THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 32, 7 February 1908, Page 8

THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM

COMMENCEMENT OF THE BIG WORK. "Wellington residents look forward to the day when the city— or the principal thoroughfares, at all events— will be rid of the unsightly collection of telephone wires to be seen in every street at present. From time to time we have heard of tho underground metallic system which is to bring about the happy riddance .referred to; 'but it is only'recently that the work has been commenced. A large well has been dugand concreted in Featherston-street, opposite the telephone exchange, and trenches are now been excavated off this in the direction of the railway station, In time these trenches will be the resting ground of conduits, some of which will be capable oi carrying as many as 4800 distinct connections. The wires will be contained in leaden tubes (each carrying two-hundred connections) which in turn are enclosed in waterresisting pipes. These pipes will be embedded in a solid layer of concrete in any number from 12 to 24, according to the telephone requirements of the particular localities which they will serve. The overhead system will not be entirely done away with, however. All connections will have to be made thiough the air, but the number of poles required for distribution and the weight of wires to be carried will be quite trifling compared with the present'state of affairs. The conduits will be tapped at intervals of about 300 feet with "man holes," and the connection will bo "led off' 1 from these places. The process of conversion from the present system will be a long and gradual one, but the foundation of the work, and the method of carrying it out, will be euch that it will, it is hoped, meet the needs of the city for many years to come.

A law point which has still to be definitely decided was mentioned at the Chambers sitting before Mr. Justice Cooper this morning. Mr. Oackson applied for leave to serve a petition for divorce on the respondent, who is at present residing at North Melbourne. The wife, who is the petitioner, has lived in New Zealand for over two years. His Honour romarked that it was not clear that the court m New Zealand had jurisdiction in such a case. He admitted that under tho New Zealand Act any one who has been domiciled in New Zealand for 'two years could present a petition for divorce, but the point was as to whether in this case the petitioner had been domiciled here, seeing that her husband was not in the Dominion, and never had been. If there was domicile in such a caso any one could come to New Zealand, aad after staying here for two years, present a petition for divorce, although the other party to the suit did not live here. Meanwhile, however, he granted the application for leave to serve the petition outside the Dominion. A man named John Cutbarth was charged at the Magistrate's Court, before 'Mr. Riddell, S.M., this morning with deserting from the steamer Rippingham Grange. Defendant when ashore had been arrested and confined at the police station for some time. Taking this into consideration his Worship ordered the defendant to be placed on board tho ship, and to pay 7s court costs. Advice from Nelson states that bush fires have broken out again in various parts of the district, and a repetition of the serious conflagrations of three weeks ago is threatened. Two sawmills and a number of farm buildings at Wangapeka are in danger of destruction. Mr.i .Toh. E. Lindbcrg, draper, Cubastreet, advertipes new linre at special prices for his consolation =alo to-morrow. Mr. R Fletcher will address tho Haiboi;r Board electors in the Concoi t Room of the Town Hall this evening The neiv pictures purchnsod in England for the Wellington Art CJaltery svill Jh^ an ;wUiA ;risaJ«:rQpruak