G—No. 31

EIGHTH ANNUAL EEPOET OF THE TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT, NEW ZEALAND.

Office of the Commissioner of Telegraphs, g IB _ Wellington, 24th July, 1872. I have the honor to submit to.Tour Excellency a report as to the operations of the Telegraph Department of New Zealand during the year ended 30th June, 1872, being the Eighth Annual Eeport of the Department. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, His Excellency Sir George Eerguson Bowen, Commissioner of Telegraphs. K.C.M.G., &c, &c, &c, Governor of New Zealand.

EEPOET. The progress made during the past year in the extension of the Telegraph has been greater than in any former year ; tho larger increase to the business of the Department through the introduction of the Is. tariff becoming more apparent every day, and having already rendered it necessary in some places to increase the number of wires. The great increase in business may also be attributed in a measure to the opening of the line to Auckland, and also to the general revival of trade throughout the Colony. With the exception of New Plymouth, every town of any size is now included in the Telegraph System. EXTENSION OE LINES. The lines which were in course of construction at the date of the last report have been completed. They are as follow : — Tauranga to Kati Kati. This line was completed on the 30th January, and telegraphic communication was established with Wellington on the same day. The length of the line is thirty miles, and it runs round tho harbour from the town of Tauranga to Kati Kati. tip to the time when the extension was commenced, there had been no survey for a through road from Tauranga to Kati Kati. Travelling along the proposed line was therefore extremely difficult, as may be judged from the fact that there are thirteen tidal creeks, several patches of mudflats, and many narrow deep swamps within the thirty miles. By careful examination of the ground, a good and straight line has been secured. Care has also been taken to provide for the future rapid repair of the lino in case of casualties ; and, except the Wainui Eiver, there is nothing on the route to prevent, under ordinary circumstances, the quick completion of repairs. The single difficulty, it is to be hoped, will shortly be overcome, for it is understood that the road works now in progress between Tauranga and Kati Kati include a bridge across tho Wainui. As a protection against fire, fern ground in which it was necessary to place poles has been trenched, and rye grass and clover seed, mixed, have been sown round each pole, to a radius of 10 feet Patea to New Plymouth. This line still remains incomplete, there being twenty-five miles north of Opunake unfinished. During the year, the line has been extended twenty-two and a-half miles —from Now Plymouth to a point two and a-half miles south of Stoney Eiver, between which places communication was established on the 13th April; generally the line follows the road. In order to render communication between Stoney Eiver and Opunake as complete as possible, a telegraph mail service has been established, which leaves each place at noon daily, Sundays excepted, and arrives about 4 p.m. It is to be hoped that during the present year the Native opposition will be so far overcome as to permit of the line being finished. Akaroa Line. This line was completed on the 20th January, and communication was established on the same day. The length of the line is about fifty miles, and it runs, for the most part, along the coach-road between Akaroa and Christchurch. The line has been made as permanent as possible ; where it passes through. bush, additional clearings have been made, and only totara timber has been used for poles.