BETTER TELEPHONE SERVICE COMING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19034, 1 April 1930, Page 10

BETTER TELEPHONE SERVICE COMING.

IMPROVEMENT BETWEEN CITY AND GREYMOUTH,

The extra carrier circuit designed to m ake telephon communication more efficient between Christchurch and Greymouth has now been constructed as far as Otira. and, because of the unsuitability of the present main line for carrier traffic, the distance between Arthur’s Pass and the Otira railway Station requires bridging. Poles are being erected over the pass, and the line through the tunnel will act as a standby in the event of a breakdown in the new circuit. It is not yet known when the additional circuit will be available. A start is to be made alter Ea-ter with the linking up of Greymouth and W estport by teiepnone along the Coast Road. At present the line from Greymouth extends only as far as Barrytown, and that from Westport to Tiromoana. It is proposed to connect these t* r o points, thereby giving Greymouth and Westport twp circuits. The existing circuit runs through the Duller Gorge, but the fact that it is periodically subject to breakdowns through slips in the gorge has dictated the necessity of the coast line. Gangs are now engaged in strengthening the line in the Buffer Gorge.