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the line deviates from the road aud runs by the river bank, so aa to avoid the heavy bush on the flats. From the top of the Woodstock Terrace it follows the main road to Ross Township. Its total length is twenty miles. The line runs through bush the whole distance. Tenders for the clearing of the bush were accepted on the 9th November, and the erection of the poles and wires was completed on the 3rd February. The poles used are of timber known in the district as " silver pine," which is said to be very durable. Totara was not obtainable, or it would have been preferred. Judging from a specimen of " silver pine " now in Wellington, it much resembles the white pine of the Sound, except that there is scarcely any sap timber, the " heart" extending to within an inch of the bark, and that it is somewhat darker. The Ranotora Line, A small branch from the main trunk line, commencing at Kaiapoi and terminating at Rangiora, runs mainly along the railway betwen Kaiapoi and Rangiora. Communication will shortly be established. An office is being erected at Rangiora, but pending its completion a temporary office will be opened in the present Post Office. Third Wire, Wellington to Masterton. The stretching of this wire was commenced on the Ist of March and completed about the middle of April. Considerable alterations had to be made at the Wellington end of the line before the third wire could be erected —in fact, the first nine miles may be said to have been entirely reconstructed, owing chiefly to the line of telegraph being directly on the surveyed route of the line of railway. The line has received new poles where required, and has been carefully overhauled throughout. Third Wire, Napier to Waipukuhau. The erection of this wire was commenced on the 19th April and completed on the 20th May. Any defective poles were replaced, and the line was strengthened where necessary. By the addition of this wire and that from Wellington, to Mastcrton, there are now two direct wires to Napier from Wellington ; all the minor stations, except Castle Point, having been placed in circuit on the new wire. Third Wire, Grahamstown to Mercer; and Fourth Wire, Mercer to Auckland. The great increase of business between G-rahamstown and Auckland led, in August last, to a determination to run a third wire between those towns. The first section, between G-rahamstown and Mercer, was completed on the 3rd October, and the other portion on the 21st of January. Should the general business continue to increase, as it has done during the past few months, between Auckland and the South, a fourth wire between Auckland and Grahainstown will be necessary, if the local business during periods of excitement in the Share Market is to be provided for. LINES AND WORKS IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION. Fourth Wire, Palmeeston to Dunedin. The great increase of business at Naseby rendered necessary an additional wire between Dunedin and Palmerston, so as to afford Naseby direct communication with Dunedin. The work is now in hand, and will be completed shortly, as the arms carrying the present third wire between Dunedin and Palmerston will be used. PoyERTx Bat Like. This live will, for the first five miles out of Napier, be run on the poles carrying the wires to Auckland, and will leave that line at Petane. From Petane, it will follow the track to Wairoa. Thence to Poverty Bay, it will be taken along the beach line to the Mahia, but far enough inland to prevent the wire being affected by salt. From the Mahia, the wire will be carried along the sandhills for about four miles; then through fourteen miles of rough bush; and subsequently over about twenty-three miles of comparatively level ground to its termination at Grisborne. Contracts for the erection of offices at Wairoa and Gisborne have been let, and the cutting and delivery of the poles is being proceeded with as rapidly as possible. More than half the poles for the distance between Napier and Wairoa are now at Napier or Wairoa ; and the remainder for that section of the line will be ready for shipment about the beginning of August. The estimated length of the line is 110 miles. Third "Wire, G-rahamstown to Napier. The erection of this wire is well advanced towards completion ; the portion remaining unfinished being that between Rotorua and Taupo. When completed, it is intended to place upon it all the stations intermediate between Napier and Grahamstown, by which arrangement Wellington will have one direct wire to G-rahamstown and one to Auckland, the former being so arranged that another through wire to Auckland will be available, should it be required for Press purposes at night time. This arrangement will no doubt be found very useful at times of great pressure. Manukat; Line. This live is nearly completed. When it was determined upon, three alternate routes were considered practicable:—The first, from Onehunga by the sandbanks, which would have necessitated the use of a cable for a part of the distance ; the second, from Onehunga, following round the North Shore and terminating on the North Head, which would have necessitated a signal staff on the North and .South Heads, in addition to the Telegraph Station; the third, from Drury, passing through various settlements to the South Head. After careful inquiry, it was determined to adopt the third route. The line now being constructed follows the general course of existing roads and survey lines from Drury through Waiuku to the Flagstaff at the South Head. From Drury through Waiuku, and for ten miles beyond it, the line is carried alongside an open road. Thence to the Flagstaff, the country is broken and has much bush on it; but a moderately level line is obtained along the ridges. The bush is generally light and scrubby, so that a wide clearing is not necessary. The length of the line from Drury will be about 45 miles. It will be principally used for reporting shipping arrivals and departures; and although it cannot be looked upon as an immediate revenue-yielder, the advantages to *2—E. 7. / /