FIRST EXCHANGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18164, 31 October 1930, Page 9

FIRST EXCHANGE.

WELLINGTON TELEPHONES. “THE LEMON TREES.” In a reminiscent mood, Sir Harold 1 Beauchamp recalls that it is fifty years since the fisrt telephone exchange /was set up in New Zealand. That was the one in Wellington. “ The public does not know,” said ■ Sir Harold, “the way in which this was arranged. Dr. Lemon, then head of the Telegraph Department, happened to be speaking to Mr Arthur R. Baker, a partner in W. M. Bannatyne and Co., and threw out a hint by saying: ‘Do you know, Baker, I could start an exchange here jf I could be sure of a couple .of dozen subscribers. Do'vou think you could get them?’ Mr Baker thought he could —and did. “As a matter of fact I think the exchange started with about fifty subscribers. The late T. Kennedy Macdonald was No. 1; Levin and Go., were 6; Turinbull’s 6; tne Union S.S. Company 7; and Bannatyne and Co. 15. “ To carry the wires, very big, ugly poles were set up under the direction of Dr. Lemon. These became known to the wags of the town as * lemon tre.es/ “ One day Dr. Lemon met the lata Hon. W. D. Mantell, and in reply to the usual ‘ How are you?’ said he was not feeling very well, and confessed that- he was irritated and upset by the fun that was being made out of his ■telephone poles. ‘ How many have you erected?’ asked Mr Mantell. ‘Oh, about forty,” relied Dr. Lemon. ‘That accounts for it,’' said Mr Mantell. 1 You know forty poles' do make one rood!’ ”