F.—l

The Mangatera and Manakau offices were destroyed by fire, but arrangements were at once made to obviate public inconvenience. One office (Paikakariki) has been closed. Six quadruplex sets are now worked almost constantly in the Wellington office—two to Christchurch, one to Dunedin, and one to Auckland, whilst those to Wanganui and Napier are used at intervals daily. It is intended to place quadruplex repeaters in circuit at Blenheim on two of the cables, in order that additional outlets may be obtained without unnecessary transmissions. By means of these instruments, Christchurch and Greymouth may be reached direct from Wellington on one set and Nelson and Wakapuaka on the other, all of these offices using duplexes. A quadruplex set is being installed at Gisborne, and another at Napier, to meet the increasing traffic in that direction. Cables. The No. 4 Lyall Bay cable developed two faults during a heavy southerly gale about the end of May. The tests made located the breaks at 3 knots and 10 knots respectively from the Lyall Bay end. The s.s. "Tutanekai" left to effect repairs on the 26th June. The repairs were completed and communication restored on the 7th July. Bad weather interfered greatly with the operations. 2 knots 486 fathoms of 5-ton cable were used in repairing both breaks. On 20th July the s.s. " Tutanekai," with a cable staff on board, left for Auckland to lay a cable from the mainland to Motuihi Island. The work was successfully completed on the 24th July, 3 knots 570 fathoms of cable being used. Early in September the No. 3 Oterangi Bay-White's Bay cable parted. The break was located at 2 knots from the Oterangi Bay side. The s.s. "Tutanekai," with repairing staff, left to restore the cable on 28th September. The repair was effected on the 7th October. Very bad weather was experienced during the operations. It was found necessary to put in a new shore end, 4 knots 785 fathoms of 7-ton cable being used All cables now test well, and are working satisfactorily. Exchanges. The Wellington Exchange continues in a satisfactory condition. The numerous applications for connections necessitated the addition of one section of 300 numbers to the switchboard, bringing the present capacity of the exchange up to 1,800 numbers. Two more sections have been ordered, which will bring the capacity up to 2,400. The total number of subscribers on 31st March, 1901, was 1,585, an increase of 168 for the year. Of this number, 1,501 are paying connections, 43 free (Government), and 41 bureaux. The aggregate of all telephones connected with this exchange is 1,819. One mile and a quarter of poles and 159 miles of wire were erected, and two miles of wire were dismantled, making a total of 37 miles 60 chains of poles and 1,482 miles 24 chains of wire exclusively used in connection with this exchange. Other Exchanges. There are now eighteen exchanges in the Wellington District, an increase of two upon the total of last year. New exchanges were opened at Pahiatua and Woodville, which now have 64 and 15 subscribers respectively. The Gisborne and New Plymouth Exchanges have been refitted. All the exchanges are now in good order, and the number of subscribers rapidly increasing. The subscribers connected with the various exchanges in the district total 3,324, an increase of 401 during the year. The telephones in use connected with exchanges number 3,653. There are 195 miles 22 chains of poles and 2,523 miles 9 chains of wire connected with the exchanges in this district. Nelson. Construction. The following lines and wires were erected during the year :— Miles of Poles. Miles of Wire. M. oh. M. oh. Greymouth to Cobden ... ... ... ... ... 075 Greymouth to Marsden ... ... ... ... ... 9 50 Greymouth to Biunnerton ... ... ... ... ... 8 50 Main line to Three Channel Flat ... ... ... ... 0 3 Seddonville to Mokihinui Mine ... ... ... 1 20 1 20 Eai Valley deviation ... ... ... ... 31 0 62 0 French Pass to Elmslie's Bay ... ... ... 0 60 0 60 Arawata Ferry ... ... ... ... ... 1 40 1 40 HaastEiver ... ... ... ... ... 1 0 1 20 Stoke to Hope ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 11 35 40 86 9 Transferred from Christchurch Inspector's district, &c... 40 0 102 0 75 40 188 9 Dismantled ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 0 Total increase ... ... 75 40 187 9 The total mileages in this district are now 955f of poles and 2,572J of wire.

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