THE TELEPHONIC SYSTEM OF NEW ZEALAND. A SKETCH OF ITS PROGRESS.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 150, 28 June 1887, Page 2

THE TELEPHONIC SYSTEM OF NEW ZEALAND. A SKETCH OF ITS PROGRESS.

RECONSTRUCTION OP THE WELLINGTON EXCHANGE. (By our Special Reporter.) During the present week the Telephone Exchange will be re-opened in this city, and the public, who for tho past two months have experienced great inconvenience by its suspension, will, when they come to appreciate the magnitude of the work ot restoration, feel that they are deeply indebted to the Postmaster-General (Sir Julius Vogel)and the Superintendent of Telegraphs (Dr. Lemon) for the energy and ability they have displayed in so speedily re-establishing telephonio communication. An old proverb says that one never knows the value of the water until the well runs dry ; and the temporary stoppage of the local telephonio system has proved the applicability of the proverb to currents more ethereal than those of water. It has Bhovn, moreover, how luxuries grow upon us until they become necessities. Before we heard of the telephone, we managed to rub along pretty well; now we feel that were it to be permanently abolished, or even suspended for any considerable period, a brake would be put upon the wheel of commerce. We havo felt that brake already; but the knowledge that it would be removed as quickly as possible has made us bear the infliction somewhat philosophically. The fire which destroyed the Wellington Post and Telegraph Offices, and with it the Telephone Exchange, occurred on the morning of the 28th April last. A fortnight later the work of reconstruction of the latter was oommenced, and at the time of writing this everything is almost ready for the reopening. Before, however, dealing more specifically with work which is just about completed, it may be interesting if I give a brief sketch of the development of the telophonic Rvstem in New Zealand— a development which has left the other Australasian colonies far behind in this particular reßpect. The first Exchange started in tho colony was the one in Christohurch, whioh was opened on the Ist Ootober, 1881, with 36 snbsoribers. The number was not vory encouraging, but Dr. Lemon had faith in tho project, and was convinced that the utility of the institution would soon become recognised in a praotioal manner by the commercial public. He was not wrong in his belief. The Exchange steadily inoreasod in tho number ot its Bubsoribers, and at the present time, notwithstanding the 16ng continued tradd depression, there are 300 names dri the Exchange list. Auckland was not long in following the example of tho Ca.thedr.al City— in fact, preparations for opening wore going on simultaneously in botli places-^nd on the 24th October. 1881, fho establishment of tqlepnbftio dbmmunloatibn became a; reality in the Northern city, and 43 subscribers' "were connected with the Exchange!' The list now contains the names of 435 subscriber's. Six months later — on tho 26th April, 1882— the Dunedin Exchange was established, with 45 subsoribors, and the roll now numbers nq fewer than 488. Wellington wfys fte 'last of thb four chief centres to' take advantage of the system. Why, I don't kn6W, .'except it was that, with that, .'caution which characterises 1 our obimnerclal men, they'wished to' look before they leapod, and were desirous of knowing how it fared with their more venturesdrae neighbours before attempting to ! folio win' their wake.' Betnat as it may, ft Was no't'till the Ist Alaroh; 1883, or 17 month,) after the initiation of the system in Christchorch/ that an ' Exchange was opened in this dty. It then had Only 36 subscribers; ' Evbry week, ■ however, added' to'.tbe'numbarV and at tfje olose'of 1885 ; the 1 rA 11 WeYe 209 auTCorlbsrs! Eighty, eight were added to the Toll tho following year, and when- the 1 firo • demolished tho Telephone Office oil the 28th April last, the Exchange had upon its list 366 subscribers. Ot^ier ExoUdhges wets opdne'd in the following'order :— lnveroargiU, 66 the 7tll 'Nove'mbet.lßß3, with 1 42 subscribers -± Jrp'sWt number", 60 j Nelson, on "lit November, 1884, with ■11 stfbsoribers— present number, 72 f QamSrjf, on' S^fch No^emboi:, l§Bi, yfith 40 subscribers — present number, 47 ; Napier j 6,n/24th' September, 18$>;' 'with' 45 subBarkers'— presont number/ 94 ; Timaru, on lsh 'Qetyber', 'J.fSS.'jrfty # jrtW&Wr' present number 62 ; Wanganui, on the l{th ifarel;, lsßg, with 65 subscriber's -present number I JS : ajis B.lenheim, jn March; 1887, with about 40 subsoribors, Thus thoroqre now in operation 11* Telephone' Hjxchangos, 2079 subscribers. This may not appear a very great number of connections in elovon cities and towns, but it is really a great achievement, for in each place possessing an Exchango, the whole of the chief business plages arc connected therewith, as well as many public' institutions and private resid'emcos, aiid'by -niotina or "bureaus the public at" large "ta'ay participate in" all' We adVan{ages afforded to' subscribers upon payment prij, yery' sjnal| fee,. By Cleans of the present cpnnectipns {utilising 81J. 'miles of wire) many thousands - of popple pan rapidly cpny'ey njessages from ono part of ft oity to the other, or even to distant suburbs, thus saving muoh time and trouble i moroantile and business men are enabled to dispense with messengers ; physiaians may be summoned at a moment's notioe at all hours of the day or night — not the least among the many blessings of the telephone— and the newspaper press, by its means, aro enabled to obtain oity jiqwu up £o within a few minutes of placing the tot-mes U/ponfci|e maohjnes. It is oftlculated that every professional or business man who aubsoribes (o the telephone qaves at least from' .£2o to J025 a year on the score of time saved and the dispensation with messengers which -it would otherwise be neoessftry t6 employ. ■'• -But'if we wish tq'tfofafair idea of the progress made in teltiphonfd 'Communication Jn New Zealand, it' is' only neoeftbry to oompare it with that made in other colonies, where the aggregate number of subscribers scarcely totals that of this colony. ' Victoria has only 1016 subporibors to ita Telephone Exchanger,' New South Waifi* 'little more than 200, while South Australia is also low down in the hundreds. Tho Exchanges in these oolonies, whioh were started about tho year 1879, are, I believo, confined to the mfetrop'.o&taii oitiea, ' ' In' addition' to qoqf erring inestiin*ble advantages upon the general publio, 'the New Zealand telephonic system has proved to bij a pvoducer of revenue. ' The retuyns'fot the y,e.ar ended 31st Ifarph }ast aro not' to hand, but those fqr thp year |886 shqw that after deducting 5 per pent, for interest upon capital an^ 5 per cent, for depreciation fche*o tpaa a profit of £50(X) npqn the year's transactipnsY The ' pjrofi^B p,f t^Jje present year are not lifcelyto bo smaller notwithstanding $hp lipgs entailed by the recent demolition of the Wellington Exchange. At the end of Marah, 1886,, there were 1710 connections with the several Exchanges, and the total capital cost of the whole system to that date was 487,300, the outlay upon each subscriber being something over £%Q. The amount pafd in salaries for the year was 42849 j the cost of batteries and materials was 41700 ; paper, printing, fuel, and lighting amounted to 4700, The total subscriptions for the year came to 412,300. The whole of the Exchanges showed profits after making allowance for depreciation, and interest. The" amounts are as follow.--? Dunedin, 41540 profit; Auckland, 4^500; Wellington, 4.640; Christohurob,, 4607; Nelson, 4170; Napier, 4150; Timaru, JJI2&; InvercorgiU, 4129; Wanganui, 444 1 Oamaru, 425. Theße profits have been made, too, upon charges much lower than those in vogue in most other countries. Perhaps this is the real oaußO of the success of the system, and it is more than likely that there would be still greater profits were the charges sufficiently low to induce householders to largely take advantage of the system. There is no doubt that sooner or later lower rates will be imperatively demanded by the publio", but Dr. Lemon holds that it would be inadvisable to make any reduction at present, because there is a possibility of improvements in the means of telephonic communication being introduced whioh would necessitate the entire remodelling of the entire system. Of oourse the Bame argument might apply with equal force to the telegraph or to other modern contrivances; but possibly the Doctor, who is a skilful electrioian and farseeing man, has roosons which justify his objection to making further reductions in the rates. At any rate we have not so very much to oomplain of on the score of fees when those ohartred in other countries are taken into aocount. Ab a matter of fact the New Zealand charges are considerably below every other country, Switzerland only excepted. In Victoria the charge is 416 per annum ; in Chicago and New York it is 425 por annum ; in London, 420 ; in Paris, 424; in Switzerland tha fee is 48; while in New Zealand', it is 410 for- the first year per half-mile, 48 for the second year, and tor a second connection the chargo is' only 47 per annum. To ascertain the extent to which the tele- ; phone is used in the colony a record is kept of the 'number of calls given daily at each. Exchange between "the jiou^s'of 9 a.m. and '■ 5 p.m., and for the information' of my j readers, I append the average daily calls for the year ended 31st March, 1886 :—

The aggregate number of daily calls at all' Exchanges was therefore, in 1886, 17,014. The average is much, higher at the present time. Not only have tho cities and more Important towns benefited by the adoption of thp system | the small country districts have also gained groat advantages, for they have been placed in communication with the outside world by means of the telephone, bnt for the adoption of which they would have be«n loft to rely solely upon the ordinary mail services for communication' with distant places. It would not pay to ostablish telegraph offices in the smaller towns, an the revenue would be insufficient to maintain them; bnt the telephone bureau answers all the purposes, and costs little or nothing for working, as it is gratuitously looked after in most towns by storekeepers, schoolmasters, or oonstablos. There are now 187 of these bureaus in existence, viz., 65 in the . Auokland Provincial Diitriot, 15 in Hawke'g Bay, 33 In the Wellington Provincial District, 23 in Marlborough, 7 in Canterbury, and 41 in Otago and Southland. 'It will perhaps (five some idea of 'the magnitude of the work of re-establishing the Wellington Exchange when it is 'mentioned that in order to connect the subscribers with the new building at the corner of Ballance and Featherston-etrests, no fewer than 366 wires, aggregating 142 miles in length, had to be stretched, GO large po*ts (facetiously called Lemon trees) and 30 small 'ones orected, upwards of 6000 insulators attached, 84 cable-boxes made and placed in .position, 1200 yards of 20-wire cable containing 24,000 yards of gutta-percha, wire, manufactured, stretched, and brought into .the Exchange, in order to connect with the annunciators. ,The following are the new sections of line

which, had to be constructed to connect with, the new Exchango Office :— No, 1, Feather-ston-atreet line, from Union Bank, 27 chainß, 101 wirea, total length of wire, 2025 ohains ; No. 2, har))our line, Waterloo-quay, from 'Bank of- Now Zealand, 32 ohains, 71 wires, total length of wire, 2272 chains j No. 3, Terraoe fine, from Barrauds, 59 ohains, 62 wires^toUl lnngtkof wire, 3658 ohains ; No. 4,.Boulcott-strcet line, from rack, 56 ohains, 47 wires, total length of wires, 2632 chains ; No. 5, Charlotte-street line, from Burrett'a corner, 13 ohainß, 37 wires, total length of wire, 481 ohains ; 'No. 6, Supronto Court line, 16 ohains, 15 wires, total length of wire, 240 ohains; No. 7, Government Buildings , l nr 0> ? ham^ 15 , wirei ' total lon S t h of wire, 105ohainB. Total, 142 miles 53 chains. This, added to the existing 177 miles of wire previously stretched, makes a total for the city of 320 miles 40 chains. All thiß has been done in addition to the erection and fitting up of the offioo. When the original Exchange was destroyed it was generally anticipated that at least threo months would elapse before communication was restored ; Dr. Lemon said he would do it in two. To-day it iB exactly two months since the disaster ocourred, and to-day everything is praotioally in readiness for a fresh start, while the whole work of restoration has really only oooupied six weeks. The tuanks of the publio generally are due to Sir Julius Vogel for the prompt aotion he took and the forethought he displayed in the matter ; to Dr. Lemon, whose mind and energies have been devoted night and day to the work of reconstruction, every part of which h» has personally supervised and direoted ; and to the officers and workmen under him for the manner in which they socondod tho efforts of their permanent chief. It wad a very fortunate tuing that Dr. Lemon was able to save a considerable number of instrument* and annunoiators from the fire, as not only did this greatlylessonthemoneyloss.butithasholped materially to haston the re-eßtablishmont of the telephone system. The total cost of the new Exchange will, it is expected, under the ciroumstances not amount to more than .£I2OO. The total oapital oost of the local Exohango np to the date of the firo was .£7256, and the £1200 additional cost owing to the firo brings the amount up to date to £8456. The revenue derivable from the 366 connections is £3294. The annual expenditure is .—Salaries, 4570 ; maintenance, £300 ; interest and doprooiation, £845 ; total, £1715 ; profit, £1579. It is creditable to the Department that the whole of tho. work of reconstruction, with tho exoeption of insulators, wire; " drops " and " jaok-knifo " s"witohes, whioh could not be readily manufactured 1 here, had been accomplished by local industry, and it is highly satisfactory to know that a ooni siderable saving has thereby been effeoted. For iinstanoe, ' a saving of £200 has been made by putting the "drop bars" of tho 8 sets of annunciators together herd instead of importing them'rea^y for uso. The Dale battery oells oost at Home 10a oauh; they are mado in Wellington at a oout of 3b oaoh. The telephone oables aro looally made* at «. saving of £40 per knot oii the "imported prioe, and many other ooonomios are effected by having work done ii Wellington instead of in England. The tolephono 'boards and' cable boxes are al manufactured by the' Department, and nt money is unnecessarily so'n.t'qut of the place for materiel*'. •••''' * «" The pew Telephone Offloo it certainly nof much to look at, aqd it* appearance ,is by no moans enhanced by the huge and ugly but very necessary scaffolding whioh surrounds it ; but it has tho advantage of being cheap and serviceable. It is not a publio office in the sense that the publio require to nso it ; on the oontrary, the publio are required to keep away from it;- for pe'rfedt silence mußbreign within if ■tUfl work-of the operators is not to be impeded. The i»om ie Buffioiently large for all pr*otio«l purposes, nnd if Booessftßr ann(maiatQr4 ff 0 J double tUo j^rosen^number of-oonmavionsoan bd oreatod' without increasing the size off building or incomraodinjr the operators. The present apparatus,' winch is Very aom» paotly arranged on a plan 1 of Dr. Lemon's; itfoludeß 400 •' drops," and a " switoh* ward " for" whioh D ( f. Lemota hoHs a R^tppj.; The' h>tte,i isl* great imprpuoment on the ordif ndry inbthbds Of switching, and fences J u vast amount of time anbt inoopveniehool For instanco, by the ' system 'of '"switohing " adopted in Melbourne, only one-fifth of '^ha substjribetß uari be p'u,t in oomnjui\iontion al onco; Wnil^ by'Xjr. Lemons p'aiou^ it i| possible, for \Y[O of ihq subaoribers ■to Be place^ ju oqnj)mi)&io%iiqn at ope anq thp saiije (,lir|O. The to)ephqt)e onera^ora arg the h i ardost:'wf|rkp.d men; u\ th;e Ciy}l sepviop, Tj^eir hours aro ' long;, and tfleir work wearisqnje; fqp they m^st stand upon their, feotthrqughout^e day wit]j ear and eyg inlienj npon tjjo s.nn.unojators, wnile \htof mental' faculties aro oontinuajjy upon th^ strain. They require, too, to have tho patience of Job, for they are frequently badgered almost to distraction through the stupidity or ignorance of person* using the telephone. Let anyone waftoh the telephone fn tall operation at the -Exchange, and hft Will f maifvol u pbirV th° operators manage pt stand, the'sbram put upon fliomV Id' all afrections oyer' ail' area ot about 6Q or yo square 'foot" qf ajjnunojatqifl thjj little shutters, are inoessaqtiy 'drqpping, tho oalfß have to fee' "promptly to, tbe proper pegs put in to cqnneot the, roquisjto houses, and a watoh bus to be kept for the final ring off. The very sight is dazing to an on-looker, and must bo sufficiently bewildering to tho men employed without having to put np, as is often the caeo, with abuse. If a ring is not answered immediately it is boaause there are so many previous ones to be first answered, and it is as absurd for the subscriber to become iU-tempprod as jt }b to rjng again, and agijju ibeoAJftgb- .thetro' is'no a<nswqong- rihg from the ExohangO'; as once tUe «m,tter drops— which it does on the nrst ring- 'tha ■nbsoriber may grind away till he la blaok in the faoe without attracting the least notice. (•( • ■ i •■ ' i .• . • There is to be no ceremony at the opening of the new Exchango. ■ The' Pdstmaster"Goneral will 'send "the first) message, whioh will be to the Mayor, anhousojng'that tho Exchange 1 !!} open ibt publio 'buspeifr;' fti& Mayor will reply, ofad then Wellington- will once more have the advantage of telephoned communication, and' will doubtless appreciate the blesßJngs thereof all the more for the temporary stoppage, of tUe system. . '

Dunedm ... 4641— Average per snbi bor . •" .. Auckland... 4548 „ „ Wellington 3260 " ,; Chrißtchuroh2997 „ „ Napier ... 504 „ „ Wanganui 411 „ „' • Inveroargill 2.84 „ „ Nelson ... 234 „ „ Oamarn ... 189 „ „ Timaru ... 146 „ „ )Ben97 102 «4 10-1 53 36 49 3 4 2-3