p.—l

The number of telegrams of all codes forwarded during last financial year was 3,898,128 —an increase of 428,497, or 12-35 per cent., over 1899-1900. The proportion of telegrams per head of population was 5-10, as compared with 4 70 the previous year. The number of ordinary telegrams forwarded was 2,840,426, of the value of £96,186 os. 6d., compared with 2,578,863 for £89,716 15s. 2d., in 1899-1900—an increase of 261,563 and £6,469 ss. 4d. The urgent telegrams numbered 160,428, of the value of £10,549 7s. Id.—an increase of 32,852 in number and £2,136 11s. 6d. in amount. 275,738 Press telegrams, of the value of £12,291 17s. 4d., were forwarded in 1900-01, as compared with 255,362, valued at £10,770 13s. "9d., forwarded in 1899-1900—an increase of 20,376, or 798 per cent., in number, and 14-12 per cent, in value. The value of each Press telegram averaged 10-70 d., as against 10-12 d. in 1899-1900. The bureau messages numbered 257,852, of the value of £7,354 9s. 7d., as compared with 197,292, of the value of £5,482 17s. 7d.—an increase of 60,560 in number and £1,871 12s. in amount. The average value of each bureau message was 6-85 d., as against 6-67 d. in 1899-1900. The number of Government telegrams forwarded was 363,684, valued at £35,327 6s. 2d., as compared with 310,538, of the value of £29,431 19s. —an increase of 53,146 in number and of £5,895 7s. 2d. in amount. This unusual increase is mainly the result of franking privileges having been granted to mayors of boroughs and others in connection with the Patriotic and More Men Funds, and to the departmental war reports which were forwarded to places not served by newspapers on the day of issue. 39,311 money-orders for £127,551 12s. 6d. were transmitted by telegraph, as against 36,933 for £120,034 3s. 2d. in 1899-1900—an increase of 2,378 telegrams. The number of forwarded telegrams to every hundred letters posted in New Zealand for delivery within the colony was 10-77, as against 9-94 in 1899-1900. The telegraph receipts for the financial year, including telephone-exchange subscriptions, private-wire rents, &c, amounted to £186,978 Is. compared with £162,944 14s. sd. in 1899-1900—an increase of £24,033 7s. s£d., or 14-75 per cent. The expenditure, excluding cable subsidy, was £194,014 12s. lid., as compared with £181,634 11s. 3d. for the previous year—an increase of £12,380 Is. Bd., or 6-82 per cent. There were 7,249 miles of line and 20,682 miles of wire at the close of the year—an increase of 339 and 1,454 miles respectively. The net expenditure out of Public Works Fund for telegraph extension was £50,100 19s. 7d., as compared with £26,771 7s. 9d. in 1899-1900. The number of private wires and subidised lines was 313, compared with 248 in 1899-1900. The amount received for rent, maintenance, &c, was £1,861 16s. 10d., as against £1,587 2s 10d. in 1899-1900. The total number of telegraph- and telephone-offices open at the close of the year was 991. Of these, 237 were telegraph- and 754 telephone-offices. Offices opened and closed during Financial Year ended 31st March, 1901. Opened. Addington. Gummie's Bush. Mokihinui Mine. South Invercargill. Allandale. Gumtown. Mokotua. Strand Arcade. Annat. Henley Railway. Moonlight. Surrey Hills. Aro Street. Hope. Morven. Tangiteroria. Arundel. Ikawai. Motuihi. Tangowahine. Borton's. Kaikorai. Ohakune. Tatapouri. Centre Bush. Kaimata. Oruru. Teddington. Gbarteris Bay. Kapuka. Otamatea. Te Horo. Christohuroh Exhibi- Katioi. Otira Railway. Te Moehau. Hon. Leitbfield. Pakaraka. Three Channel Plat. Cobden. Limehills. Peebles. Tiraumea. Conway. Livingstone. Peria. Tisbury. Dallington. Maerewhenua. Pipiriki. Titiroa. Douglas Road. Mangaituroa. Port Levy. Upper Mobaka. Dunrobin. Mangapehi. Purau. Waddington. Gebbie's Flat. Manurewa. Raetihi. Waihao Downs. Gladstone Road. Marsden. Rakaunui. Waimatua. Glen Oroua. Matawhero. Redclifis. Waiouru. Goodwood. Maunganui Bluff. Remuera. Waterfalls. Governor's Bay. Meeanee. Rooky Nook. Weraroa. Greenmeadows. Mitchelltown. Silverhope. Yaldhurst. Closed. Ohristohuroh Exhibi- Eweburn. Onaero. i Papanui Bureau, tion. Mosgiel Bureau. Paikakariki. j The Forks. Opened during year, 83 ; closed, 7. Telephone Exchanges. There were on the 31st March last twenty-two central exchanges and twenty-six subexchanges.

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