p.—l

XXV

Thames Exchange. There is little progress to report. About four miles of new wire have been erected. The total ■number of subscribers is seventy-three. This Exchange and its lines have been overhauled. Wellington. Construction. The following additions to wires were completed during the year:— Miles of Mi'es of Poles. Wire. Napier to Wanganui ... ... ... ... ... ... 161 Dannevirke to Ti-tree Point ... ... ... ... 29 29 Bketahuna to Hukanui ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Fowler's to Eangiwahia ... ... ... ... ... 16 16 Wanganui to New Plymouth ... ... ... ... ... 115 Toko to Strathmore ... ... ... ... ... 14 14 Inglewood to Tarata ... ... ... ... ... 12 12 Hutt to Eona ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 6 Wellington to Oterangi Bay ... ... ... ... ... 14 For Eailway Department— Hastings to Kaikora North ... ... ... ... ... 24 Palmerston North to Wanganui Eailway ... ... ... ... 55 Palmerston North to Ashurst Railway ... ... ... ... 9 Woodville to Ashurst Eailway ... ... ... ... ... 9 Hawera to Manutahi Eailway ... .. ... ... 10 10 Wellington to Woodville Eailway ... ... ... 18 105 Total ... ... ... ... ... 101 586 The reconstruction and diversion of the Paikakariki-Marton Junction section resulted, after dismantling a portion of the old line, in decreasing the miles of poles by 14, and increasing the miles of wire by 122, making a total increase of 87 miles of poles and 708 miles of wire. This removal of the main line from the beach has been followed by improved working. Maintenance. The section Upper Hutt-Masterton has been overhauled and strengthened. Considerable damage was done to the lines in the Napier District during the Easter floods of 1897, but the repairs were effected with despatch. The bush fires in the beginning of this year caused some damage to the lines between Masterton and Dannevirke and destroyed the Tawataia office. Offices. Eighteen telephone offices were opened during the year. Alterations were made to the following offices :— Wellington Eailway ... ... ... ... Morse to telephone. Ohingaiti ... ... ... ... ... Telephone to Morse. The telephone offices at Island Bay, Plimmerton, and Tawataia were closed. Cables. Between the 23rd and the 31st March last a new cable of 32-4 knots was laid from Oterangi Bay to White's Bay, and a fault in the Lyell Bay cable was cut out and 23 knots of sound cable inserted. This is the first cable-work undertaken by the Government cable-steamer " Tutanekai," which proved herself to be suitable in every way. Telephone-exchanges. No new exchanges were opened in this district during the year, but the sub-exchange at Hutt ■was closed. The bridging multiple switchboard was fitted in Wellington and opened for public work early in November, and has given the satisfaction that was expected of it. There are now 1,163 subscribers to the Wellington Exchange. There were 143 miles of wire and 12 miles of poles added to the exchanges in Wellington District during the year. Nelson. Construction. The following new wires have been erected :— No. 8 copper completed between Blenheim and Kaikoura ... 90 miles. A fourth wire from Wakapuaka to Belgrove ... ... ... 37 „ Eeefton to Eeefton Eailway-station ... ... ... ... 1-J „ Havelock to Cullensville ... ... ... ... ... 10 „ Ngahere to Blackball ... ... ... ... ... 3J „ Total length of wire erected... ... ... ... 141f miles. iv—F. 1.