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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4142, 30 June 1874, Page 2

Tub time is evidently not far distant when a considerable extension will have to be made in the arrangements of the Telegraphic Department. Of course, when New Zealand is telegraphically united with Australia, and “ the world beyond” that fifth continent, we shall havo to do hero what they have now to do all throughout the great telegraphic circuit, keep watch and ward night and day on the wonder-working needle. Even now, however, postal arrangements are so far advanced—and the very irregularities that are found in the working of the Pacific and the Red Sea schemes make the matter all the more pressing—as to require a more extended watch, at the head offices at least, than is the case at present. The mail steamer from San

Francisco, for example, arrived at Auckland at ten o’clock p.m., on the night of Friday last. She was seven days overdue, and consequently not a litle anxiety was felt as to the causes of her detention, and the character of the news she might bring. The postal authorities had particular reason for desiring early information as to the appearance of the steamer, for not a little embarrassment has been caused by the length of her delay, and a detention of a very few hours more would have made the matter much more complicated. Yet it was not till a late hour on Saturday morning that the telegraph brought the news of the City of Adelaide’s presence in the harbour of Auckland. Again, the Tararua, from Melbourne, which will bring London news as late as the 20th or 21st instant—news which, from Paris at least, may be of the greatest interest—was considerably overdue off Hokitika last night, and at this moment may be off that port, if not already tendered, and on her way northward to take away the outgoing Suez mail. The night was moonlight, and calm all round the coast—as the -weather telegrams informed the public—yet the office closed as usual, at the standard hour of eight o’clock ; and if the Tararua made her signal and was tendered five minutes afterwards, we shall not learn the fact or obtain the news until this forenoon. This is not at all as it should be. With fortnightly mails from Europe and America, the one sometimes before and the other, hitherto, always after its time, -watch should be kept nightly until the arrival of the expected vessels. Parliament, too, is about to sit, and its doings must be of interest in at least the capitals of the various Provinces. But Parliament is somewhat owl-like in its fondness for night-work. We know that during the session, whenever an important question is before either House, the chief offices are kept open till the close of the sitting, or, at all events, to a late hour. But what is occasional and exceptional should be made the rule. We have no intention whatever of throwing blame upon the department, or insinuating in the remotest manner that it is not worked to the fullest capacity of the staff.' But if that staff is unequal to the extra work, which keeping the offices open in the leading cities of the Colony means, not only during the session, but “all the year round,” it is worth the attention of the Government whether the staff should not at once be enlarged. The department is not one from which the Government can or should expect to derive a profit. Its object is to transmit throughout the islands—to the leading centres of population at least —as early and fully as possible, by night or by day, information on public affairs, and such news by foreign, English, or intercolonial mails, as the public desire to receive. For the dissemination of such news the Press is prepared when once the telegraph has done its work; it is organised for the collection of the desiderated intelligence ; and it is prepared to pay reasonable rates to recoup the outlay of the department. The enlargement of the telegraphic arrangements, therefore, would involve the Government in little more cost than the present defective system entails. In view of what is coming—the growing importance of the Provincial news, the increasing commercial interests of the public, the frequency of mail communication with Europe, America, and the Australian Colonies, and the certainty of direct telegraphic communication between New r Zealand and “all the world beside” before many months are over, it would be well if this subject—this enlargement of the working ideas of the telegraphic department—were considered early.