F.—l.

TELEGEAPH AND TELEPHONE CONSTEUCTION AND MAINTENANCE. Auckland. Construction. The following new lines have been erected in connection with the opening of new offices and providing further outlets between existing offices : —

Miles of Poles. Miles of Wire. Auckland to Doubtless Bay ... ... ... — 224 Henderson to Swanson ... ... ... ... 4 4 Motuihi to Waiheke Island offices (Putiki, Awaroa, and Cowes) " 13J 13^ Tuakau to Onewhero ... ... ... , . 7 7 Aoroa to Mangawhare ... ... ... ... 3 Totara North to Mangonui ... ... ... 17 Waihopo (telephone moved) ... ... ... 1J Lead off Mercer-Bangiriri line to Waerenga ... ... 8 8 Paeroa to Komata ... ... ... ... 3-J- 7-J Rotorua to Taupo ... ... ... ... 25 120 Opotiki to Ohiwa ... ... ... ... — 10 Cambridge to Cambridge Sanatorium ... ..'. 5J 6 Manukau Heads to Awhitu Central ... ... ... Of 5 Lead off Eawene-Kohukohu line to Horeke ... ... 5 5 Lead off Tekopuru-Eehia line to Naumai and Eaupo ... 5 5 Leadoff Mercer-EangiririlinetoWaerengaExperimental Farm — 0J Peria to Fairburn's and Victoria Valley ... ... 16 16 „ Ponsonby to Eichmond Hill ... .... ... 0-J If Auckland to Devonport (trunk wire)... ... ... — 11 For Public Works Department — Tahekeroa telephone moved to beyond Ahuroa ... ... Of Of Poles. Wire. For Eailway Department— Miles. Miles. Newmarket-Mount Eden Eailway-station 1-J- 1J) .., , 3 Mercer Eailway-signal wire ... ... — ■§■) . * Totals ... • ... ... 96f 467| Dismantled — Whangaroa loop ... ... ... — 12 | 2 53 Eotorua to Taupo ... ... ... 2 41 j Net increase ... ... ... 94f 414f

The additions for the year make a grand total of 1,984-f miles of poles and 5,131-f miles of wire in this district. Offices. Seventeen new offices were opened during the year, and a bureau only at Waiwera Hotel. Three offices were reopened (Ararimu South, Otamatea, and Te Kao) and four closed (Te Ahuahua, Tahekeroa, Paro-o-Tarao, and Euapekapeka). New offices have been occupied at Waihi, Mercer, Dargaville, Te Puke, Paparoa, Tapu, and Oponini. Tauranga office was destroyed by fire on the 16th November, 1902. Hamilton, Kawhia, and Eaglan have been made bureaux. At Whangarei a duplex has been installed in place of the single set of instruments. The Auckland operating-room has had to be enlarged and two extra quadruplexes installed. This office is also being refitted. Whangaroa has been converted from a Morse to a telephone office. Maintenance. Botorua-Taupo. —A new line from Eotorua connecting with the Cambridge-Taupo line at a point 25 miles south of Eotorua was erected, upon which three wires were run between this new junction and the old one, a distance of fifteen miles, the old route having been in a- bad state and difficult to maintain. On the old line between Orakeikorako. and Earthquake Flat (where the Waiotapu line branches off) 2 miles of poles and 8 miles of wire have been dismantled, and between Earthquake Flat and Eotorua 33 miles of wire have been taken down. The whole section from Eotorua to the old junction (40 miles) has been thoroughly overhauled and strengthened, and is now in excellent order. The section Auckland to Hamilton has received considerable attention. The Mangonui-Cape Maria Van Diemen section (100 miles) has been completely overhauled, and is now in good condition. The Eotorua to Putaruru section (32 miles) has also been well attended to. The work of rebuilding the Auckland-Doubtless Bay section is well in hand. The portion between Doubtless Bay and Whangarei, with the exception of about 3 miles near Kaeo, has been entirely rebuilt and brought on to the roads. To give greater stability a heavier and better class of pole has been used.

XXIII