RURAL TELEPHONES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1879, 13 October 1913, Page 11

RURAL TELEPHONES.

CONDITIONS IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT. The extension of the country, telephone system iB a matter ill which the Auckland executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union is e.rfncing a special interest. For the purpose of gathering data (says the "Star'?) letters were recently forwarded to 1 various branches asking for suggestions that might tend to improve tho system generally, and inquiring how grievances (if such existed) could ho rectified. Expressions of opinion concerning tho desirableness ot having tablet- railway stations coni.ccted with tho telephone system were asked for, as was also information re cost of lines laid bi'. farmers.

Tho secretary of tho Kaipara Flats branch (Mr. H. Kensington) has written in reply that data gathered from tho farmers in that district gave the impression that no dissatisfaction with tho telephone system existed, as most of tho linos woro privately owned, having with tho exception of main postal lines boon erected by tho fanners. The opinion was expressed that tablet stations in charge of stationinastors might be advantageously connected with the post offices "by telephone. Referring to the cost of erection, the writer mentioned that a line could be • put up cheaper over broken country because the poles could bo placed upon ridges, perhaps 20 Or 30 chains apart, whereas on level ground they-wero only six or ten chains apart. .The cost over rough country, whore timber was plentiful, was about £6 per mile with No. 12 wire, but lilies connected with post offices required heavier wire, say, No; 10. Any round stick that would hold tho insulator 14 to 16ft. above tho ground was used for, a pole.

The Kiokio branch secretary (Mr. F. Ogle) has advised that tlio Government linemen are busily erecting several party lines, ÜBing old railway lines for poles, 22ft, in length, and sunk about 6ft. in tho Ground., Otorohan(*a was the bureau, ana oil completion ot tho present work the ex<shahge would have over 50 subscribers, which would warrant a 12-hour daily service from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Kiokio being a flag station lmd no connection by telephone, but tho local post ofiico ■ was in direct touch with Otorohanga and To A\van\utU. Tlie HauturU branch advised through its secretary (Mr. W. O'Domiell) that a system of advising the arrival of goods at telephone stations would bfi of little value, as most of the trading was done with Kawllia and by water carriage. Their nearest station (a tablet)-- was 19 miles away 1 from sotno members and 30 miles distant from others. One distiiict improvement would bo a continuation of tho Government telephone line from To Unu-a-mon to Honikiwi, a distance of about eight miles. At present Hauturu people, in order to Bpeak to Otorohanga, had to get communication through Kawhia to Fra'nkton; tho distance, etc., making it almost impossible to get a clear line. Every house in the Hauturu district was connected by a farmor's line to tho post office. They erected the lines themselves with ordinary No. 12 fencing wiro at a cost of about £6 per mile. Tho instruments in uso were old-stylo 8.8.'5, and wore giving general satisfaction. Other branches have writton in similar strain. On the whole the rural telephono services appear to bo giving satisfaction, while in all cases the convenience is referred to in terms of apnreciation.-