say that great improvement has been effected. The Service has been placed under the charge of Mr. Lemon, as General Manager, who has displayed much energy in improving the organization and discipline of the Telegraph Staff, and in furthering the re-construction and extension of the various lines throughout the Middle and North Islands. His report shews that the work of the New Zealand Telegraph is conducted on a very economical footing, and that considering the peculiar difficulties attendant upon the construction and maintenance of Telegraph Lines in this Colony, the cost of those recently erected has been moderate, and the interruptions arising from injuries to the lines have been of short duration. The increased extent to which the public have made use of the Telegraph during the past year, notwithstanding the prevailing commercial depression, and the augmentation of the Cash Receipts of the Department, is very satisfactory; there is a reason to anticipate further progress during the. current year. The re-construction of the lines in the Middle Island, which had become very defective, owing in a great measure to the manner in which they had been originally erected, has made good progress, and the extensions from Wellington to Napier, and from Greymouth to Westport, have been either actually completed or arc on the point of completion. The route by which the Main Trunk Line shall be extended from Napier to Auckland is yet undetermined, but the difficulties in the way of a settlement of this question will very shortly be removed, and I trust that the greater part of this line will be completed during the current year. The whole of the necessary material is already in the Colony. Elaborate and valuable tables are appended to this report, showing in great detail the cost, the progress, and the condition of the existing machinery for supplying telegraphic communication throughout the Colony. I should be glad if the financial condition of the Colony would admit of the early extension of the Telegraph from Wellington, or rather from Masterton in the Wairarapa Valley, to Wanganui and Taranaki. The revenue which would doubtless be returned by a Telegraph in this direction would be considerable, while its importance in a political point of view is a matter for serious consideration. Mr. Lemon's report does not treat of the Telegraph between Auckland and Waikato, as that line has not hitherto been under the control of the Head Office in Wellington. It was however on the first day of this month placed on the same footing as other portions of the Telegraph Service. A considerable reduction will have to be effected in the cost at which this line has hitherto been kept up, and which is altogether out of proportion to the revenue derived from it. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient Servant, John Hall, Commissioner of Telegraphs. His Excellency Sir George Ferguson Bowen, G.C.M.G. &c, &c., &c.

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New Zealand Telegraph. Office, Sir,— Wellington, 3rd July, 1868. I have the honor to submit for your information the following Report on the progress and condition of the Telegraph Department under my supervision during the financial year ending 30th June, 1868. Extension of Lines. During the past financial year the contracts for the extension of the Electric Telegraph in hand at the close of the year 1866-67 have been completed. Wellington to Castle Point. These contracts comprise the portions of the line between the City of Wellington and Masterton, in the Wairarapa Valley, and between Masterton and Castle Point. Considerable trouble and delay has been experienced in carrying out these works, owing to the fact of the line not having been regularly surveyed in the first instance. The omission of this important feature in the construction of a new line has added much to the cost of this section, which should have been the cheapest line yet constructed, owing to its proximity to timber suitable for poles. Some difficulty was found in making a good line between the City of Wellington and the Hutt, owing to a very great number of sharp turns in the road, but by the occasional use of large poles and long spans, these difficulties have been overcome. The poles between Wellington and Castle Point, are either heart of matai or heart of totara, and the line consists of a double wire throughout. Offices have already been opened at Eeatherston and Greytown, the cost of maintenance being defrayed by the Provincial Government. It is in contemplation to open an office at Masterton. A temporary office has also been opened at Castle Point. The length of the line between the City of Wellington and Masterton is 59| miles, and between Masterton and Castle Point 35| miles ; making a total length of 95^ miles between the City of Wellington and Castle Point. Castle Point to Napier. Tenders were called for in May, 1867, for the supply and delivery of telegraph poles between. Castle Point and Napier, in two sections, viz., between Castle Point and Porongahau, and between Porongahau and Napier. Tenders for both sections were accepted at the same time. The contractor for the first-mentioned section, however, failed to proceed with the work, and forfeited his deposit money. Under <these circumstances, and for the purpose of avoiding the serious loss of time which would have been involved in calling for fresh tenders, arrangements for the completion of the work were made with the contractors for the Porongahau and Napier section. Had the original contractor carried out his contract, Wellington would for some time past have, been in telegraphic communication with Napier. Every effort is being used to hasten the completion of this portion of the line, viz., between Castle Point and Porongahau; and I have no doubt that it will be accomplished within a few days. The contractors for the supply and delivery of the poles between Napier and Porongahau, completed their contract in the early part of February last. While this delivery was in progress tenders were called for the erection of the line, and were accepted in the early part of January. The contractor, Mr. E. O'Malley, used great exertions to complete his contract within the time specified, and was most successful in doing so. The Inspector has borne frequent testimony to the workmanlike and efficient manner in which the contractor has performed his work; a circumstance which it will be well to bear in mind in any future works. The poles used between Tenui and Napier are all heart of totara, and although the country in which they are erected is in many places very broken and unfavourable for a telegraph, yet owing to thegreat care that has been taken in the selection of the timber, and in supervising their erection, the poles will without doubt stand good for ten or fifteen years, if not longer. Stations have been opened at Waipukurau, and a temporary one while the new office is being built at Napier. It is in contemplation to open one at Waipawa, should the inhabitants of that risingtownship agree to guarantee the Department against loss in its maintenance. The length of line between Tcnui and Porongahau is 53 miles, and between Porongahau and Napier 68 miles ; making a total length of 121 miles between the town of Napier and the junction with the Castle Point line at Tcnui. Napiek to Waikoa. This portion of the trunk line of telegraph between Napier and Auckland has been very carefully surveyed by Mr. Edward H. Bold, who, after a complete examination of the country, has recommended that the line should follow, generally, the bridle track between Napier and Wairoa. The survey was completed at the beginning of May, and tenders have been invited for the supply and delivery of the poles.

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Blenheim and Woodend. Owing to the inferior description of wood used for poles on this portion of the line when it was first erected, it has become necessary to entirely reconstruct the whole of it. The exceedingly injudicious and even discreditable manner in which this line was first laid off has without doubt hastened its decay, the great number of unnecessary angles which were I,n^ od l uced n{mng caused a very severe strain on a large number of the poles. Considerable difficulties have had to be contended with in the re-erection of this line, but its future permanency will, I am confident, amply repay the expenditure now being made upon it. The course of the telegraph wires has in many parts been altered with advantage, and some miles of wire have been saved by taking the new line in a more direct route than that originally adopted. The old poles are now being replaced by others cut from the heart of totara, and although these had to be brought from a considerable distance, they have been delivered along the line by contract for the sums of 325. and 375. for 20 and 25 feet poles respectively, being not much m excess of the price originally paid (275.) for the birch and manuka saplings which have so soon become useless, especially when the superior and lasting character of the timber now used is taken into consideration. The price, 275., above stated, was the average for the entire section between the Hurunui and Nelson, but as about sixty miles of this distance near the Nelson end runs through bush where the contractor was able to supply poles at a very small rate the real price paid for the poles between Blenheim and the Hurunui was very much more than 27s _ Considerable attention has been paid to the carrying the telegraph wires over the several rivers crossed by them, in such a manner as to provide against the breakages which have hitherto been so frequent, and which have caused not only great public inconvenience, but serious loss of revenue to the Department. The heavy floods of February last have furnished good data upon which to proceed in this matter. _ The supply of the poles is being furnished under contract by Messrs. Belcher and lairweather, of Kaiapoi. They have not hitherto progressed as rapidly as I could have wished but I feel bound to make allowances for them, in consideration of the great loss to which they were subjected by the February floods, not only through the loss of poles from the different landing places along the coast at which they had been deposited, preparatory to being carted along the line, but also through the wreck of one of the vessels chartered by them. This loss unavoidedly crippled their operations for some time. I am happy to say, that notwithstanding these delays, the reconstructed line is nearly finished from Woodend to Cheviot Hills, and every effort is being made to hasten the completion of the remainder. The reconstruction's being carried on under the supervision of Mr. Walter Blake who had previously re-surveyed the line. It was found inexpedient to attempt the re-erection by contract, owing m a great measure to the work being complicated and rendered difficult by the necessity for keeping telegraphic communication uninterrupted during the whole process of re-erection. r West Coast Line. The telegraph from Christchurch to Hokitika and Greymouth was taken over by this Department on the first January last. The line branches from the Southern Trunk Line at the Selwyn railway station, whence it proceeds by way of the Kowai and the West Coast Road to Arthur's Pass and Hokitika; from Hokitika the line is continued to Greymouth. The distances are as follows : — From Christchurch to Bealey .. .. .. .. 87 miles From Bealey to Hokitika .. .. . . . 63 From Hokitika to Greymouth . . ... . . ' 26 " The present value of the line between Christchurch and the boundary of the" Province of Canterbury is to be determined by arbitration, and paid to the Canterbury Government The receipts from this West Coast telegraph are larger in proportion to the expenditure than upon any other line in the Colony; its purchase is a very profitable transaction for the Department. Gkeymouth and Westport Line. This line is a continuation of that from Christchurch to Greymouth, and is being erected at the instance of the Provincial Government of Nelson, which has guaranteed the payment of six (6) per cent, interest on the total cost of construction, as well as any deficiency which may hereafter exist between the receipts of this line and the actual cost of working and maintaining it Owing to the peculiar and difficult character of the country through which this line has to be carried—over a considerable portion of which a bridle track only exists—and to the excessive outlay which would have been involved in the delivery of totara poles, it has been deemed expedient to make use of the best of the timber through which the line passes. The clearing of the bush and supply of poles is being performed by contract, but the erection is being effected by day labour under the supervision of Mr. Alexander Aitken, with the assistance of an experienced .Lineman. Ihe line was carefully surveyed in the first instance by Mr. Aitken. In Appendix A will be found the relative cost of each of the sections above described now finished. The cost of surveying and inspection may appear at first glance excessive; but the

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advantages that have been purchased by this expenditure, viz., the selection of the best obtainable lines laid off with as few angles as possible, and the execution of the whole work of construction under the closest supervision so as to avoid defects which would hereafter, through inferior work, lead to accidents and expenses, are so great, that I am confident the money laid out for these purposes has been well spent. . Had this course not been adopted, there can be no doubt, that owing to the difficulties which have to be encountered in the construction of Telegraph lines through those parts of the Colony where the extensions are now in progress —difficulties arising chiefly from the absence^ o± roads the inaccessible character of the country, and also from a variety of contingencies which no human foresight could provide against—the works above alluded to would not have been m their present satisfactory state of progress. ' At your request I have furnished in Appendix B a complete statement of the cost of the Main Trunk Line in the Middle Island; this statement gives the expenditure incurred m the erection of the different portions of this line, as also the cost of the Cook Straits Cable. The cost per mile of the lines that have been recently erected will, on examination, compare very favourably on the score of economy with those erected on the Middle Island, especially when the superior quality of timber now used is taken into consideration. Maintenance and Repairs of Lines. In order to supply a complete statement of the cost of maintenance, I have divided the line off into sections, and on reference to Appendix C it will be seen upon which sections of the line through the Middle Island, the outlay for maintenance has been chiefly incurred. Ilie heavy floods which occurred in August, 1867, and in the month of February last, added considerably to the cost of maintaining the Telegraph between the Waitaki River and Nelson. _ The amount set down under the head of material, for the section between Waitaki and Christchurch, has apparently made that section costly as regards its total maintenance ; the greater portion of this material, however, still remains unused, and considerable expense was incurred m the alteration of the wires in and about Christchurch, when the West Coast Line was taken over. The greatest outlay without any permanent advantage, was, I consider, on the section between Christchurch and Blenheim, as the repairs which we were forced to make in order to restore communication, will, in a few months, be rendered useless by the reconstruction of the line; the rotten state of the poles, the insecure manner in which the rivers on this section were spanned, and the exposed and rugged character of part of the country through which the line runs, caused this section to suffer more than any other. After its reconstruction, however, it will be one oi the least expensive to maintain, as every care is being taken to ensure the stability and durability of the new work. . . One of the chief sources of expense upon the section between Blenheim and Metson, the greater part of which runs through birch forest, has been the constant falling of dead trees across the wires; this has now to a certain extent been remedied by removing from its vicinity any trees that would be likely, in falling, to come in contact with the line. 1 may add that tne chain wide which was originally cleared of bush along this line has not been found sufficient owing to the great height of the standing timber. The poles on this section have in many places been renewed, and I do not anticipate that any very great expenditure for repairs will be required for some time to come.. . „, . The remaining portions of the line, viz., between the Bluff and the Waitaki, and Christchurch and Greymouth, require no special remark, as the expense attendant on repairs has not been greater than must be expected under ordinary circumstances. Before leaving this part ot my report, I would respectfully suggest that another Inspector be appointed to act m coniunction with Mr. Bird; there can be no doubt that the rapidity with which extensive repairs 'were executed in February last were mainly owing to the energetic measures taken by that gentleman and Mr. Walter Blake, who happened to be in a position to render assistance at one of the places where it was most required. The Electrician to this Department, m the report on his recent inspection of the lines and stations in the Middle Island, speaks very favourably of the class of men who are engaged in performing the duties of Linemen. _ I may add that it has been found advisable to provide each Lineman with a horse, instead of giving them, as formerly, an allowance of ten shillings per diem when out on line duty; and from the experience of the last four months, I have every reason to be satisfied with the change, _ both on the score of economy and the greater certainty and expedition with which repairs are effected. Complaints of Errors, Delays, Etc. The registered number of complaints made by the public during the year, is eleven; they may be classified as follows : — Three telegrams reported as not received. Five late delivered. Three with errors in the wording. Each of these complaints was strictly investigated, and the offender punished by a severe tine or otherwise.

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The above number of complaints must be considered very small when taking into consideration that the number of telegrams transmitted during the same period amounts to over 98,000. The arrangements made, by your direction, for establishing a Learners Gallery in^Vellineton for the instruction of cadets in some of the main principles of telegraphy and the routine of office duty will, in a measure, lessen causes of complaint. This Gallery has been placed under the charge of Mr. C. V. de Sauty, whose experience and attainments as an Electrician especially qualify him for this important duty. The success that has hitherto attended his operations is very satisfactory, and their continuance will, as the Department increases, be the means of opening up to the sons of New Zealand settlers a source of profitable and honorable employment in the public service, and make New Zealand no longer dependant upon neighbouring Colonies for a supply of competent telegraphists. The plan, also adopted by your direction, of teaching the officers of this Department, where practicable, the several duties connected with the daily routine of a Post Office, has proved a means of affording much accommodation to the public, and a source of considerable saving in the maintenance of Telegraph Stations. By this arrangement the expense of a Telegraph and Post Office, where a combination of offices is found practicable, is borne jointly by the Telegraph and Postal Departments. The stations that have been organized on this footing during the year are Bluff, leatherston Greytown, Castle Point, and Waipukurau ; and it is intended, as soon as the line between Grcymouth and Westport is completed, to establish the offices at Charleston and Brighton on the same terms. Financial. In addition to the returns furnished in former reports (sec Appendices D., E., F,, and G.,) I have added a Table (Appendix H.) showing the total number of telegrams forwarded from, the total value of business, the total cash receipts, and the cost of maintenance, of each station. On reference to the return in the report of last year of the number of telegrams transmitted during the year 1868-67, (70 ; 952) it will be seen that the number (98,485) transmitted during 1867-8, after deducting 7,912 transmitted by the offices of the West Coast Line (which were not included in last year's return) shows an increase of 19,621, being rather better than 25 per cent.; and the actual cash receipts compared in the same manner show an increase The total "cash receipts of the Telegraph Department from all sources is £11 652 3s 7d., and the total value of business done, including guarantees and other receipts is £18 324 3s. 10d., which after deducting the cost of maintenance of stations and lines (£14,896 ss. Id.), leaves a balance to the credit of the Department of £3,427 18s. 9d. (See Appendix I.) The interruption resulting from the extensive damage done to the lines in the months of August and February have lessened the cash receipts this year by at least £1000, and added fully £1 500 to the cost of maintenance. These losses, however, are not likely to occur again, as one of the principal causes of them, viz., the rotten condition of a part of the line, has been, to a certain extent, and will ere long be entirely, removed , . I think on the whole, that, considering the generally depressed state of the Colony during the period to which this report refers, the progress of this Department in a financial point of view may be considered satisfactory. , In Appendix M I have given in detail the value of telegrams sent by each Department of the General Government: on reference to this table it will be seen that by far the greatest amount of work of this description is entailed by the Shipping Reports. There is no doubt that the Department actually loses by the publishing of shipping telegrams more than twice the value set down for them in the Table, as each shipping notice now published deprives the Department of several messages each of greater length than the notice as now given. _ As the business of this Department increases the saving of time effected by the way m which these reports are now forwarded from the various stations will, without doubt, be of great advantage, and it would be well if other Departments of the Government were to make it their study to be more concise in their communication by wire. Present Rates of Charges, etc. At your request I have attached to my report, in Appendix K. a return showing the charges for the transmission of telegrams in the Colonies of New South Wales and Victoria; and, in order to afford a comparison with those of our own tariff, I have shewn the charges in force in New Zealand for similar distances. _ _ You will observe that the charges made in New Zealand are m every instance much lower than those in the Colonies above mentioned; this is one argument in addition to many others which might be adduced for not attempting to lower the present tariff until the actual cash receipts more than cover the worlring'expenses. There can be no doubt that the plan now adopted by you of requiring guarantees against loss to the Department from persons wishing to have Telegraph Stations opened m those districts where the extent of population would not otherwise justify such a course being taken, as well as 2

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the substantial manner in which the lines are now being constructed, will tend to bring about a change from the present moderate tariff to a still lower one. The arrangements recently made by your instructions for the reception of Telegraphic Messages at all Post Offices in populous districts to which telegraphic communication at present does not reach, has already added considerably to the revenue, and will do so to a greater extent when the information of the facilities thus afforded for the use of the telegraph becomes more widely distributed. There can be no doubt that the plan is a great boon to outlying districts. By the assistance of the Inspector of Post Offices, I am able to furnish you in Appendix L. with a comparative statement of the number of telegrams, and of the number of letters within each Province for the last year: I have included a similar statement comparing the proportion of telegrams to letters despatched in Great Britain, Belgium, Switzerland, and New Zealand; my authority is a report recently published by Mr. Scudamore, of the General Post Office It will be observed on reference to the Appendix in question, that the Provinces of Marlborough and Southland make use of the telegraph to a greater extent in proportion to the number of letters despatched than any of the others. I attribute this, in a great measure, to the want of more frequent postal communication between those Provinces and other parts of the Colony. It will also be seen that New Zealand compares favourably, from a telegraphic point of view, with the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Switzerland. Before concluding my Report, I would beg to bear my testimony to the able and zealous manner in which as a rule, the several officers of this Department have performed their duties. I desire especially to mention that many of the recent improvements in the discipline of the various offices and the working of the lines have been mainly owing to the suggestions furnished to me from time to time by Mr. C. V. de Sauty, whose long and varied experience in the art of telegraphy render his services in the position he now holds of Electrican to this Department, of very great value, and from whom a report on the condition of his branch of the Department is attached to this report. I have, &c, C. Lemon, To the Hon. the Telegraph Commissioner, General Manager. Wellington.

SIR __ Wellington, 3rd July, 1868. I have the honor to submit to you the following Report on the electrical condition of the lines of Telegraph in New Zealand (excepting those in Auckland) ,_ on the working of the same, and on the present electrical condition of the Cook Straits Submarine Cable. The lines visited by me, and to some extent inspected, were:—Bluff-Invercargill; BalcluthaDunedin; Port Chalmers-Dunedin ; Christchurch-Duncdin; Christchurch-Greymouth; and Christchurch-Nelson, via Blenheim. All the stations in the Middle Island were visited and thoroughly inspected by me during the months of December, January, and February last. The insulation of such of the lines as I have tested is m a very satisfactory condition, even in wet weather ; and from the results obtained on those lines a good general idea of the condition of the remainder may be formed. The insulators in use consist of baked earthenware caps, cemented on to vulcanite covered bolts, by which they are attached to the arms; they are known as "Varley's Insulators," and are used on all the lines visited by me, excepting on the West Coast line from Christchurch to Greymouth, and on the short line from Dunedm to Port Chalmers On these latter lines " Siemens' " galvanized iron-capped white porcelain insulators are fitted Both these descriptions of insulators are exceedingly well fitted for the purpose intended ' If any preference can be given, it should be in favour of the former, when more than one wire is attached to the same pole ; the latter are, however, more suitable on lines of a single wire The insulation of the lines will be improved when the new " leading m wires are fitted to the several stations requiring renewal; as, owing to the effect of change of temperature, friction and alternating moisture and dryness, the gutta-percha-covered wires—at present chiefly US ed—have become deteriorated and porous, admitting moisture to the conductor and causing a leakage or loss of current at each place so deteriorated. On the new lines recently constructed, and in course of construction, and on the re-erection of the Woodend and Blenheim section, longer arms than those hitherto used are being fitted, which alteration, taken together with the strict supervision under which the construction and renewals of the lines are now effected, will, it is hoped, remove one of the principal causes of interruption, viz., "contact, or very materially diminish it. An improvement will also be found on those lines resulting from the soldering of all joints. On the White's Bay and Nelson line all faulty or doubtful joints have been re-made or otherwise improved. _ The principal part of the business of the new stations about to be opened on the \\ est Coast, it is anticipated, will be with Nelson. I would therefore suggest that the new (third) wire, now being erected between Woodend and Blenheim, be carried on to White s Bay, and there connected to the No. 1 Nelson wire, by which means Nelson will acquire permanent direct communication with Christchurch.

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I would suggest that the portion of the line between the City of Wellington and Featherston, which leaves the road and runs through the bush on the Rimutaka Range, be removed and erected along the coach road, for the purpose of allowing rapid inspection and repair when necessary,—a seriously difficult matter as the line runs at present. The Linemen have been recently supplied with a code of rules and regulations for their guidance, which will facilitate their operations when engaged on repairs. I avail myself of this opportunity of testifying to the zeal and general desire, on the part of the staff of Linemen, to acquit themselves well of the important, arduous, and often dangerous duties assigned to them. As a body, I do not think any telegraph system has the service of a superior staff. I must also notice the services of the District Inspector, Mr. Bird, whose section comprises some of the roughest and most difficult country in the Middle Island. The energy and perseverance evinced by Mr. Bird in surmounting many difficulties and interruptions in his endeavours to re-open communication, in times of flood and storm, are deserving of much praise. With regard to the working of the lines generally, some alterations have recently been made. The most important of these is the abandonment of the system of " translation" at Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The business is subjected to less delay than formerly obtained. This change was carried out in consequence of the following remarks made on the subject in my Report of the Bth of April. Among other suggestions for the improvement of working, I recommended— " That the system of ' translation' be superseded. During the last three weeks it has been suspended on the Government Buildings line as an experiment, and Mr. Mason reports that the work is got off much more rapidly now than by translation. The Telegraphists and Officers in Charge are universally in favour of the system of translation being superseded, and I am not aware of any single point in favour of retaining it. There can be no doubt that considerable time is lost in consequence of the necessity for reducing the speed of working so as to ensure good signals. This reduction of speed is necessary by reason of the number of circuits thrown into play, and the antagonism of as many springs. In translating between Government Buildings and Greymouth, for example, no less than nine independent circuits are made, nine electro-magnets are excited, nine springs to be overcome, and ten batteries thrown into play. In any one of these thirty-seven elements a very trifling fault will throw the whole thing out. The only argument in favour of ' translation' over ' transmission' is the greater accuracy assumed to be obtained by it, but that accuracy is purchased at the expense of speed. It is very rarely that the lines are in such order as to allow of rapid translation taking place. The delay is very serious, amounting, in some cases, to several hours, —for when an operator at a station has a message to send to another station to which he cannot work direct, he has to wait until perhaps three or four lines'are cleared before he can send it. The " Varley" instruments are not suited for translation, —the electro-magnets being too long, take a comparatively long time to acquire and lose magnetism. Time is also lost in getting all the instruments necessary for the translation into adjustment on starting. Telegraphists not making due allowance for the increased number of circuits and magnets in use, start off at as rapid a speed as if they were working to a station direct, and at a short distance; in consequence, it is very rarely that within a reasonable time of the circuits being all prepared for translation that the messages can be commenced. If it is considered desirable for the sake of accuracy, to work direct, and without transmission, —the distance between any two stations in the Colony being so small, no difficulty can be experienced in doing so, although some little time will be sacrificed, but much less time "would be lost than obtains at present. In conclusion, as to the matter of " translation/ I would observe that it is an old-fashioned and obsolete system that has been superseded all over the world (not excepting even Germany). I know of no country but this where it is in existence, and here, the lines being of such limited lengths, it is not at all needful on account of lengthy circuits. It has been, even on long lengths of submarine cable, done away with in favour of direct working. If no other reasons were shewn for superseding it, a glance at the complicated connections in stations would suffice to condemn the plan." On the 22nd May, " translation " was suspended at Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, leaving it in force at White's Bay and Hokitika. At the former place it was retained, not as a necessity or an advantage, but simply as a precautionary measure to allay any fears, that might arise, of danger to the cable by reason of the larger amount of battery power necessary to work through direct from Wellington to Christchurch, —not that any damage could result from using any amount of battery power on two of the cable wires—(the third is not in use) —but it was thought advisable, in case of any damage occurring to the cable from lightning, that the cause of such damage might not (in the minds of those unacquainted with electrical phenomena) be erroneously set down as an effect of the larger working battery power. At the latter place it was retained, as the reasons above given for superseding the system do not apply in their full force to the Hokitika line, —none but Siemens' Embossing Morse instruments being in operation at Hokitika and Greymouth. The recent purchase of better constructed instruments (made by Messrs. Siemens Brothers) than those formerly in operation, and the approaching arrival of more of the same description, will further improve the working. Some slight alterations have been introduced in the manner of fitting up new stations with regard to the placing and connecting up of the batteries. This will have the effect of shortening

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E— No. 5,

8

3 vstt^z&zzzs.'fc =S£—--those stations can be fitted up upon one ™tosyjtem. new North Stations, and will also the reduction of the resistance would amount to °™ • k , providing additional the fine wire coils of the relay and galv™ter were fas,3d this and further reductions to be made when practicable are— this ana lurt . consumption of zinc and sulphate of copper. 2! Less number of connecting screws (always a source oi annoyance and trouble). 4 ETrlintSiiuty of interruptions from faulty cells, and bad connections by myself will show. Date. No. 1 Wire. Ho. 2 Wire. 1867,-September 1 ... 473 ... ... October 314 ... 547 ™ g? Member 1 ... 598 ... . ■•• g7 1 '■■ ros ■" 10-5 709 December 2 ... 608 ... -W o ... 1868.—June 7 ... 930 ... <>J The toe »> r , of Jj™. S^J^X'XtetaST^^ Association units of resistance) per nautical mile J™*., insu i a tion It will be seen by the tertmg »«* te^. The tag. of ** j^wer! th?« 4 S insulated submarine wire, I d, ef med T^P;s Udff N t 0 ° V^ IVber1 V ber lw t, disconnected, and has not been in preserve it. as long as^posjble J^V^^Chiess calls for increased means of carrying operation since. Xt mJ'™/Tf no f in^ me anwhile deteriorate to an alarming extent ; but f l satr^^^^ cable disturbed^or attempts made to make good the present defects in^the No. 2 in ol3edience to the instructions of

THE TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

9

E.— «o. 5,

transmitting and receiving messages. With regard to that part of my duties relating to the instructions of officers and cadets in the technical details of practical telegraphy, I am not so sanguine of success. Any intelligent youth of fair education can, in a few weeks, become a tolerably expert operator : but to acquire a really useful knowledge of technical details demands m addition to a slight knowledge of the principles of electricity and magnetism, an actual propensity or liking for the subject. Even after many years' experience as operators, and with the opportunities of observation open to them of acquiring an useful amount of practical skill and knowledge the per centage of officers in the Department so improving themselves is unfortunately exceedingly The number of miles of telegraph in operation is 1,183. The number of miles of wire is 2,223. The number of instruments in operation is fifty. The number of cells (battery) in operation is 2,090. Appended to this is a map of the two Islands, showing the course of the telegraph and a plan showing the circuits and instruments, while below is given a list of stations now open—their calls, number of instruments, and batteries at each station.

List op Station's. *-*■ -• SS: <&. — can. g-g-Balclutha ... B] 1 ... 70 Kaikoura ... Kk 1 60 :^ eal ?y. - By- •■■ 1 ... 30 Lyttelton ... Ln. "" 1 '" 2 0 Blenheim ... Bm. ... 1 ... 50 Napier ... Wa. 1 40 ]>luff ••• B. ... 2 ... 70 Nelson Nn "2 60 Castle Point ... C.P. ... 1 ... 40 Oamaru Ou 1 70 taeyiot ... Ct. ... 1 ... 50 Picton ... p n . '" 1 50 Christcliurch ... Ch. ... 6 ... 300 Port Chalmers PC 1 20 Dunedm ... Dn. ... 5 ... 190 Selwyn Sw '" 2 70 JBeatherston ... F n . ... 1 ... 40 Tokomairiro Ti 1 70 Government Buildings G-.8. ... 1 ... 10 Timaru Tv 1 70 Greymouth ... Gm. ... 1 ... 30 Waikouaiti Wk 1 70 Greytown ... G-n. ... 1 ... 40 Waipukerau W 1 40 Havelock ... Lk. ... 1 ... 50 Wellington ... Wn. '.'.'. S '" 80 Hokitika ... Hk. ... 2 ... 75 White's Bay WB 6 205 Invercargill ... In. . 1 70 _ "" Kaiapoi ... Ki. ... 1 .;; 50 50 2 ,090 I have, &c, To Charles Lemon, Esq., Electrician. General Manager, Telegraph Department. Wellington, New Zealand.

B.—No. 5

Appendix A. RETURN showing Additional TELEGRAPH LINES erected during the Financial Year ending 30th JUNE, 1868, and the Cost of the same.

EETUEISr

Appendix B. RETURN showing the TOTAL COST of the LINES OF TELEGRAPH throughout NEW ZEALAND belonging to the General Government (exclusive of the Auckland, and Canterbury West Coast Lines,) and the COOK STRAIT CABLE.

RETURN showing the COST OF MAINTENA NCE of TELEGRAPH LINES for the Financial Year ending 30th JUNE, 1868.

10

REPORT ON THE WORKING OE

LOOAXITT. si <D '3 Cost of Cost of Poles. Cost of Clearing Bush. Value of Wire, Arms, Insulators, &o. Amount Paid for Erection. Cost of Inspection and Supervision. Total Cost of Lino. Cost per Mile. Survey. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ b. d. £ s. a. £ s. d. I Wellington to Masterton Masterton to Castle Point Castle Point to Porongahau (from the Tenui Junction) ... Porongaliau to Napier 59135| 264 4 6 22 15 1 839 4 4 388 18 6 1,969 13 9; 1,101 13 1 387 12 6 165 16 0 3,460 15 1! 1,679 2 8 57 18 4a I , 46 19 6a 236 17 0 250 13 6 2,362 10 0 ; 2,459 15 6 176 9 4 74 0 0 722 18 6 918 9 8 i 755 10 0, i 831 12 0: 1113 9 10 >!l70 4 8 4,367 14 8 4,704 15 4. 14,212 7 9 : 82 8 2 ■ 69 3 9 53 68 487 10 6 ;4,822 5 6 I 537 8 ll] i '2,869 11 0 14,658 8 10 -I >837 3 0 I )! 65 12 11Z> 216| a Supply of poles included in erection. b Average cost per mile.

!OOK Itea.it )AB1 Locality. Length of Section in miles. Cost of Clearing Bush. Total cost of Poles for Section including Delivery. Cost of Wire, Arms, Insulators, &c, including Cartage. £ s A. Cost of Erection. Total Cost of Section. Cost per Mile. £ a. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 812 15 6 469 11 0 1,720 13 3 3,760 19 0 3,661 6 0 503 12 6 800 0 0 £ s. d. 812 15 6 2,407 12 4 13,108 19 0 13,743 1 2 14,057 6 7 503 12 6 800 0 0 £ s. d. 42 15 6a 75 4 9 69 7 0 63 0 1b 58 6 Oo 71 18 lid 100 0 Oe Bluff to Invercargill Invercargill to Mataura Mataura to Waitald Waitaki to Hurunui Hurunui to Nelson White's Bay Line Port Chalmers Line 19 32 189 218 241 7 8 1,229 3 3 1,199 0 0 8,353 18 0 6,554 8 8 5,213 14 0 739 1 4 3,034 7 9 3,427 13 6 3,953 3 4 Total Middle Island... 714 1,229 3 3 21,321 0 8 11,154 5 11 11,728 17 3 45,433 7 1 63 12 7/ Lyall's Bay to Wellington... Wellington to Masterton ... Masterton to Castle Point... Castle Point to Porongahau Porongahau to Napier 4 59| 35f 53 68 264 4 6 22 15 1 176 9 4 74 0 0 123 5 0 104 6 0 839 4 4 388 18 6 722 18 6 918 9 8 57 15 0 2,357 6 3 1,267 9 1 1,105 16 10 1,252 10 2 285 6 0 3,460 15 1 1,679 '2 8 4,367 14 8 4,704 15 4 71 6 0 57 18 4 ? 46 19 % 82 8 2h 69 3 9/t 2,362 10 0 2,459 15 6 Total Northern Island Total Middle Island... 220:J714 537 8 11 1,229 3 3 4,945 10 6 21,321 0 8 2,973 17 0 11,154 5 11 6,040 17 4 11,728 17 3 14,497 13 9 45,433 7 1 65 14 10J 63 12 7 934|1,766 12 2 26,266 11 2 14,128 2 11 17,769 14 7 59,931 0 10 64 2 6/fc Cook Straits Cable Freight from London Expenses of Laying 26,508 0 0 2,500 0 0 856 0 0 29,864 0 0 Total Expenditure (exclusive of re-construction Blenheim and Woodend Line) 89,795 0 10 a Purchased from So d Approximate cost of p< of poles and supervisio: i Average cost per mile, 1 rathland ' oles, &c. n includi Northern Q-overnment. e Purchased ed in cost of Island, k A: b Includes £' from private fin erection. Th i 'erage cost per r 150, purchase of a. /Average c< iiirvey and supi lilo. Lyttelton line, ist per mile, Mil ;rvision include c Approxim; ddle Island, g sd in cost of e ate cost. ■ Supply section.

Number of Miles. Salaries of Travelling Expenses. Extra Labour. Cost of Material used for Repairs. Total Cost of Maintenance. Cost per Mile. Locality. Linemen. Bluff to Balclutha Balclutha to WaitaK Waitaki to Cliristchurch Christchurch to Blenheim Blenheim to Nelson, including White's Bay Line Christchurch to Greymoutli, from 1st January, 6 months 114 152 148 208 £ s. a. 121 15 8 130 4 4 470 16 8 269 8 1 £ s. d. 129 12 0 243 5 10 336 4 9 675 6 6 £ s. a. 14 7 6 56 6 0 254 15 5 388 18 6 £ s. d. 33 15 0 86 3 7 458 1 3 132 G 5 £ s. a. 299 10 2 515 19 9 1,519 18 1 1,465 19 6 £ s. a. 2 12 6| 3 7 10i 10 5 4i 7 0 11 92 242 3 4 223 13 8 428 14 0 223 7 1 1,117 18 1 12 3 Oi 156 5 0 239 8 8 8 4 6 83 3 6 487 1 8 2 15 4 176 1,016 16 10 j5,406 7 3 6 1 G* 890 .1,390 13 1 1,846 11 5 1,151 5 11 * Total cost ier mile, £6 Is. 6d.

REPORT ON THE WORKING OP THE TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

11

Appendix D. RETURN of ORDINARY TELEGRAMS for the Financial Year ending 30th JUNE, 1868.

E.—No. 5.

Appendix E. RETURN of PRESS TELEGRAMS for the Financial Year ending 30th JUNE, 1868.

AUGTTST. Septembeb. :obee. INjOVEitBEB. D® :ember. Jantaky. Fe: 1RTTAEY. 1 ARCH. Apkix. Hat. June. Totals. r TTLY. No. of Telegrams. No. of jTelegrams.' No. of I Telegrams. No. of Telegrams. No. of Telegrams. No. of 1 Telegrams. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of 'elegrams. Amount. So. o Telegrau Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of iTelegrams. Amount. Amount. Amount. Amount. Amount. Amount. Amount. Wellington Blenheim Picton Havelock Nelson Kaikoura Cheviot Kaiapoi Christclrarch Heathcote Lyttelton Timaru Oamam Waikouaiti Bunedin Port Chalmers Totomairiro Balclutha Invcrcargill Bluff Crovernment Offices Selwyn White's Bay Hokitika Oreymouth Bealey Featherston Greytown Castle Point Waipukurau Sapier 343 134 97 71 297 39 31 122 932 13 388 165 236 45 1,076 135 194 66 158 95 47 £ s. a. 64 5 0 13 12 9 8 14 11 6 7 5 45 7 4 5 11 7 6 18 9 11 5 127 17 2 0 15 7 32 15 5 24 6 11 27 18 11 5 10 5 159 10 2 11 1 3 23 7 10 6 13 8 24 1 11 9 2 3 13 2 6 183 139 98 82 189 24 19 89 737 24 357 170 271 55 876 158 163 52 132 94 23 £ s. a. 27 10 5 14 17 5 9 7 7 8 2 3 27 18 7 3 4 8 4 12 8 6 7 10 98 5 7 1 17 8 32 6 11 24 5 1 31 19 6 6 12 11 110 0 5 11 13 8 17 17 3 5 10 11 18 3 11 10 9 7 4 2 11 409 170 117 64 344 55 19 113 1,039 22 365 251 293 43 1,221 126 200 62 157 107 87 £ s. a. 75 19 1 19 0 8 12 3 9 6 10 7 55 16 10 7 14 0 3 14 0 8 10 9 164 2 6 2 8 1 32 17 3 41 6 11 34 0 0 4 10 5 178 11 2 10 2 9 21 6 7 5 17 9 22 10 3 11 9 3 22 15 6 489 200 114 52 311 55 36 89 1,026 19 382 254 305 34 1,242 178 226 55 204 91 48 £ s. a. 91 5 5 22 16 10 12 1 3 5 3 1 52 1 2 7 7 7 8 16 3 6 5 7 151- 6 3 2 0 2 33 19 9 43 16 7 34 17 8 3 9 11 175 4 6 13 0 8 23 4 10 6 4 3 31 0 7 8 11 5 10 11 3 291 176 106 52 303 37 26 87 913 9 349 190 282 80 1,193 137 208 61 213 97 5 £ s. cl. 44 19 3 20 3 7 10 6 6 5 0 9 45 10 11 4 16 3 7 6 5 6 3 5 140 17 11 0 13 4 30 9 3 26 7 11 30 10 0 11 4 0 171 14 11 9 17 5 18 1 1 6 0 4 32 6 0 11 3 7 0 17 7 483 170 113 59 338 62 38 109 1,063 357 216 306 61 1,379 157 288 90 205 110 7 1 8 £ s, a. 88 6 3 17 14 2 11 8 6 6 4 7 56 10 2 9 13 0 8 11 3 9 7 10 168 9 5 28 7 4 34 17 7 34 6 4 5 18 5 190 7 8 10 11 8 29 4 1 9 4 8 28 13 6 13 18 3 0 16 7 0 13 0 14 3 489 207 97 65 324 63 59 95 783 "379 222 287 51 1,299 179 229 109 230 125 7 8 3 528 361 14 28 £ s. a. 91 12 9 23 12 11 9 10 5 6 5 3 62 15 3 11 2 2 13 0 11 7 10 2 128 1 7 39 1 2 34 5 7 32 13 11 5 14 11 214 13 10 12 1 3 22 17 10 9 15 4 41 0 2 14 11 11 1 10 2 0 19 11 0 8 7 121 3 11 60 2 10 1 11 4 3 6 9 243 179 109 33 170 25 30 115 592 287 128 200 80 901, 126 277 118 199 92 6 5 3 416 257 15 16 £ s. a. 45 6 5 17 14 0 9 4 4 2 18 9 30 14 7 3 11 4 5 16 7 8 4 2 81 1 8 24 3 10 20 12 7 23 10 5 9 3 10 128 18 0 9 10 0 25 8 7 11 12 4 25 13 9 13 14 7 10 8 0 14 1 0 7 5 88 18 4 34 13 2 2 0 0 1 17 10 535 244 128 79 386 53 46 106 936 412 316 398 78 1,615 153 259 90 275 165 11 6 4 593 369 11 22 £ s. a. 99 5 7 27 10 2 13 16 5 7 6 11 77 8 11 7 9 8 10 11 1 10 9 11 159 13 2 40 5 10 49 16 3 51 15 7 7 15 9 274 7 3 13 2 9 23 9 6 9 15 4 39 17 9 21 4 11 2 0 2 0 12 7 0 8 4 156 6 4 81 14 9 14 0 2 7 7 1< l,0( 4( 2} 4( 1,41 1' 2! 55 20 10 5 37 5 2 2 1 7 a ■1 12 1 .0 15 3 13 4 u till 22 f 7 £ s. a. 102 11 5 22 7 6 10 14 2 5 13 5 74 8 2 G 3 11 19 13 8 13 15 11 174 0 1 42 8 2 39 17 5 52 4 9 6 3 7 215 12 0 14 15 6 25 18 11 9 17 9 33 3 2 12 2 9 0 10 9 16 4 0 8 0 153 16 5 51 14 9 1 19 10 2 5 5 2 9 7 10 4 505 214 137 60 312 42 48 116 907 421 323 385 52 1,413 173 312 90 218 122 8 12 1 560 298 7 9 45 19 £ a. d. 87 0 5 25 11 9 12 15 7 5 15 5 59 4 3 5 9 10 13 14 5 12 4 3 158 15 11 36 15 1 47 1 6 43 4 4 5 7 4 225 16 4 12 13 1 27 9 5 9 9 4 37 2 1 18 8 10 12 9 1 12 10 0 4 2 138 1 10 52 9 6 0 15 0 0 17 5 4 15 4 3 2 0 506 180 117 68 359 41 31 109 899 418 249 383 52 1,441 193 293 80 232 85 17 7 5 458 329 8 16 49 15 164 127 £ B. Cl. 89 19 0 20 3 4 10 10 11 6 9 4 64 7 3 5 4 4 7 8 7 10 12 4 119 5 8 39 10 4 32 16 3 46 1 1 5 12 4 212 8 8 13 12 0 25 1 11 10 4 9 37 14 4 11 9 4 3 16 8 0 19 1 112 108 10 3 55 19 6 1 14 9 14 0 5 7 7 2 12 24 8 7 15 16 3 5,031 2,220 1,341 740 3,736 537 443 1,295 10,887 87 4,577 2,766 3,747 688 15,060 1,892 2,941 954 2,443 1,298 269 52 28 3,099 1,858 66 113 117 41 164 127 £ s. a. 908 1 0 245 5 1 130 14 4 71 17 9 G52 3 5 77 8 4 109 7 6 109 3 7 1,677 16 11 7 14 10 413 0 4 419 10 7 443 2 6 77 3 10 2,257 4 11 142 2 0 283 7 10 100 12 5 371 7 5 156 6 8 62 7 6 6 0 1 3 11 11 766 17 1 336 14 G 9 4 11 11 19 0 12 12 6 6 3 6 24 8 7 15 16 3 23 1] 5 2^ \ Total . 4,684 625 16 1 3,935 475 7 9 5,264 741 8 1 5,443 746 5 0 4,815 634 16 5 5,620 763 6 9 6,241 969 10 10 4,625 629 11 3 7,290 ll,189 16 6 6,9i 1,097 3 8 6,809 1,047 0 0 6,931 889 10 9 68,617 9,909 13 1

August. Septembee. .'OBEB. NOYEMBEE. I Decembee. Jaotaky. Febbuaky. Maech. April. Hay. "tike. 'OTALS. TTLY. No. of Telegrams. ] No. of Telegrams. No. of Telegrams. No. of Telegrams. No. of ITelegrams. No. of I Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. Jfo. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No.. Telegri f ms. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Aiuount. Amount. Amount. Amount. Amount. Amount. Wellington Blenheim Picton Havelock Kelson Kaikoura •Cheviot Xaiapoi Christehurch Heathcote Lyttelton Timaru 'Oamaru Waikouaiti ... I Duneain Port Chalmers Tokomairiro Balclutha Invercargill Bluff 'Government Offices Selwyn White's Bay Hokitika Greymoutli Bealey Featherston Greytown Castle Point Waipukurau 3S Tapier 109 £ b. a. 35 17 7 20 £ s. a. 6 4 9 98 £ s. a. 38 8 3 0 5 2 85 £ s. a. 22 9 2 33 £ s. a. 8 19 46 £ s. a. 10 13 10 59 £ s. a. 13 5 8 17 2 £ s. a. 3 7 6 0 10 6 62 £ s. a. 18 5 2 6 £ s. cl. 22 4 0 62 £ «. a. 17 2 9 75 1 £ s. d. 27 3 10 0 19 735 5 £ s. a. 223 4 3 0 17 5 ... 2 0 16 8 14 4 9 5 "2 0 40 3 3 "2 A 1 0 "4 1 2 O "9 9 5 1 "7 10 16 7 5 9 1 14 10 "8 10 2 10 4 1 "4 10 64 31 2 4 3 23 0 5 6 3 15 3 2 8 0 5 0 1 10 8 1 13 0 "2 0 1 15 3 4 5 0 "8 6 1 12 8 3 0 10 0 1 0 0 9 2 13 0 3 0 3 0 11 3 7 0 10 6 1 12 0 30 8 3 2 1 0 2 6 1 15 11 4 6 0 6 0 16 4 8 3 0 14 0 0 15' 8 "29 122 2 17 0 25 18 7 11 0 5 6 19 6 4 1 12 2 16 6 1 19 1 16 7 0 10 6 19 4 22 1 10 9 0 3 4 19 0 10 0 22 0 12 0 21 0 12 0 24 0 13 0 31 0 19 0 2 0 11 6 "52 1 16 3 53 i 1 3 12 1 10 0 0 6 5 313 21 12 4 443 80 68 6 12 30 31 12 3 10 4 9 2 4 4 7 0 18 8 117 9 4 6 6 6 9 11 9 1 13 10 8 13 4 18 11 2 13 5 7 27 13 8 7 13 7 12 6 0 18 8 12 5 5 2 11 8 0 6 0 0 11 1 7 5 13 10 2 0 9 0 19 9 "37 4 1 10 6 11 0 4 6 0 8 2 6 22 7 6 1 16 2 5 8 10 0 12 6 0 17 6 34 2 3 8 12 3 0 7 6 0 9 11 41 13 12 18 15 0 116 19 9 2 19 10 7 0 14 7 5 2 0 0 11 6 0 16 11 1 2 51 6 1 0 2 11 0 4 1 16 19 8 0 5 6 0 19 515 19 8 0 7 0 0 10 6 64 6 6 3 1 8 20 18 0 0 15 6 0 14 7 0 14 0 0 2 0 5 18 45 2 10 3 5 21 11 7 0 3 6 12 9 0 19 10 4 4 8 1 0 5 4 2 10 0 3 6 1 3 4 8 1 10 0 0 2 9 2 0 4 8 "'i 5 10 0 17 4 4 3 2 15 7 "8 7 "6 3 6 0 9 2 8 3 2 3 3 2 14 6 0 3 6 17 1 9 4 0 0 16 9 14 4 0 16 26 2 12 10 3 0 4 0 3 3 0 13 6 1 10 0 "74 11 34 16 7 2 10 1 0 5 3 2 0 *8 2 0 17 6 4 3 7 8 3 0 7 7 3 10 0 13 5 4 12 9 2 0 7 7 2 o"> 7 Totals 57 7 2 227 67 1 8 211 58 19 9 252 75 2 4 228 65 18 8 2,075 553 18 3 209 89 20 9 7 209 64 17 1 161 36 18 0 100 21 4 5 111 23 10 4 174 44 0 3 104 18 9 0

Appendix F. RETURN of PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT TELEGRAMS for the Financial Year ending 30th JUNE, 1868.

E.—No. 5.

Appendix G. RETURN of GENERAL GOVERNMENT TELEGRAMS for the Financial Year ending 30th JUNE, 1868.

12

REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

July. ACGTT3T. September. ITOBEB. NOYEMBEIt. Decembek. Januaet. Fe: 1RTTAE "AECH. .PME. Mat. June. TOTAXS. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. *ount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. Ho. of Telegrams. Amount. £ s. (1. 0 13 9 £ s. d. £ s. d. 0 2 6 £ s. d. 14 3 £ s. d. £ a. d. 6 £ s. d. 1 10 7 4 £ 1 s. d. 4 2 3 £ s. d. 0 18 9 2 £ s. d. 0 18 6 3 £ s. d. 0 10 5 £ s. d. 1 14 9 0 15 2 0 2 4 0 2 9 2 9 8 £ s. d. 8 17 8 0 15 2 0 2 4 0 5 2 27 2 10 Wellington Blenheim Picton liaveloek Nelson ... I Ivaikonra Cheviot, Kaiapoi Christclmreh Heathcote Lyttelton Tiraaru 2 1 5 6 6 1 1 7 32 6 1 2 82 1 0 7 9 '5 1 12 9 9 1 14 7 8 2 17 11 4 0 19 8 q 0 9 3 1 0 1 8 10 12 8 1 14 0 2 5 4 6 9 19 9 5 2 i 0 5 0 1 31 0 0 10 8 6 9 29 4 16 3 32 10 10 9 38 8 2 5 45 7 0 10 1 178 0 0 10 38 17 0 Oainaru Waikouaiti Dunedin Port Chalmers Tokomairiro Balclutha Invercargill Bluff 12 21 1 4 43 10 25 2 11 2 7 1 13 6 3 17 4 0 19 0 17 1 15 2 6 12 6 2 17 I' 0 4 9 2 18 9 0 3 10 2 11 0 16 11 10 7 39 7 20 1 17 9 2 19 10 17 2 15 8 6 18 10 0 15 3 4 12 4 4 17 1 8 51 9 14 0 10 1 5 12 0 3 514 4 20 1 4 10 1 2 15 0 17 16 5 7 53 8 18 12 4 7 2 18 2 18 0 0 11 2 16 9 12 5 0 0 14 1 5 15 9 0 8 11 3 12 5 0 10 7 2 10 10 26 24 3 2 60 4 51 2 19 1 3 10 2 0 10 11 0 4 8 12 5 0 0 9 2 11 12 2 7 3 78 13 30 1 1 13 1 6 3 9 7 3 L2 3 12 10 14 10 3 42 10 14 0 5 11 7 4 6 0 14 11 2 6 4 3 3 47 15 16 2 0 7 2 0 4 10 18 7 10 1 16 1 2 15 10 0 9 10 4 2 61 16 29 7 0 11 1 0 5 4 13 14 5 1 13 5 5 10 1 1 16 6 2 9 1 55 5 23 0 7 3 2 3 6 0 14 9 16 17 10 0 13 8 3 13 5 75 91 46 37 529 97 240 13 52 17 35 9 2 1 18 13 9 7 5 10 7 10 8 136 9 6 10 12 0 48 12 10 3 0 0 17 2 9 1 18 10 17 16 8 1 4 5 0 0 11 0 8 5 1 17 0 12 2 16 6 14 1 0 4 9 10 17 10 "l6 5 3 16 7 0 11 3 G-orernment Offiees Selwyn White's Bay Ilokitika G reymouth Bealey Featherston GreytoTm Castle Point Waipukurau Sapier 1 0 7 9 2 4 10 ' 1 0 8 0 it 1 3 0 0 10 0 6 6 1 0 11 8 1 5 8 1 0 11 8 115 15 6 0 14 9 3 0 14 5 2 1 0 4 7 0 14 9 176 40 19 2 151 28 12 2 I 176 60 19 11 200 44 19 9 240 43 19 6 0 9 3 2 0 0 147 28 -2 7 88 16 7 7 111 34 12 7 126 25 0 8 120 31 6 1 1,549 357 19 3

C1Y. August. Septembee. !T0BEB. De. SMffiEB. Jauuaky. Febkua: -AECH. J?EIL. :at. June. 'OTALS. No. of 'elegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. ,No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. ou;it. No. of Telegrams. Amount, No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. No. of Telegrams. Amount. Wellington Blenheim. Picton ilavelock Xelson Kaikoura Cheviot Kaiapoi Christchurch. Heathcoto Lyttelton Timaru 418 24 80 2 249 5 4 £ s. d. 77 3 4 7 13 10 11 3 6 0 9 7 36 15 10 1 17 2 1 12 9 163 13 33 £ s. a. 25 11 7 2 15 11 3 12 11 361 17 92 1 259 £ s. d. 60 6 3 3 8 8 11 10 4 0 11 6 41 19 1 442 14 76 2 193 £ s. d. 86 2 5 3 16 2 9 2 9 0 7 2 27 15 11 80 11 47 £ s. a. 39 17 11 2 6 4 7 4 10 398 18 104 £ s. d. 69 5 5 3 11 (I 11 15 8 461 30 95 9 376 7 £ s. d. 96 9 5 6 14 4 15 4 1 2 5 3 63 16 9 14 3 214 25 42 7 152 4 £ 43 s. a. 8 4 3 10 19 11 12 3 6 4 3 2 481 46 104 5 244 4 £ s. d. 129 16 6 7 18 11 15 5 11 0 14 11 55 1 11 0 17 2 378 24 100 11 277 £ s. d. 104 6 1 3 17 9 15 11 8 1 12 11 54 18 0 357 25 99 3 193 £ s. a. 89 17- 3 5 2 10 13 13 3 0 9 5 43 9 1 362 20 99 4 220 £ s. a. 82 10 2 2 19 3 15 14 4 0 11 11 40 10 8 4,115 267 971 44 2,624 44 13 10 1,205 £ s. d. 904 14 8 54 9 4 135 18 9 8 14 11 464 14 5 12 15 8 6 7 6 3 10 6 504 4 6 163 2 3 23 6 1 0 17 6 117 110 4 3 1 114 22 15 0 1 9 11 2 13 10 0 16 42 16 10 188 18 27 19 9 5 6 6 5 1 26 1 1 65 3 0 19 4 15 1 79 18 4 10 1 30 15 3 '"78 23 10 7 27 6 16 3 0 8 2 21 0 9 134 53 19 4 104 37 9 7 "88 33 10 11 '"64 16 4 169 109 2 0 4 177 2 112 0 15 8 37 8 4 2 73 27 Oamaru Waikouaiti Dunedin Port Chalmers Xokoniairiro Balclutlia Invercargill Bluff Government Offices Selwyn White's Bay Ilokitika Grreymoutli Bealey Featherston Grey town Castle Point "Waipukurau Kapier 289 16 6 7 100 328 40 5 23 159 140 31 14 7 3 17 10 1 14 1 2 7 4 50 16 2 50 2 11 8 10 18 9 9 3 4 19 6 6 71 19 8 188 15 3 4 43 249 20 3 5 112 46 21 2 2 4 11 3 0 6 7 0 17 5 15 17 3 27 12 10 3 5 3 0 9 4 0 10 0 11 8 3 16 19 11 302 21 4 4 63 390 18 11 7 122 105 32 18 6 4 2 9 10 0 17 9 24 3 9 SO 11 3 5 11 0 4 18 5 1 17 4 18 4 1 44 18 11 361 22 4 1 59 335 4 9 13 131 129 41 1 10 2 13 3 0 11 6 0 6 8 24 19 11 40 11 4 1 10 6 4 18 4 5 9 16 9 11 66 2 8 286 14 3 49 319 15 2 17 132 96 30 12 11 1 19 3 0 14 1 17 0 9 38 4 7 3 17 10 2 9 4 7 18 10 16 4 9 44 0 10 376 48 81 336 23 4 13 107 146 40 4 2 15 1 1 34 4 8 45 13 1 5 19 2 14 7 6 4 2 15 10 4 75 18 7 310 36 9 1 100 452 17 9 29 155 215 3 34 11 4 8 7 9 2 4 0 0 4 3 43 18 10 67 14 6 4 17 2 2 18 6 12 11 7 27 15 2 164 6 9 2 0 3 276 22 7 2 34 273 13 4 19 83 89 1 31 5 1 o! 14| 37! lj 1 io; 12l 56 0 9 2 7 3 6 8 6 5 4 7 14 9 10 7 10 1 18 9 17 1 2 5 3 3 409 29 6 3 86 456 12 10 23 220 173 12 43 13 6 7 3 9 1 0 10 0 9 1 49 3 2 77 16 8 1 18 11 2 6 5 8 7 7 37 13 3 127 7 10 9 17 7 366 44 8 4 100 427 11 7 26 158 235 10 43 12 7 18 0 2 1 10 6 0 13 11 39 13 6 73 0 8 3 3 2 2 10 6 10 14 5 25 18 3 154 14 0 5 14 3 447 31 3 132 470 10 14 29 247 233 1 51 7 0 7 0 9 0 10 0 63 4 9 75 15 3 1 6 11 11 5 8 11 6 8 40 1 7 136 11 0 0 6 6 410 22 6 5 128 430 20 42 9 0 3 15 7 3 13 10 1 60 14 11 66 15 9 3 17 4 4,020 320 56 34 975 4,465 203 78 220 1,782 1,836 28 444 16 9 82 0 8 13 5 5 8 7 0 438 2 3 651 13 7 44 18 10 35 3 3 89 15 10 267 19 1 1,097 17 2 18 4 0 16 156 229 1 5 17 5 26 9 11 138 14 7 0 2 2 505 98 2 7 250 3 5 43 19 0 3 18 0 1 6 10 381 88 17 1 157 29: so! 0 7 1 19 11 15 6 2 2 525 86 280 5 3 39 3 10 418 72 193 7 4 30 9 1 315 58 5 3 146 0 1 25 15 0 3 8 11 0 9 11 263 70 12413 7 29 11 1 2,407 472 24 25 1 5 1,151 16 9 198 17 11 28 2 5 4 9 2 0 3 7 0 16 4 2 0 14 1 8 1 2 13 2 0 3 7 0 6 5 4 0 13 0 3 0 9 11 TOTAIS ... 1,973 410 18 9 1,092 167 2 1 1,843 328 18 6 1,932 384 18 1 1,303 282 9 4 1,964 395 7 10 3,014 890 2 4 1,818 492 5 10 3,105 1,005 19 1 2,868 866 5 4 2,792 765 15 9 2,540 681 17 4 26,244 6,672 0 3

13

E.—No. 5.

Appendix H. RETURN for the FINANCIAL YEAR ended 30th JUNE, 1868, of the CASH REVENUE derived from PRIVATE, PRESS, and PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT MESSAGES, and of the Value of GENERAL GOVERNMENT MESSAGES; the Number of MESSAGES transmitted by each Station, and the WORKING EXPENSES of each Station.

THE TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

Hams op Station. Total Cash Revenue derived from Private, Press, and Provincial G-overnment Messages. Value of General Total Value of Total Number of Private, Press, and Provincial Grovernment Messages. Total Number of General Government Messages. Total Number of Messages of all codes. Amount paid for Salaries. Total Cost of Maintenance of each Station. G-overnment Messages. Messages of all codes. Contingencies. RElfAEKS. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ a. d. ■ 2,120 14 9 1,029 2 9 104 18 6 183 6 8 111 16 5 72 18 4 331 18 6 91 13 4 102 8 5 79 13 4 933 9 4 8 6 8 320 17 4 97 16 10 172 12 8 73 6 8 855 19 5 137 10 0 159 3 5 83 6 8 183 6 8 227 1 8 64 11 8 263 1 4 135 8 4 104 3 4 83 G 8 GO 10 11 22 19 6 23 15 0 £ s. d. 357 9 7 99 2 10 7 9 0 21 12 7 10 19 0 4 0 6 27 2 1 12 16 G 47 2 4 4 13 0 292 18 6 £ s. d. 2,478 4 4 1,128 5 1 112 7 6 204 19 3 122 15 5 76 18 10 359 0 7 104 9 10 149 10 9 84 6 4 1,226 7 10 ! 8 6 8 361 9 9 102 10 3 183 5 5 83 13 2 894 5 0 148 5 0 172 4 5 133 17 11 192 17 5 276 1 8 I 98 4 8 286 14 8 140 14 10 113 0 1 87 11 11 71 12 11 30 15 6 | 42 6 10 10 7 6 6 G 0 Head Office Wellington Government Buildings Blenheim Picton Havelock Nelson Kaikoura Cheviot Kaiapoi CkristchuTch Ileathcote Lyttelton Timaru Waikouaiti Dunedin Port Chalmers Tokomairiro Balclutha Invercargill Bluff Selwyn White's Bay Hokitika Greymouth Bealey Featherston Greytovm Castle Point Waipukurau Napier 1,110 2 11 93 9 9 216 17 8 130 16 8 72 2 11 710 8 7 77 8 4 109 7 6 112 1 5 1,742 12 6 7 14 10 434 6 3 442 13 G 454 12 6 85 13 2 2,541 3 9 159 0 6 311 12 0 105 6 3 397 3 6 176 16 8 G 6 1 3 11 11 801 13 8 339 7 2 9 4 11 13 13 10 18 10 9 6 18 3 24 1G 2 15 16 3 701 14 8 1,097 17 2 54 9 4 135 18 9 8 14 11 464 14 5 12 15 8 6 7 6 3 10 6 504 4 6 441 1G 9 82 0 8 13 5 5 8 7 0 438 2 3 651 13 7 44 18 10 35 3 3 89 15 10 267 19 1 18 4 0 2,044 17 7 1.191 G 11 301 7 0 268 15 5 80 17 10 1,175 3 0 90 4 0 115 15 0 115 11 11 2,246 17 0 7 14 10 879 3 0 524 14 2 467 18 4 94 0 2 2,979 6 0 810 14 1 38G 10 10 140 9 6 486 19 4 444 15 9 24 10 1 3 11 11 1,953 10 5 538 5 1 37 7 4 18 3 0 18 14 4 7 14 7 24 16 2 15 16 3 5,798 335 2.231 1,342 742 3,882 537 443 1.325 11,187 87 4,965 2,878 3,805 729 16,032 2,069 3,249 973 2,507 1,345 52 28 3,173 1,870 6G 121 135 42 166 127 4,115 1,836 267 971 44 2,624 44 13 10 1,205 4,020 320 56 31 975 4,465 203 78 220 1,782 28 9,913 2,171. 2,498 2,313 786 6,506 581 456 1,335 12,392 87 8,985 3,198 3,861 763 17,007 6,534 3,452 1,051 2,727 3,127 80 28 5,580 2,342 90 146 136 47 166 127 40 12 5 4 13 5 10 12 9 10 6 6 38 5 7 10 15 0 13 1 0 50 11 3 9 10 9 49 0 0 31 13 0 23 13 4 5 6 6 8 16 9 4 5 3 11 2 0 7 16 0 18 11 10 10 7 6 6 6 0 Guaranteed. Subsidy £75 Otago Provincial Government. Guaranteed. 1,151 16 9 198 17 11 28 2 5 4 9 2 0 3 7 0 16 4 2,407 472 24 25 1 5 Guaranteed. Guaranteed. Guaranteed. ... 72,241 26,244 ! 1,250 12 9 | I 9,489 17 10 10,821 10 7 6,672 0 3 17,493 10 10 98,485 8,239 5 1

E.—No. 5

Appendix I. DEBTOR AND CREDITOR STATEMENT.

Appendix K. COMPARATIVE TABLE showing the RATES Charged for Messages on the VICTORIAN, NEW SOUTH WALES, and NEW ZEALAND LINES OF TELEGRAPH, distance for distance.

Appendix L. STATEMENT showing the Number of INTERPROVINCIAL LETTERS DESPATCHED during the Postal Year ending 31st DECEMBER, 1867; the Number of TELEGRAMS forwarded from each PROVINCE for the Year ending 30th JUNE, 1868; the proportion the TELEGRAMS bear to every hundred LETTERS; and the proportion of LETTERS and TELEGRAMS despatched in the UNITED KINGDOM, BELGIUM, SWITZERLAND, and NEW ZEALAND.

14

REPORT ON THE WORKING OP

Dr. 'o Total cost of Maintenance of Stations 'o Total cost of Maintenance of Lines £ s. d. 9,489 17 10 5,406 7 3 £ s. d. 14,896 5 1 Ob. •By Cash Eeoeipts as under, — Ordinary, Press, and Provincial Telegrams ! Subscriptions from the Press [ Other Eeoeipts, Tariff Sales, &e. | Subsidy from Otago Province for Tokomairiro Station for | year ending 31 Dec, 1867 Amounts due as under, — Subsidy from Otago Province for Tokomairiro Station for -|- year ending 30 June, 1868 Do. from Wellington Province for the Featherston Station for fa year ending 30 Juno, £75, less value of business done, £18 3s. Do. do. for G-rcytoivn Station for z year ending 30 June, £37 10s., less value of business done, £18 14s. 4d. ... : Do. from Canterbury Province for Selwyn Station for fa year ending 30 June, £75, less value of business done, £24 10s Id. £ s. d. 10,821 10 7 588 6 8 41 3 9 37 10 ' Oj 37 10 0 £ s. d. 56 17 0 18 15 8 50 9 11 lalancc (Credit of Department) Total Cash Revenue den. Government Telegrams 11,652 3 7 C.G72 0 3 3,427 18 9 £18,324 3 10. £18,324 3 10

VlCTl New Zealand. IEIA. No. of Miles. First 10 Words. Per Word. From To No. of Miles. First 10 Words. Per Word. From To Melbourne ... Ditto Ditto Ditto Ararat Ballarat ... Belvoir Sandridge... 150 96i 205 3 s. d. 3 0 2 6 3 0 1 0 d. 2 2 2 1 Christelmrch InTereargill ... Duncdin Christcliurcli Oamaru Balclutha Christchureh Lyttelton 164 94 244 8 s. a. 1 8 1 3 2 1 0 10 d. 2 l.V 2i 1 New Sout: Wales. Sew Zea: ilM. Sydney Ditto ... Albany liuston s. d. | ... I 380 4 0 C13 5 0 d. 3 3 Nelson ... Timaru Invercargill ... Pieton s. d. I 392 2 6 622 2 11 d. 3 3i In New South Wales, offices close at 6 p.m.; Head Offic :ent. extra. Offices closed on Sundays. In Victoria, offices open from 830 a.m. till S p.m., excej In New Zealand, offices in chief towns open from 8 a.m LO'30 a.m. and from 5 p.m. till 5'30 p.m. jc open till 9 p.m. Messages sent after G p.m. charged fifty per jt Sundays, when they are closed all day. i. till 8 p.m. on week days, and on Sundays from 10 a.m. till

Station. No. of Letters. No. of Telegrams. Proportion oi Telegrams sent for every 100 Letters. Wellington Ma,rlborough Nelson Canterbury and Wcstland Otago Southland 289,058 47,215 143,371 801,774 575,948 81,209 12,313 6,206 6,962 42,101 32,668 5,384 4-41 13-14 4-85 5-25 5-66 7-20 Total number of Letters ... ... ... .■■ 1,938,571 „ Telegrams ... ... ... '.. 106,10? Proportion of Telegrams to every one hundred Letters ... ... 5'4' In the United Kingdom 1 Telegram sent for every 121 Letters. In Belgium 1 ,, „ 37 ,, Tn Switzerland 1 „ „ 69 „ In New Zealand 1 „ „ 20

E.— No. 5.

Appendix M. RETURN showing the CASH VALUE of SHIPPING TELEGRAMS, and the AMOUNTS actually CHARGEABLE to each DEPARTMENT of the GENERAL GOVERNMENT for TELEGRAMS transmitted during the Financial Year ending 30th JUNE, 1868.

15

THE TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

July. AUOTTST. September. OCTOBEE. NOVEHBEE. Decembeb. Jabttakt. Febbuaey. March. APEIL. May. Jujte. Totals. I I I I I ! Colonial Secretary £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ S. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. .£ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 13 14 5 10 3 16 12 0 36 4 2 39 17 7 31 15 7 71 17 2 29 11 10 148 10 3 130 6 8 64 7 8 129 10 11 713 8 6 Postal 61 16 0 20 5 10 31 12 5 58 16 4 36 8 11 45 14 3 166 11 4 80 15 0 ! 184 15 7 67 14 5 96 14 1 53 10 5 907 14 7 Treasury 40 16 1 6 5 1 15 7 3 23 12 4 19 4 3 64 2 1 93 11 1 45 6 9 78 17 6 105 17 8 111 13 4 83 15 2 688 8 7 Customs 7 2 9 7 6 5 15 0 10 33 2 6 10 14 10 17 6 11 71 7 3 42 15 9 73 9 4 51 14 10 52 13 2 30 18 11 413 13 6 Judicial 5 14 1 8 11 9 8 12 14 11 5 17 14 9 11 9 8 72 17 5 43 10 11 77 12 11 63 10 9 50 9 11 36 11 6 410 16 3 Crown Lands 0 16 2 2 6 2 1 15 7 2 3 6 4 4 5 0 13 5 4 8 11 2 14 5 19 8 3 8 7 8 9 10 15 2 11 51 10 6 Stamps 4 18 2 0 12 2 5 0 11 1 13 0 2 14 6 1 15 1 0 19 0 0 7 9 13 9 6 18 1 11 9 18 6 28 6 3 Native 3 16 0 16 4 0 18 7 0 7 4. 2 14 9 4 5 10 10 17 8 3 17 4 2 18 0 10 0 4 28 1 3 10 4 1 78 3 0 Gold Melds 36 6 10 8 6 10 8 14 9 2 13 6 1 13 7 10 3 4 7 10 10 5 0 0 80 9 8 Defence 16 3 3 7 9 9 4 1 4 5 1 6 7 9 12 13 1 3 7 1 11 14 1 65 0 2 30 11 8 ' 21 18 11 169 15 11 Marine 0 7 1 0 7 1 3 4 8 4 8 11 6 16 3 16 19 11 14 13 1 8 9 3 40 1 7 25 0 11 8 9 6 24 9 6 153 7 9 Printer 0 3 10 0 18 7 0 3 9 16 2 Registrar 2 11 9 4 16 4 I 702 11 5 10 7 15 6 17 10 10 8 4 7 j 5 8 1 11 15 1 76 8 2 Auditor 0 8 9 0 8 9 Public Works ... 11 4 6 14 9 9 3 3o! 3 2 7 I 4 10 10 8 14 5 45 5 6 Telegraph eo 19 ii ; 1G 8 1 88 10 8 24 11 1 18 19 5 23 19 0 19 17 11 9 2 3 14 2 1 9 11 4 11 3 9 7 243 8 2 Shipping Reports 173 19 6 94 12 3 177 5 11 170 9 5 113 18 3 1G2 4 7 317 14 9 I 193 4 6 341 0 1 317 1 1 297 15 0 250 3 8 2,609 9 0 Totals .•» 107 2 1 328 18 6 410 18 9 384 18 1 282 9 4 395 7 10 890 2 4 492 5 10 1,005 19 1 866 5 4 7G5 15 9 G81 17 4 6,672 0 3