¥.— 1

XXVI

Telephone Exchanges. Christchurch : A new multiple switchboard was erected, and came into use on 17th May. It is giving satisfaction. The number of subscribers is 968—an increase of 74 during the year. The total number of subscribers in the district is 1,173 —an increase of 80. Five miles and a quarter of poles and seventy-two miles of wire were erected during 1899. Timaru: This exchange has been practically reconstructed. Cables have been used for leading in subscribers' connections, and No. 14 copper wire has largely replaced No. 12 iron wire, which had become corroded. Ashburton : This sub-exchange is in good order. A partial destruction of the building by fire necessitated a renewal of the internal fittings. The Rangiora sub-exchange is working smoothly. Dunedin. Construction. The following new lines and wires have been erected: — Miles of Miles of Poles. Wire. Dunedin-Oamaru (additional wire) ... ... ... 74 Dunedin-Palmerston (trunk wire) ... ... ... ... 38 Dunedin-Lawrence (additional wire) ... ... ... 1 37 Dunedin-Port Chalmers (additional wire) ... ... ... 9 Oamaru-Hilderthorpe... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Oamaru-Totaratahi ... ... ... ... ... Of 5f Herbert-Waianakarua... ... ... ... ... 4 J 4f Palmerston-Hillgrove (bureau wire) ... ... ... ... 13 Kokonga-Kyeburn ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 Mosgiel-Otakaia (bureau wire)... ... ... ... ... 9 Milburn-Limekilns ... ... ... ... ... 1 1 Clyde-Alexandra (second wire) ... ... ... ... ... 8 Fortrose-Waimahaka ... ... ... ... ... Of Of Invercargill-West Plains ... ... ... ... If 6f Invercargill-Wright's Bush ... ... ... ... ... 3 Orepuki-Te Tua ... ... ... ... ... 8f 8f For Railway Department— Kokonga Railway line... ... ... ... ... 8 43 Waipiata-Ranfurly Railway ... ... ... ... 5 5 Henley Railway-Otakaia Railway ... ... ... 2f 2f Total 33 275 Maintenance. Three hundred and sixty miles of line have been thoroughly overhauled and reconstructed where necessary, involving the erection of over 700 new poles. The total mileage of telegraph-line at the end of the year was 1,546, and of wire 3,617. In the telephone-exchange connections of the district there are 105 miles of line and 1,239 miles of wire. Great advantage has been derived from the quadruplex system, which has been established between Dunedin and Invercargill and Dunedin and Christchurch. The remarkable increase in telegraph business which has occurred throughout the district resulted in some of the lines being overtaxed, more especially the goldfields line. By utilising existing short sections and constructing a new wire where necessary an additional wire has been secured, between Dunedin and Lawrence. An extra wire has also been erected between Dunedin and Oamaru, while another wire is in course of erection from Lawrence to Alexandra to connect with a local goldfields circuit thence to Cromwell. There are indications that further wire accommodation will shortly be required between Dunedin and Invercargill, and Dunedin and the goldfields. Offices. There are now 221 offices in this district. Exchanges. A branch exchange was opened at Palmerston with ten subscribers, and connected by a trunk wire with the Dunedin Exchange. There are fifteen telephone exchanges in the district—an increase of one during the year. The total number of subscribers is 1,660 —an increase of 184. 1,890 telephones are in use. The new multiple switchboard at Dunedin, which has been erected, came into use on the 26th May, and is giving satisfaction. Seven and a quarter miles of line and ninety miles of wire were erected during 1899. All the exchanges in the district are in good order.

Maps on a scale of ten inches to the mile, showing telegraph and mail routes and post, tele graph, and telephone offices, will be issued shortly.