E.—No, 7

SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OP THE TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT, NEW ZEALAND.

Office of the Commissioner of Telegraphs, g IE _ Wellington, July 30th, 1870. I have the honor to submit to your Excellency a Report as to the operations of the Telegraph Department of New Zealand during the year ending 30th June, 1870, being the Sixth Annual Eeport on the subject. I have, &c , Julius Vogel, His Excellency Sir George Eerguson Bowen, K.C.M.G. Commissioner of Telegraphs. Governor of New Zealand. » —

EEPOET. Satisfactory progress has, during the year, been made in extending the telegraph in the North Island ; and the Tokomairiro to Queenstown (Lake Wakatipu) section having been purchased from the Provincial Government of Otago, the system throughout the Colony is now wholly under the control of this Department. The uniform charge of 2s. 6d. for an ordinary telegram of not more than ten words, irrespective of distance, has been reduced to Is. ; a similar reduction has been made on Provincial Government messages; and the Press Telegram rate has also been greatly reduced. It need only be said here, that the policy of such reductions has been proved to be a sound one; and that most complete details as to the results of the change will be found in other parts of this report, and in the valuable tables comprised in the Appendix. A system of Telegraph Money Orders has been established. It bids fair to be most useful ; but it has not been in operation for a sufficient time to warrant the expression of a definite opinion. EXTENSION OF LINES. During the past year, some of the lines in course of construction at the close of the financial year 18G8-9 have been completed. They are as follow : — Wellington Jo Wanganui and Patea. The length of this line is 180 miles, namely—"Wellington to "Wanganui, 140 miles ; "Wanganui to Patea, 40 miles. The poles between Manawatu and "Waikanae, on the Wellington and "Wanganui section, were supplied by Natives ; the remainder were supplied, under contract, by Mr Bull, of Rangitikei. The line between Rangitikei and the foot of the Paikakariki was erected by the Natives, under the supervision of Mr. Blake, Inspector, and two linemen. The other portions of each section were completed, under contract, by Mr. O'Malley, the late contractor for the Tenuiand Napier line. All the poles on this line are of heart of totara, and it is not anticipated that, except from casualties, any very heavy outlay for maintenance will be required for many years. Stations have been opened at Otaki, Marton, Wanganui, and Patea, all in connection with the Post Office, except at Wanganui. It is intended hereafter to open a station at Foxton, the line having, with that object, been diverted from the sea coast. The total cost of the line has been £10,093 12s. 3d., or equal to £56 Is. 6d. per mile. Puller particulars of the cost of construction will be found in Table A. Great delays were experienced at first in the works, between the Waikanae and Ohau Rivers, through the unwillingness of the Natives to allow the line to be erected. That unwillingness was however happily overcome by the assistance of the Hon. Dr. Peatherston, the Superintendent of the Province. Hamilton to Cambridge. The old Military line between Newcastle and Alexandra having become much decayed, it was thought advisable to carry the line from Hamilton to Cambridge (twelve miles), and to repair that portion of the old line between Cambridge and Alexandra. This has been done ; telegraph communication is maintained with Alexandra via Hamilton and Cambridge; and the old Military line between Newcastle and Alexandra has been dismantled. The cost of the twelve miles of new line between Hamilton and Cambridge is included in that of reconstructing the line from Auckland to Newcastle.