HASTINGS TELEPHONE SERVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2720, 27 January 1910, Page 3

HASTINGS TELEPHONE SERVICE.

MOST MODERN EQUIPMENT IN THE WORLD. Speaking at the owning of the new. Post Office, at Hastings Sir Joseph Ward spoke as follows: —ilie development of the telephone in Hastings is, T believe, unparalleled in New Zealand, and I am taking the opportunity of the erection of this new building to provide Hastings "with absolutely tne most modern telephone equipment in the world. In this respect you will be far ahead of the large cities. To indicate how it studies the subscriber, I may mention that when the new system is in operation it will not even be neeessary for the subscriber to ring a bell. The mere fact of putting the receiver to his ear causes a. small lamp to glow in the exchange, thus indicating to the operator that the subscriber wishes to speak. When the conversation is finished, there' will he no ringing-off, as the hanging of the receiver on the hook gives another lamp the signal in the exchange. r J here is never any need for the attendant to ask: ‘‘Are you there?” and it is impossible to he cut off in the middle of a conversation. The I) resent equipment is for 1080 subscribers, but the ultimate capacity of the board will be 2400, which number I hope to hear that Hastings has reached within the next rear or two. A feature of the business at Hastings is the number of trunk lines conversations, particularly those to Napier. Under the new system this particular class of work will be specially cared for. lam sorry that the new system could not be ready m time for the opening of the new building, but as I did not intend to have any armliance® except those of the very latest date, I put off ordering as long as possible. The switchboards and other appliances have taken a considerable time to manufacture but all will arrive in New'Zealand this week- An early start will be made in the installation, and every effort made to hurry it forward so as to give the advantage of the improved conditions at an early date. I am sorry that the hew equipment cannot he placed on the lower finer, but must be upstairs, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing that the operators will'have a lift in the world.