POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 163, 10 July 1907, Page 3

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

THE ANNUAL REPORT.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) \7ELLINGTON, this day. VANCOUVER MAIL SERVICE. The report notes the discontinuance of the Frisco service, and the reasons therefor. Concerning the Vancouver service, it states ithat it is understood that the present contractors (the Union S.S. Company) may on the expiry, two years hence, of their extension of their contract with the Federal Government (in which a port of call in New Zealand is not mentioned), be prepared to enter into a three years' contract to include a New Zealand port as a calling place, and provide a new fast steamer in each of the three years. The Canadian Pacific Railway Company have also, it is understood, been considering the question of competing for the service to include New Zealand, to be performed by its fast 14,000 ton steamers of the -'Express" line, now employed in the trade between Canada, Japan and China. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. Referring to wireless telegraphy, the report states that it will probably be found the best policy to withold any considerable outlay in connection with wireless telegraphy, pending more definite knowledge of the results of scientific research. Negotiations with the Commonwealth towards establishing wireless communication, did not result in any decision to prosecate the work. MISCELLANEOUS. The report contains a resume of the Department's work at the Exhibition, and also states that the franking machines sold or let to reputable business firms in various centres are working satisfactorily. The checks made by the Department provide against fraud. The special system set up by the Post Office for the payment of Old Age Pensions is working smoothly, but it is costing the Postal Department £3800 per annum, of which the Old Age Pensions Department only recoups it £1010. The last financial year, the _ payments made numbered 152,502, or an increase of over last year's of 8.14 per cent. AUCKLAND ITEMS. The total length of new telegraph and telephone extension in Auckland district during last year was 561 miles of wire, and 162 miles of new poles. Allowing for dismantled construction, the net increase was 135 miles of poles and 494 miles of wire. The length of line operated was 2262 miles, with 6207 miles of wire, exclusive of that used by the Railway Department for railway work alone. New telephone and telegraph offices opened totalled 48, while five were closed, leaving a total of 6338 in the district. The telephone system—still rapidly extending—has reached the impressive proportion of no fewer than 2224 connections in existence in Auckland city, an increase of 1888 on the year, while, taking the district exchanges into consideration, the total number of connections is 2877, to effect which 2464 miles of wire have to be provided. Aucklanders are thrifty above the average, for whereas the deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank throughout the colony amount to £33 6/4 per depositor, the local total is £35 17/11. The total deposits during the year were £1,200,273, an excess of £162,912 over the withdrawals. The sum of £1,514,090 stands to the credit of the 42,180 Auckland depositors. The telegraph was used in Auckland district as a speedy way of transmitting money orders to the extent of £51,469, upon which the Department earned £602 in commission.