¥.— 1

XXV

Nelson. Construction. The following lines and wires were erected during the year :— Miles of Miles of Poles. Wire. Kekerangu-Saltwater Lagoon ... ... ... ... ... 9 Seddon line ... ... ... ... ... ... If If Nelson-Belgrove ... ... ... ... 6J Parapara ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 1 Denniston-Burnett's Face ... ... ... ... 2 2 Millerton ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 1 Belgrove-Wai-iti ... ... ... ... ... ... 2f Total ... ... ... ... 5f 24 Maintenance. On the Blenheim-Kaikoura section the chief trouble has been intermittent contacts, which, however, will disappear as the length of some of the spans is reduced. Owing to the Starborough Estate being subdivided and fenced about eight miles of line running through it will have to be removed to where it will be accessible to the lineman. A portion of the Nelson-Lyell section has been put in thorough repair. On several of the lines some small diversions are required, poles rebutted, and angles strengthened. These will be attended to during the year. Offices. There are 119 offices in the district. Telephone Exchanges. The Nelson exchange subscribers' connections have received a thorough overhaul and the cables renewed. Everything is in good order. The exchanges at Blenheim and Greymouth are in good order. Some necessary renewal of cables will be made shortly. The total number of subscribers in the district is 242, as compared with 212 last year—an increase of 30. Thirteen miles of poles and 17f miles of wire were erected during the year. The number of telephones in use is 256. Christchurch. Construction. The following new lines and wires have been constructed during the year:— Miles of Miles of Poles. Wire. Timaru-Glen-iti ... ... ... ... ... 3 3 Timaru-Beaconsfield ... ... ... ... ... 2f 6 Christchurch-Heathcote ... ... ... ... ... 5 For Railway Department— Christchurch Railway-station-Addington ... ... ... 2 „ ' Belfast ... ... 9 Heathcote Valley-Lyttelton (through railway-tunnel) ... ... If Hornby-Prebbleton ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Amberley-Waipara ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Total ... ... ... ... 5f 36| Maintenance. The shortening of the spans on the Kaikoura section has been completed, and several sets of pipes driven in some of the creeks to secure poles. This section is now in good order. On the Christchurch-Lyttelton line 25 ft. poles which had become overloaded were replaced by 30 ft. poles. The overhaul of the Christchurch-Sumner line, begun last year, has been completed. The Christchurch-Akaroa and Timaru-Waitaki sections are being overhauled. Three circuits —No. 3 south, No. 3 west, and Akaroa-Lyttelton—have been made continuouscurrent circuits with considerable improvement to the signals, and a saving in the number of batteries. Offices. The total number of offices in the district is 115. Three quadruplex instruments have been fitted up during the year for working with Wellington, Dunedin, and Greymouth, and are found to be of much advantage. That working between Christchurch and Greymouth has obviated the erection of a second wire.

iv—F. 1.