F.—l

44

EXTENSIONS NOT COMPLETED DURING YEAR. In addition to the extensions enumerated in the foregoing table, a number of extensions to the switching and cabling portion of local telephone-exchange systems was commenced but not completed during the year. These are as follow :— Wellesley Street Exchange : Extension of switching equipment by 3,000 exclusive lines and 100 two-party lines. Takapuna Exchange : Extension of switching equipment by 200 individual lines. Kaeo Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Auckland Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Mamaku Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Ngatea Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Paeroa Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Taneatua Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Tauranga Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Te Aroha Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Te Kopuru Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Thames Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Whangarei Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Blenheim Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Waipukurau Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Waipawa Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Wellington Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Palmerston North Exchange : An extension of the toll switchboard by the installation of two additional operator's positions. Christchurch Central Exchange : Extensions to switching equipment by 2,000 exclusive lines. Cheviot Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Kaiapoi Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Timaru Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Oamaru Exchange : Extension, of switching equipment by 200 exclusive lines. Dunedin Central Exchange : Extension of switching equipment by 1,000 exclusive lines. Dunedin Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Gore Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Invercargill Exchange : Extension of cabling system. Roslyn Exchange : Extension of switching equipment by 100 two-party lines. OPEN-WIRE SYSTEMS RECONSTRUCTED. In consequence of cabling operations, and in order to improve the system of overhead distribution, reconstruction of the open-wire systems was carried out at the undermentioned exchanges : — Auckland Engineering District: Hamilton, Huntly, Matiere, Ohaupo, Orini, Otorohanga, Piopio, Taumarunui. Wellington Engineering District: Gisborne, Havelock, Hawera, Marton, Wellington. Canterbury Engineering District: Met-hven. MISCELLANEOUS IMPROVEMENTS. Other improvements to the telephone-exchange equipment during the year included the following : — The installation of Leich frequency-converters at a number of exchanges in replacement of motor-generator sets and pole-changers for the purpose of improving the ringing facilities of those exchanges. The installation at Te Awamutu of a new toll-board, together with lamp-controlled waylines. The installation at Piopio and Opunake of new main distributing-frames. The installation of a new 1,400 A.H. 48-volt storage battery at Palmerston North Automatic Exchange. The replacement of the switching equipment at Coromandel, Katikati, Mercer, Waimana, Featherston, Norsewood, Eketahuna, and Cust, by switchboards of either a more modern type or of a larger capacity. The overhaul and replacement of plates of the storage battery at Blenheim. The overhaul of the switchboard and installation of new jacks and plugs at the Nelson Exchange. The installation of a new pole-changer at Manaia for exchange ringing. PUBLIC CALL OFFICES (COIN-IN-THE-SLOT TELEPHONES). During the year seventy additional public call offices were provided, bringing the total number in use up to 679. The facilities provided by the installation of public call offices continue to be availed of by the public to a very large extent.