p.—l

XXIV

The telegraph receipts for the financial year, including telephone-exchange subscriptions, privatewire rents, &c, amounted to £344,251 Os. 6d., compared with £307,520 15s. lljd. in 1906-7, an increase of £36,730 4s. 6|d., or 11-94 per cent. The expenditure was £357,581 Is. 3d., as against £291,359 12s. 6d. for the previous year, an increase of £66,221 Bs. 9d., or 22-73 per cent. There were 9,656 miles of line and 29,344 miles of wire at the close of the year —an increase of 703 and 2,313 miles respectively. The net expenditure out of Public Works Fund for telegraph-extension was £155,491 Bs. 6d, as compared with £114,067 19s. 9d. in 1906-7. The number of private wires and subsidised lines was 389, compared with 351 in 1906-7. The amount received for rent, maintenance, &c, was £2,206 6s. 4d., as against £2,123 3s. Bd. in 1906-7. The total number of telegraph and telephone offices open at the close of the year was 1,611. Of these, 280 were telegraph offices and 1,331 were telephone offices. The number of telegrams of all codes forwarded during the last financial year was 7,042,923, an increase of 646,591, or 10-11 per cent, over 1906-7. The proportion of paid telegrams per head of population was 7-42, and 6-84 the previous year. The number of ordinary telegrams forwarded was 5,040,044, of the value of £159,244 3s. 7Jd., compared with 4,548,532, of the value of £148,659 ss. 3|d. in 1906-7, an increase of 491,512 and £10,584 18s. 4d. The urgent telegrams numbered 255,525, of the value of £15,621 13s. 2d., an increase of 19,794 in number and £1,281 14s. lOd. in amount. The average value of each ordinary telegram was 7-58 d., and of each urgent telegram Is. 2-67 d. 452,536 Press telegrams, of fhe value of £21,201 Bs. ljd., were forwarded in 1907-8, as compared with 389,917, valued at £18,089 Is. 4d., forwarded in 1906-7—an increase of 62,619, or 16-06 per cent., in number, and an increase of £3,112 6s. 9|d., or 17-2 per cent., in value. The value of each Press telegram averaged 11-24 d., as against 11-13 d. in 1906-7. The bureau messages numbered 1,210,174, of the Value of £26,858 13s. 6d., as compared with 985,900, of the value of £21,212 15s. 6d., in 1906-7—an increase of 224,274 in number and £5,645 18s. in amount. The average value of each bureau message was 5-33 d., as against 5-16 d. in 1906-7. Telegraph Messengers' Deliveries. Telegraph-messengers' deliveries (by departmental messenger) were established as follows : Auckland—Mount Eden, Papakura, Te Kuiti, Upper Symonds Street; Christchurch —Waiau ; WellingtonBrooklyn. Telrgraph-offices opened and closed during Financial Year ended 31st March, 1908. Opened. Anatimo Kaiuma Muripara Ruahine Arero Kakahu Bush Netherton Ruakaka Aria Kakahu School Newstead Sedgebrook Arthur's Point Kanieri Forksj Ngakuta Slope Point Awamangu Karamea Heads Ngarara South Hillend Awariki Karitane Nihoniho Spreydon Balmoral Katea Nydia Bay State Collieries Brookside Kelburne -. Ohaupo Bureau Sutton Brydone Kinohaku Okau Swannanoa Cass Kiwi Okere Falls Swyncombe Castle Hill Lake Kanieri Okukari Tahakopa Centre Island Lake Pukaki Okuku Taringaturi Christchurch North Langridge Okura Tatare Clarkville Lower Ruakaka Onamalutu Tauhinu Coonoor Mahunga Onapua Taupirikaka Coutt's Island Mama Oparure Tautuku Crofton Mairoa Opawa Te Awaite Croixelles Makarewa Otangiwai Te Karaka Dyerville Makarora Otarawao Te Kowhai Eastown Makarora Wharf Otarere Te Ngae Elaine Bay Makatote Paekakariki Te Puia Springs Eureka Mangatuna Pahia Te Taho Evansdale Maori Bay Pakorari Te Towaka Eyreton Mareretu Papatowai Te Weka French Pass Marima Paringa The Peaks Gordonton Marton Junction Parnassus Ferry Tiakitahuna Government Buildings (Wei- Matahuru Pinohia Upcot lington) Matarawa Piopio Wahipai Haast Matawai Pori Waihaha Hakahaka Matuku Port Charles Waiharakeke Haunui Maungatautari Puaha Waikawa Bay Havelock Suburban Maungatawhiri Pukekakariki Wairangi Hekeia Maungawera Pukepito Waitati Bureau Hinehaka Mautoroa Pukepoto Waitomo Caves Hopelands Medbury Puketowai Waiuta Horotiu Meremere Purahi Walton kamatua Mokai Rakahuri Weld's Hill Jordan Mokoreta ' Rakauroa Whareama Kahuika Molesworth Rangataua Whatamango Kaiaka Morrison's Bush Reidston Whatanihi Kaimatarau Moturakau Riponui Willowbridge Kainui Moutoa Rototuna Woodhill. Closed. Awawaro. Exhibition Christchurch, Macleod's Terrace.