F.—l

24

The scheme for the linking-up of the more important provincial towns by means of the multiplex machine-printing system has now been fully developed, and installation work in connectirn therewith will shortly be commenced at Napier, Hamilton, and Wanganui. UNIVERSAL-BATTERY SYSTEM. The use of primary batteries for telegraph purposes was discontinued at the Chief Telegraph-office, Wellington, in December, from which time the more economical universal-battery system has been in operation. Preparations are now being made f r the installation of universal batteries at the Auckland and Dunedin offices. Consideration is also being given to the question of installing these batteries at other large telegraph-offices. In addition to providing a more efficient source of battery power, due to uniformity in the voltage of the electrical energy supplied, the use of universal batteries effects a comparatively large saving in maintenance charges. MAINTENANCE OF LINES. The maintenance of the telegraph and toll-line systems has been satisfactorily carried out during the year, and, partly on account of weather conditions having been favourable, no interruptions of service of any magnitude or over an extended period have occurred. MISCELLANEOUS (TELEGRAPHS). Particulars of the offices opened, &c., during, the year are as follows: Offices opened, 25; offices closed, 56; offices remaining open on 31st March, 1925, 2,264. Of this number, 344 are operated by Morse and 1,920 by telephone, 15 having been converted from telephone to Morse-working and 5 from Morse to telephone. The excess of offices closed over the number opened is due to the extension of the telephone-exchange system to rural and backblock districts by means of party and rural lines. The following table shows the class and number of instruments and batteries in use at telegraphoffices for the year ended 31st March, 1925 —

NEW TOLL CIRCUITS. The more important of the new toll circuits completed during the year are as follows : — Glenmurray -Rangiriri -Huntly. Waharoa-Matamata. Whakatane-Opotiki. Auckland-Warkworth. Tepuke-Rotorua. Nelson-Richmond. Blenheim-Renwicktown. Kaponga Opunake - Stratford - Dawson Falls. Napier-Wairoa. Renwicktown-Okaramio. Palmerston North - Manawatu Gorge. Woodville -Dannevirke. Dannevirke-Orinondville. Ormondvi lle-Takapau. WaipawaOtane. Patea-Whenuakura. Ruatiti-Mangaparua. Wellington-Eastbourne. Greymouth - Arthur's Pass. Ashburton-Springburn. Ashburton-Methven. Oamaru-W aitaki. Dunedin-Palmerston-Oamaru. Invercargill-Riverton-Thornbury-Otautau. Invercargill-Winton-Dipton. Hyde-Middlemarch. Lawrence-Roxburgh. POLES AND WIRE. During the year 133 miles of pole-line and 2,500 miles of wire were erected for telegraph and telephone (toll) purposes, while 109 miles of pole-line and 415 miles of wire were dismantled, or, in localities where no longer required by the Department, sold to settlers for use as private telephone-lines. The length of pole-line and wire in use for telegraph and telephone toll purposes on the 31st March, 1924 and 1925 respectively, was as follows : —

Telegraph Instruments in use. Number of Cells. •*i ! "3 ■ M |L M ! . H H m j <6 J District. Ii o-a : I -ft e.2 fgl . | . | . 3£ II is 41 : 3® ' «1 I If Iff! g ! I I : 2 I It 1 i is ; .as sj § §« in3 K i , 1 -g 1 j i & o ["gjogjfl o» o?h ©■ * h) | o a i a ® : n ; D Auckland .. 48 ! 78 11 8 13 21 13 2 1,465 .. .. .. 161 57 : .. Canterbury .. 61 i 66 9,8,2 7 5 3 ; 5,503 164 40 2 174 392 1 Otago .. 52 J 68 12!.. 5 3 1 5,484 ..105 .. 45 Wellington .. 109 j 119 11 19 22 23 24 4 17,057 1,504; 545 166 220 505 1 Totals .. 270 331 32 37 j 37 ; 56 45 10 29,5091,668 690 | 168 600 954 2 I I I ' I '

T) , , „t. Year ended Year ended T Pole-line and Wire. 31st March, 1924. 31st-March, 1925. Increase. Miles of pole-line .. .. .: .. 12,914* 1 12,938 24 Miles of wire I 54,330* 56,415 2,085 I I I * Revised figures.