HAVELOCK-OKARAMIO TELEPHONE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 44, 31 May 1907, Page 5

HAVELOCK-OKARAMIO TELEPHONE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—Though you have (wisely, I think) ref mined from commenting upon the refusal of the Acting-Super-intendent of Electric Lines to countenance the construction of a telephone line from Havelock to Okaramio, it will not be out of place for me to “ put in my oar” on the subject. Here we have twenty-two ratepayers each willing to subscribe £1 per year for live years, making £110; the Pelorus Koad Board and the Havelock Town Board have unanimously agreed that the line is necessary and that they are willing to help pay for it. Well, take their contributions at £5 each per annum, and wo have a total guarantee of £l6O towards the construction of a lino eleven miles long and over perfectly flat, closely-settled country. Hero is abundant evidence that the lino is urgently necessary, and that those who consider it so are prepared to pay for it. Yet Mr Modelings, the Acting-Superintendent of Electric Junes, sits in his office in faraway Wellington and calmly states that he does not consider the lino is needed I Last Session the Premier boasted about what he was going to do for the back-country settlers in the way of giving them telephone facilities, and a vote of £25,000 was made by Parliament for that purpose. Some “ Godsend ” lines have already been constructed out of that grant, but there are plenty others needed. We settlers are glad to have your assurance, Sir, that the matter will not rest where it is; and at the same time we do not forgot the interest the Guardian is taking in this subject.—l am, etc., Gnu Of IHE GyAKAN'i'OBS.