F.—l

The place where the break occurred was in a part of the cable which was relaid in May, 1882, when the general route of the cable was slightly altered. The insulation tests of the three cables in Cook Strait—viz., the two which start from Lyell's Bay and end in White's Bay, and the one from Wanganui to Wakapuaka—will be found in the table attached to this report. Nelson District. Construction. —A wire has been run from Westport to Mokihinui, and 15 miles of line erected. A new line from Westport to Charleston via Addison's Flat has been pegged off and bush cleared, and poles about to be erected. The Kumara-Hokitika line has been overhauled and repaired during the year. Poles between Inangahua Junction and Ahaura have been examined and several rebutted, and the line generally strengthened. Two new offices have been opened, namely, Ngakawau and Mokihinui. A new office building has been provided at Longford. The wires are in very good order and repair. Canterbury District. There has been no construction or reconstruction in this district during the past year. The lines have stood exceedingly well, but the following sections will require overhaul and strengthening during the current year: Christchurch and Amberley, Christchurch to Waitaki, Rolleston to Loopline (portions of this line will require to be diverted and certain sections repoled), Christchurch to Southbridge, Christchurch to Akaroa, Amberley to Waiau. All the other lines are in very fair order, and will require no expenditure other than ordinary maintenance this year. Otago and Southland Districts. Construction. —The following new lines have been erected : Hamilton's to Patearoa, 6 miles; Tapanui to Waikoikoi, 5 miles; Abbotsford to Hindon, 1-J miles; Oteramika to Edendale, 4 miles; Roxburgh to Miller's Flat, _- mile ; Roxburgh to Coal Creek Flat, 4 miles; Lumsden to Mossburn, 13 miles; Invercargill to Gore, 40 miles; Queenstown to Glenorchy, 31 miles. Reconstruction. —18 miles of decayed poles between Lawrence and Roxburgh have been replaced, and numerous minor repairs effected on other lines; decayed poles butted and replaced, insulators renewed, and trees and scrub cut. The following work will be in hand shortly : Tapanui line, 300 decayed poles to be replaced; Owake line, 100 decayed poles also to be replaced. Other old lines give indications that a number of poles will require renewing shortly. Offices hove been opened at Patearoa, Waikoikoi, Mossburn, Ettrick, Miller's Flat, Coal Creek Flat, Garston, Glenorchy, Glenham, and Lowburn Ferry. With the exception of the sections already mentioned which require poles replacing, the lines are in excellent working order.

The circuit plans of the lines throughout the colony, corrected and amended up to date, accompany the report.

iii—F. 1.

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