R— 1.

The line has now been connected into the Ohaeawai office, which enables faults to be localised within a much smaller distance. Linemen have been stationed at Mangonui, Whangarei, and Ohaeawai, permitting the men to cover their sections and meet in less than four hours. Telephone Exchanges. The Auckland Exchange is steadily increasing in numbers, there being on the 31st March 1,554 connections, including 55 bureaux, an increase of 183 during the year. Another section of 600 numbers has been added to the switchboard, providing for 2,099 subscribers. The installation of the electric-tramways system in Auckland has necessitated considerable alterations to the telephone-lines, but nevertheless serious disturbance is experienced from induction. To overcome the difficulty metallic circuits will be installed immediately the necessary cable now on order arrives. 105J miles of poles and 1,6574 miles of wire are utilised for exchange connections. Other Exchanges. —New exchanges were opened during the year at Devonport (25 subscribers) and Eotorua (36 subscribers). Both are working well. Thames. —This exchange is working satisfactorily. There is a decrease of 2 in the number of subscribers since last report. Paeroa. —There are now 23 subscribers, an increase of 6. The total connections with the various exchanges in the district are 1,721, of which 1,626 are paying, 28 free, and 67 bureaux —an increase of 252—and the poles and wire connected therewith aggregate respectively 125 miles and 1,7494 miles.

m Wellington. Construction. The following new lines and wires were erected: — Miles of Poles. Miles of Wire. Okoia—lead off Wanganui-Mangamahu line ... ... 1 1 Taradale to Fernhill ... ... ... ... 5f 6£ Taita to Upper Hutt ... ... .... ... — 9£ Wanganui to Castlecliff ... ... ... — 4J Awahuri to Eongotea ... ... ... ... 7 7 Papatawa—lead off Woodville-Maharahara line ... ■ — O^ Hastings to Hastings Eaoecourse ... ... ... — 2 J Porirua to Titahi Bay ... ... ... ... 2| % Te Aute to Pukehou ... ... ... ... — 4£ Normanby to Eltham .. ... ... ... — 8J Kahukura to East Cape Lighthouse ... ... 9£ Gisborne to Tokomaru Bay ... ... ... — 60^ Waipukurau to Hatuma ... ... .. — 5 Kaitawa to Tane ... ... ... ... 6| 6| Taradale to Taradale Eacecourse ... ... ... — 0£ Weber to Waione ... ... ... ... 6-| 6-J-Manaia to Inaha ... ... ... .. — 2f Awatuna to Te Kiri ... ... ... 2£ 1\ Okiawa to Matapu ... ... ... ... 2f 2| Opunake to Pungarehu ... ... ... — 13£ Ohingaiti to Mangaonoho ... ... ... — 4 Mangatoro—lead off Dannevirke-Weber line ... ... — O^ Fordell to Wangaehu ... ... ... ... — 4-J Turangarere —lead off Mangaweka-Pipiriki line ... — 0-J Muriwai Extension ... ... . ... — 2-| Gisborne to Ormond (metallic trunk circuit) ... ... — 23-J Greytown North to Carterton (metallic trunk circuit) ... — 10f Hawera to Manaia (metallic trunk circuit) ... ... — 19-J Dannevirke to Woodville (metallic trunk circuit) ... — 34 Patea to Wanganui (single trunk circuit) ... ... — 40 Poles. Wire. For the Railway Department— Miles. Miles. Palmerston North to Marton (tablet wires)* 29 58 ~\ Upper Hutt to Kaitoke (tablet wires)* ... 7| 7|[ 36| 65| Gisborne to Kaiteratahi Extension ... — OjJ For the Public Works Department — Ohingaiti to Turangarere ... ... 0£ 33 ) g, . Mangaweka to Mangaonoho ... ... 8f 8f) * ¥ Totals ... ... ... 8% 4024 * Maintained by the Eailway Depaitment.

XXIV