F— 1.

Exchanges. The connections in the Auckland exchange totalled 2,224 on the 31st March, as against 2,036 at the end of the previous year, an increase of 188. Of these connections 2,131 are paying, 25 are fret, and 68 are bureau-connections. There are also 520 extension telephones in use, an increase of 73 during the year. The switchboard now provides accommodation for 2,399 connections. The connections to the exchange involve the use of 117 miles 37 chains of poles and 2,195 miles 70 chains, of wire. Of aerial wire, 528 miles 6 chains have been replaced by double wire in leaden metallic circuit cables during the year. The aerial wire replaced by metallic circuit cables will be dismantled. The nine other exchanges in the district have had material increases in the number of connections, which now total 653, an increase of 96. Devonport was fitted with a 100-number annunciator, and all wires made metallic circuits. Hamilton and Rotorua had extra 50-number annunciators fitted, bringing the capacity of the exchanges up to 150 each. The total number of connections to all exchanges in this district is 2,877, of which 2,720 are paying, 36 are free, and 121 are bureau-connections. These are connected by 157 miles 30 chains of poles and 2,464 miles 49J chains of wire, exclusive of 86 miles 75 chains of dead wire. The total number of extension telephones is 537, making the total number of telephones in use 3,414. A superimposed telephone circuit was arranged between Thames and Waihi, with Paeroa intermediate, using the No. 7 and the Paeroa-Thames direct wire, and the duplex and No. 3to Waihi. The condenser metallic circuit system is being used, and is working well. Wellington District. Construction. The following new lines and wires have been erected during the year : — Poles. Wire. M. eh. M. eh. Hutt pathc logical laborat jry (metallic circuit) .. . . .. 22 0 Lead off Gisbcrne-Ormcnd wiie to Makauri .. .. .. 0 1 Mataioa to Tiriraukawa, new line.. .. .. ..7 0 7 0 Palmerston North to Aokautere, new line .. . . 1 32 3 72 Eltham to Omoana, new line .. .. .. 19 0 19 0 Ohutu to Taoroa, new line .. .. .. ..70 70 Taoroa to Pukeokahu, new line .. .. .. ..72 72 Palmerston North to Newbuiy, new hue .. . . .. .. 4 40 Opunake to Te Kin, new line .. .. .. 6 60 6 60 Westmere to Brunswick, new line.. .. .. ..3 0 3 0 Kaponga to Mahoo, new line .. .. .. ..50 50 Kaponga to Kapuni, new line .. .. .. ..40 40 Kapuni to Manaia, new line .. .. .. 5 40 5 40 Mangptoro to Waitahora, new line .. .. 4 60 4 60 Mangahao to Makcmakc, new line .. .. 4 20 4 20 Mohaka to Wairoa, telephone-wire .. .. .. .. 22 0 Westmere, leaa off main line .. .. .. .. .. 0 l| Mangamahoe to Hastwell's, new line .. .. 1 40 3 0 Taupo to Onekeneke, new line ..' .. .. 0 40 2 40 Mangatainoka to Makairo, new line .. .. 9 26 9 26 Mangatoro to Pokokomuka, new line .. .. 3 30 3 30 Kimbolton to Awawaro, new line .. .. 3 60 3 60 Kohuratahi to Tahora, new line . . .. .. 5 25 5 25 Waiouru Suburban, lead off main line .. .. .. .. 0 1 Matemateonga .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 2 Upper Hutt to Akatarawa, new line .. .. 9 40 9 40 Waitotara to Taumatatahi, new line .. .. 29 40 33 40 Waione to Horoeka, new line .. .. .. ..70 70 Waione to Pongaroa, new line .. .. .. ..90 90 CarswolPs to Whareama .. .. .. .. ..30 30 Masteiton to Pahiatua (section of Masterton to Palmeiston Ncith, new wire) .. .. .. .. .. .. 43 0 Trunk telephone wires— Wanganui to Marton (metallic circuit trunk wires) .. .. .. 46 0 Gisborne to Tolaga Bay, trunk wire .. .. ..... 33 40 Masterton to Greytown Noith, trunk wire .. -•»... •• • •■ 30 0 . Hastings to Maraekakaho, trunk wire .. .. .. .. 14 0 Napier to Hastings (metallic circuit wires) .. .. .. .. 25 0 Hastings to Pakipaki (completing metallic circuit) .. .. .. 4 0 Masterton to Ek itahuna, new trunk wire .. .. .. .. 25 0 Eltham to Stratford, new metallic circuit wire .. .. .. 6 0 Alfredtcn to Eketahuna (metallic circuit) .. .. .. .. 24 0 Masterton to Wellington, metallic circuit wires .. .. .. 126 0 Masterton to Pahiatua, new trunk wire .. .. .. .. 43 0 Normanby t > Okaiawa and Matapu, metallic circuit wire .. .. 7 0 156 35 641 40|

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