Coppers Fall Heavy

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 202, 10 August 1927, Page 3

Coppers Fall Heavy

IN NAPIER SLOT TELEPHONES NEARLY 8,500 CALLS FROM CORNERS. After one bitter experience which cost him some heavy-weight metal, our sleuth decided to close on all slot telephones and invest, instead, in chocolate machines. “I kept this resolution for a week,” he said, “until I saw them changing the tray at the G.P.O. machine. The catch appeared to be a good one and it prompted an idea so 1 waited until the coast was clear. Then 1 searched for and finally borrowed a couple ot coppers (one for luck) and got the required number first pop. I informed the gentleman at the other end that the ‘Tribune’ readers would like to know how many people per week rang up to say they (1) weren't going home to tea, or (2) would be working late. The upshot was that 1 bad a personal call on the nonsubscribers’ department.” For the last month, for which complete returns were available it was discovered that the 'phone in Hastings street had had the most hectic month. The successful calls numbered 1628. Being the end of the half-year, the financial stringency no doubt caused 145 more souls to use that particular 'phone in the vicinity of the banks, to tell the home they “weren’t coming home” than those who broke the news at the Post Oilice entrance- Here 1483 pieces of the base metal were deposited, so apparently one solicitor is about on a par witn Ins brother as a Job’s comforter these days and this box is conveniently situated for calling a taxi after getting out in the sun. The two tramway depots at Hastings street south and the tramway each have a penny-in-the-slot telephone and apparently the residents of these localities are in competition. From a departmental viewpoint the fight is in favour of the tramway where 896 successful calls were made into town, the opposition being 77 less. Residents in the vicinity of the “pill box” at the corner of Latham and Vigor Brown streets was entered 525 times possibly to give the grocer his “list” or tell the butcher what meat was needed for hubby when he comes home from a good day’s work. CLIVE SQUARE BOX. - The ’phone in Clive Square had a pretty busy time, probably dinnernour chats accounting for 22 short of a thousand tinkies to “my love.” At the railway station there was poor business, the booby prize going to this box. Two hundred and seventyfive rang up to say au revoir, if not goodbye. Alio s ether 8,255 successful calls were made during the month, and worked out at the rate of three minutes per call some 17 days of precious time were taken up. Working off at another tangent our sleuth found out that if a copper trail was made of the bronze it would run a distance of just over 10 chains 9 yards, or a treble line along the frontages ot the “Tribune” orfices. The total weight of the metal was in the vicinity of 1721b5. based at the rate of 48 to the pound. The official report to Head Office would probably read something like this:-—“Napier Telephone Box returns, July, 1927, total £27 10/4.”