p.—l

12

Blenheim District. The only additional wires erected in this district during the year were : Blenheim to Renwicktown, seven miles ; Bichmond to Brightwater, four miles; Longford to Murchison, three and a half miles. A general overhaul of the lines throughout has been made. No new work of any consequence has been undertaken. The lines are in excellent condition, and their working has been most satisfactory. Christchurch District. The Christchurch-Waitaki section is in very good working order; but before long many poles will have to be renewed, especially between Timaru and Waitaki. The wires have been placed on the new portion of the Bakaia Bridge, and are thus made safe in time of flood. Arahura Junction (loop-line) to Eolleston : This section, with the exception of some old saplings between Bealey and Otira Gorge, is in very good order. The saplings referred to will have to be replaced ere long. A short piece west of Bangiora will have to be diverted soon if the Teremakau does not change its course. Waipara to Waiau: This line is now in good order. That portion between Waikari and Waiau has received an overhaul, and the wire has been fixed on the bridge over the Waiau Biver. Hokitika to Greymouth : This section requires a thorough overhaul, which will be carried out shortly. Greymouth to Ahaura Section .* Four or five miles of this line between Nelson Creek and Ahaura are to be overhauled. The other portion is in good order. The Ahaura to Eeefton and Eeefton to Westport sections received a slight overhaul early in the year, and are now in thorough good order. The Westport to Charleston section will require to be reconstructed, and in all probability a new line will be run through Addison's Flat. The Christchurch to Akaroa line requires a slight overhaul. A new line from Christchurch to Sumner was erected and opened early in the year, and is worked by telephone. All the other sections in the district are in good working order, and will not require any special alteration this coming year. Offices have been opened at Tinwald and Lincoln railway-stations. A large number of telephone exchange wires have been erected during the year, and a few short "Bell," "light-out," and "repeating signal" circuits have been opened for the Bailway Department. Dunedin District. The following new lines have been erected : Arrowtown to Macetown, seven miles ; Queenstown to Skipper's, fifteen miles of poles and twenty-one of wire; telephone stations opened at Skipper's and Maori Point; Portobello to Cape Saunders, seven miles ; telephone station opened at Cape Saunders; Cromwell to Bannockburn, five miles; Cromwell to Pembroke, thirty-eight miles ; Lawrence to Bluespur, three miles; Waitati to Purakanui, five miles; railway wire telephones fitted up at Waitati, The Cliffs, and Purakanui; Milton to Millburn, one mile; Palmerston to Waihemo, eighteen miles. A number of private wires have also been erected, and several signal-repeaters and "light-out" wires have also been put up for the Bailway Department. The principal work of maintenance has been as follows : The erection of six miles of new line between Arrowtown and Cromwell, and the dismantling of the same length of old line. Fully six miles of new line have been erected between Palmerston and Waihemo. To make line suitable for carrying the increasing number of telephone wires, about half of the line between Dunedin and Green Island has been reconstructed. Most of the section between Dunedin and Water of Leith has been repoled. A number of alterations have been made for the Bailway Department on account of new sidings, &c. A new telegraph office for the Eailway Department has been fitted up at Invercargill. All the lines in this district have been carefully gone over, and the necessary repairs made; and the lines are now in good working order. There are ten miles of poles and one hundred and twelve miles of wire used for telephone exchange in Dunedin. A great many of the wires are also attached to houses.

The usual plans of circuits accompany this report.

SCHEDULE OP TABLES. 1. Number and Amount of Money Orders issued and paid in New Zealand. 2. Number and Amount of Money Orders issued in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australian Colonies, &c, and made payable in the respective Countries. 3. Total Number and Amount of Money-Order and Savings-Bank Transactions. 4. Statement of Post-Office Savings-Bank Business since System established. 5. Balance-sheet of Post-Office Account. 6. List of Securities held on account of Savings Bank Fund. 7. 8, 9. Statements showing the Times within which Mails delivered by the San Francisco and Suez-Brindisi Services. 10. Beturn of Subsidized Mail Steam Services,