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Wireless Telegraphy. . During the past year contracts have been let for the installation of two high-power, and for the necessary equipment for five low-power, stations in different parts of the Dominion. A good deal of initial work lias been done in connection with the selection of suitable sites that will give a maximum range of transmission and of immunity from interference, as well as the greatest economy of operation and maintenance. One of the high-power stations is to be at Awanui, north of Auckland, and will have a range of 1,250 miles in the daytime, while at night-time, and under favourable conditions, the range will be considerably increased. This station will therefore, be able to maintain uninterrupted communication with Sydney day and night. The other high-powei , station is to be installed near Bluff. •Southland, and will have a similar equipment and range to that of the Awanui Station. It has been decided to place one of the low-power stations upon the summit of Mouin Etako, South Tinakori Range, near Wellington, and probably one or two Government steamers will be similarly equipped. The station mi Mount Etako will have a daylight range of at least 300 miles, and double that distance at night-time, thus enabling commercial business to be done with the numerous steamers equipped with wireless apparatus which make Wellington their port of call. The site has been so chosen as to give the greatest possible range of communication that can be economically obtained, within a convenient distance of Wellington. The power equipment has been chosen to give continuous operation of the plant both day and night, and to provide, as far as possible, against risk of interruption. The preliminary work of excavation and road-formation is being pushed forward. Plans and specifications for the buildings are complete, and this work will be put in hand with all possible despatch. Part of the electrical equipment is now being utilized in the General Post Office experimental station, and the remainder is expected shortly. Apparatus will be ejected at or near Gisborne and Christchurch. The equipment for these stations is being manufactured by the Australasian Wireless Company (Limited), upon which devolves the erection and installation of the high-power stations. The equipment for the low-power stations will be installed by officers of the Department. Telephone Exchanges. Calculagraphs for checking the duration of bureau communications were installed in twenty exchangee in April, 1910. Twenty-one new exchanges were opened during the year, the number of subscribers increased 2,473, and the total number of connections by 3,547. The total number of exchanges now is 174, made up of 58 central and 116 sub-exchanges. The total number of connections is 33,228, compared with 29,681 in 1910. They may be classified as follows : Paying, 24,715 ; free, 1; bureaux, 3,032 ; service, 345 ; extensions, 5,135. New connections numbered 4,280, and those given up 1,399. The increase in connections is equal to 11*43 per cent. On the 31st March, 1911, there were 1,384 miles of telephone line and 33,440 miles of wire. To meet the requirements of the increased number of subscribers, new switchboards have been installed at Thames, Tauranga, Opotiki, Ashburton, Sanson, Bull's, Kimbolton, Levin, Mangaweka, Martin borough, Rongotea, Masterton, and Patea ; and additions have been made to existing boards at Wai hi and Dargaville. The laying of conduits for the purpose of placing the telephone cables in Auckland City underground is Hearing completion. 25 miles 4 chains of ducts have been laid, and are now ready to receive cables. At Oamaru aerial lead cables have been erected preparatory to installing the metallic system. The subscribers' lines at Hastings have been converted to metallic circuits, and a modern centralbattery switchboard installed at the exchange. work in connection with converting the Napier plant to an underground metallic-circuit system is proceeding, and preliminary arrangements have been made for the conversion to metallic circuit of the New Plymouth, Hawera, Palmerston North, Gisborne, Shannon, Masterton, and Manaia Exchanges. Construction op Telegraph and Telephone Trunk Lines. The following is a comparative statement showing the length of new lines and wires erected in Telegraph Engineers' districts during the last five years : —

The extension of lines to outlying districts has been vigorously proceeded wit h, and 103 new offices opened. Increased facilities for telegraph and bureau communication between centres have been given by the erection of additional metallic circuits and by superimposing Morse and telephone circuits over existing metallic circuits. The construction of a metallic circuit of No. 8 copper wire between Auckland and Wellington to be used lor bureau and telegraphic purposes is rapidly progressing.

1906. Iβ. 1907. 1908. 1907. 1909-10. 1910-11. Auckland Wellington Nelson Canterbury Otago Poles. M. ch. •• 135 60 • • 156 35 116 67 •■ 111 30 ■•48 in Wire. . Poles. Wire Poles. Wire. M. oh. M. oh. M. ch. M. oh. M. [ 491 40 139 60 350 60 228 60 795 641 40 104 43 690 74 157 2* 974 I 217 49 245 16 ! 484 77 52 22 254 I 170 8 90 47 266 20 62 30£ 641 I 392 20 121 0 518 20 248 GO 644 I M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. I M ch 795 0 I'Jl 36 952 78 173 15 654 48 974 52192 55 490 58 117 2S <J8!) 20 254 58 38 16 189 72 31 15 156 27 641 50 17 78 268 40' 50 68 305 33 644 60 64 0 286 40 54 0 351 0 eh. II 52 58 .Mi 60 Poles. Wire. M. ch. Jl. cl 191 36 952 7 192 55 490 5 38 16 189 7 17 78 ; 268 4 64 0 286 4 Poles. Wire. :h. M. ch. M. c 78 173 15 654 4 58 117 2:! 989 i 72 31 15 156 S JO 50 68 305 c 40 54 0 351 Totals 598 72 1,915 77 701 6 2,311 11 749 15 3,310 60 504 25 2,188 43 426 41 2,456 43