F.—l

XV

Nelson District. Since last report the following lines have been erected for telephonic communication : Collingwood to Cape Farewell, Tophouse to Lake, and Ahaura to Nelson Creek. The following additions have also been made to the line : Longford to Fern Flat, 7 miles ; Ahaura to Totara Flat, 6 miles. The sections between Collingwood and Eichmond, Westport and Charleston, and Westport and Greymouth have been thoroughly overhauled. Kumara to Eoss section is now being overhauled. The Greymouth to Kumara section has been entirely reconstructed. Blenheim to Kaikoura section has been thoroughly overhauled, and the Nelson to Blenheim and Nelson to Tophouse sections will shortly be overhauled. Canterbury District. Christchurch to Kaikoura : Between Christchurch and Papanui a few poles have been renewed and several angle poles strengthened. Several renewals will be made shortly on the Papanui and Amberley section. Christchurch to Waitaki: On this section 385 poles will be replaced shortly. The Taipo to Gorge section is about being overhauled. There will be 87 new poles put in; and 55 new poles between Gorge and Bealey, to replace decayed ones. Christchurch Eailway to Amberley : 170 poles on this section will be renewed shortly. With this exception the section is in good order. Kaiapoi to Oxford and View Hill: 60 poles require replacing on this section; in other respects the line is in good order. Christchurch to Southbridge: A number of poles on this section have been condemned, and will be replaced at an early date. Christchurch to Akaroa: This line will be overhauled shortly: a number of poles require replacing. All other sections in the district are in thoroughly good order. The Springfield-Kolleston wire has been extended to Christchurch Eailway and public office. Otago Disteict. The following new lines have been erected since last report: Lawrence to Waipori, 14 miles ; Tapanui to Heriot, 9 miles of wire ; Milton to Lovell's Flat, 8 miles of wire ; Eiverton to Orepuki, 18 miles ; Dunedin to North-East Valley, 3 miles; Dunedin to St. Clair, 3 miles of wire; Dunedin to Anderson's Bay, 3 miles of wire ; Dunedin to Mornington, 1J miles of wire ; Dunedin to Eoslyn, 1J miles of wire ; Dunedin to Woodhaugh, 2-J- miles of wire ; Dunedin to Seacliffe Asylum, 19 miles. The principal works of maintenance have been the overhauling of Bluff to Invercargill, Invercargill to Eiverton, and Invercargill to Winton lines. All decayed poles have been either replaced or strengthened. The whole of the line from Invercargill to Dunedin has also been overhauled. The Milton to Queenstown section has been thoroughly overhauled, especially the Cromwell to Queenstown section. All lines in this district are in thoroughly good order.

The usual tables and telegraph charts are appended.