XXXIII

F.—l.

;, Poles. Wire. M. eh. M. eh. Humphrey's-Ho Ho .. .. .. .. 2 15 2 15 Seddon - Richmond Brook .. .. .. ..37 5 74 Motupipi-Totaranui .. .. .. .. ..80 80 Reefton - Upper Blackwater .. .. .. 4 10 18 23 Wainihinihi office .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 3 Sherry River extension .. .. .. .. ..14 14 Runanga office .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 5 Stillwater-Jackson's .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 60 Pakawau-Mangarakau .. .. .. .. 12 9 12 9 For Public Works Department — Tadmor-Manu .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 6 10 6 148 7 218 69 , Less railway wire ceased to be maintained by Department— Waimangaroa - Conn's Creek .. .. 1 20 1 20 1 ; ! '• 146 67 217 49 : Net increase for the year, 146 miles 67 chains of line and 217 miles 49 chains of wire. There are 1,166 miles 53 chains of line and 3,158 miles 18 chains of wire maintained in this district. There are nine authorised but uncompleted works, some of which are nearing completion, and others will be proceeded with as soon as practicable. These works include extensions to new districts, and the erection of wires on existing lines to give increased accommodation, and to improve existing services. Three and one-third knots of submarine cable have been laid in the Croixelles Harbour for use with the extension in hand from Nelson to the French Pass ; and a mile of submarine cable has been laid in Tory Channel to form part of a telephone-line about to be erected from Picton to Tory Channel entrance, taking in en route various settlements along the Sounds. Maintenance. The main lines throughout the district have been overhauled, and certain sections strengthened during the year. They are in good order. During April a very heavy gale was experienced on the West Coast, wrecking the Taipc—Otira section completely, and doing other damage in the district. A set of duplex instruments has been installed at Reefton. A copper wire was run from Stillwater to Jackson's to facilitate communication between Wakapuaka and Christchurch, at the same time giving telephone-facilities between Greymouth, Kumara, Taipo, and Otira. A Morse circuit was superimposed on the metallic circuit between Westport and Denniston. Offices. Twenty new offices have been opened during the year, making a total of 189, of which 26 are Morse and 163 telephone offices. New offices have been erected at Nelson and Collingwood, and the transfer of apparatus has been effected. Additions and alterations were made to the Tophouse office. The offices at Flat Creek, Motueka Wharf, Upper Takaka, Sherry River, Motupiko, Stillwater, Rockville, and Millerton have been removed to other premises. Other offices have been overhauled and refitted. Denniston has been converted from telephone to Morse. The new post and telegraph office at Greymouth is expected to be finished shortly. Exchanges. The number of subscribers to the exchanges continues to increase, and now totals 1,148, of which 970 are paying, 40 are free, and 138 are bureau-connections. There are also 52 extension telephones, making a total of 1,200 telephones in use in the district. The Nelson exchange has 13 miles 53 chains of line and 172 miles 5 chains of wire. The new branching multiple switchboard is now in course of erection ami will be soon completed, when the telephone exchange will be transferred from the old building to the new post-office premises. The switchboard will accommodate 900 subscribers The Greymouth exchange has 26 miles 36 chains of line and 169 miles 44 chains of wire. This exchange will shortly be removed to the new building There are 9 exchanges in this district connected hy 79 miles 44 chains of line and 578 miles 18 chains of wire. The metallic circuits used for telephonic communication and the Morse superimposed on the several telephone circuits are giving entire satisfaction. The relief from induction is of marked advantage to the despatch of business.

v—F. 1.