Trams and Telephones.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XIX, 9 May 1903, Page 1321

Trams and Telephones.

METALLIC CIRCUITS TO BE INSTALLED. Users of telephones will In* delighted to bear that the Telegraph Department has decided to remedy the present nuisance caused in the Auckland telephone system by the electric tramway system. Mr W. Meddings, local inspector of telegraphs, informs us that the Department has decided to instal metallic circuits throughout in place of the present system of one wire and an earth return for each telephone. This means that each telephone will have two wires, one carrying the current to the telephone and one carrying the return. Each pair of wires will be twisted and insulated, the twisting having the effect of ensuring perfect neutrality from induction. The system will thus be a perfectly sound one. The wires will bo carried in overhead lead-covered cablet*. The material for the purpose is now on its way from England. The change will be effected in sections, so that there, will be no interruption to the telephone service. The change in the system will be a very costly one, running into many thousands of pounds. Mr Meddings states that at present great inconvenience is sometimes caused to the exchange operators by the contact of a guard wire with a trolley wire in the tramway system. This established a short circuit, and the consequence is that all the fifteen hundred shutters in the exchange, which open when subscribers ring up. Ily open simultaneously. These have all to bo closed, and in the meantime people nrc ringing up the exchange in vain. With the system of metallic circuits this would be obviated.