F.—l

XVIII

The number of telegrams of all codes forwarded during the year was 2,033,800, a decrease of 35,891 on 2,069,691 in 1893, or 1-73 per cent. The proportion of telegrams per head of population was 2-99, as compared with 3-13 the previous year The number of ordinary telegrams forwarded was 897,114, of the value of £50,503 lis. sd. The urgent telegrams numbered 40,367, producing a revenue of £5,146 Is. lOd. There were 588,826 delayed telegrams forwarded, of the value of £18,213 12s. lOd. Press telegrams numbered 197,414, of the value of £9,586 os. 7d., including proportion payable to other lines. In 1893 the figures were 189,991 messages, and £9,006 9s. 2d. in value—the increase in number is therefore 7,423, or 3-91 per cent. The average value of each Press telegram was 11-65 d., as against 11-38 d. in 1893. The bureau messages forwarded during the year numbered 78,461, of the value of £1,939 2s. 3d., an average of 5-93 d. per message. Government telegrams numbered 231,618, of the value of £26,050 7s. 5d., compared with 244,045, valued at £28,317 7s. 10d.—a decrease of 12,427 messages. The money-orders transmitted by telegraph numbered 22,721 for £82,148 9s. 6d., and the telegraph fees £1,136 Is. The number of forwarded telegrams to every hundred letters posted in the colony for delivery within the colony was 8-38. In 1893 the number was 8-04 , in 1892, 7-46, in 1891, 8-29 , and in 1890, 9-12. The telegraph receipts for the financial year, including telephone-exchange subscriptions, private-wire rents, &c, amounted to £110,012 3s. 9d. These figures, compared with £113,196 os. 3d. in 1893-94, show a decrease of £3,183 16s. 6d., or 2-81 per cent. The expenditure amounted to £135,791 os. 7d., as against £123,651 3s. lOd. the previous year —an increase of £12,139 16s. 9d. The credit balance for the financial year, after taking into account the value of Government telegrams, free telephone-exchange connections, and fees on money-order telegrams, was £2,849 lis. 7d. There were 5,961 miles of line, and 14,881 miles of wire at the close of the year—an increase of 448 and 1,366 miles respectively The net expenditure out of loan for telegraph extension was £19,228 195., as compared with £16,126 17s. lOd. in 1893-94. The cost of maintenance of lines was £28,768 12s. 9d., an average of £4 16s. 6d. per mile. The figures for 1893 were £29,141 65., and £5 ss. 9d. per mile. The number of private wires and subsidised lines was 123, compared with 141 in 1893-94. The amount received for rent, maintenance, &c, was £1,278 6s. Bd., as against £1,258 lis. 7d. in 1893-94. Telegraph messengers' deliveries were established at Fairlie, Inglewood, Linwood (Christchurch), Little River, Motueka, and Pleasant Point. The telegraph circuits have been further altered during the year Wellington is now in direct communication (with or without translators at Blenheim) with Christchurch and Dunedin. Christchurch has also been placed in direct communication with Wakapuaka. Sets of Wheatstone instruments have been fitted up in the Wellington and Christchurch offices. Palmerston North has now a direct duplex wire to Wellington, and direct communication with Napier, as well as with Wanganui on a through intermediate wire. The Charleston and Kamo offices were converted from Morse to telephone, and placed in charge of women. Thirty-one bureau offices were opened and three closed during the year The total number of telegraph and telephone offices open at the close of the year was 705. Of these, 235 were telegraph and 470 telephone offices. Sixty-nine telephone offices were opened, and six closed. The offices opened were— Adelaide Road. Hyde Railway. Opononi. Aramoho. Island Bay. Paikakariki. Alfredton. Island Block. Paraparaumu. Alton. Kilbirnie. Port Robinson. Barry's Bay Koromiko. Rae's Junction. Birkenhead. Leigh. Ramarama. Brooklyn. Levin. Ratanui. Brown's. Makara. Sandymount. Cape Campbell. Makino. Seddonville. Cardiff. Manukau. Shannon. Cass. Mangamahoe. Tawataia. Castle Hill. Mangatainoka. The Camp. Clareville. Mangatoki (opened, closed and re- Tokatoka. Colyton. opened). Tokatoka Wharf. Crookston. Mataura Island. Tuamarina. Ferguson's. Mikonui. Upper Waiau Ferry. Frankton Wharf. Ngahere. Waikaka. French Farm. Nine Mile. Waikaka Valley. Halswell. Nuhaka. Wainui. Hanmer Plain. Ohau. Waitaha Ferry. Hauiti. Ohinemutu. Wanstead. Hende's Ferry. Ohingaiti. Weatherstone. Highcliffe. Ohiwa. Wedderburn. Hokonui. One telegraph office was opened at Mangaonoho. The offices closed were — Caversham. | Kew. Mangatoki. Frankton. Kiwitea. Maori Point.