F.—l.

The number of private wires increased from 77 to 82 ; the receipts, however, decreased from £1,124 10s. Bd. to £1,122 19s. 6d. The work undertaken and proposed to be carried out in the several districts is dealt with in the following abridged statements : — Auckland District. The extensions in this district have been the Patumahoe line, Shortland wire, Mauku line, Clevedon line, and Matekohe wire; in all, twenty-two miles of wire. Nearly three hundred miles of wire in this district has been overhauled and repaired, and two cables have been laid across the Piako Eiver. The lines are now in thoroughly good working order. Napier District. Construction. —Ffteen miles, Tahorite to Woodville, has been completed; and also the Kumeroa branch line, eight miles, has been finished. Ten miles of line from Pakipaki North has been entirely renewed with heavier poles and arms. Overhauling and liepairs. —Between Takapau and Tahoraite the line has been overhauled and angles strengthened. The following sections have been cleared and repaired where necessary : Thames to Katikati, Gisborne to Napier, Woodville to Waipukurau, and Napier to Taupo. The Napier-Hastings section has been strengthened at angles, and poles butted; and the TaurangaMaketu section has also been similarly treated. The following offices have been refitted : Napier, Herbertville, Woodville, Tarawera, Taupo, Gisborne, Takapau and Waipukurau. It will be nenessary to renew the first eight miles of line north of Napier with 9 by 9 poles to meet coming requirements. The remainder of the section will only require few pole renewals, but 300 will require butting; long arms will also be necessary. On the Napier-Gisborne line 120 poles will require butting ; with these exceptions the lines in this district are in good working order. Wellington District. There has been little constructing or repairing work required in this district during the past year. The Opunake to Hawera section has been carefully overhauled and strengthened, and also the line from Wellington to Castlepoint. A telephone line has been run from Masterton to Mauriceville and Mangamahoe. The line between Opunake and New Plymouth, via Pungarehau, has been converted into a telephone circuit. All other lines in this district are in good working order. The Cook Strait three-core cable broke between 5.30 and 7 p.m. on the 28th March last. The repairing steamer " Sherard Osborne " has been engaged in effecting repairs, which were completed on the evening of the 30th ultimo. Nelson District. Construction in this district has been very light, only an extension from Brunnerton to Eichardson, and a private line from Westport to Denniston, thirteen miles and a half long. The Manuka Mat line, about eight miles long, has been thoroughly overhauled and strengthened; but about ninety poles require butting between this point and Hope Junction. This work will be put in hand at once. The section Blenheim to Hope Junction via Tophouse has received a pole to pole examination. On the Eichmond to Motueka section some twenty poles will require butting. On the Kumara-Hokitika section some fifty poles will require to be renewed at an early date. The Westport-Charleston section requires entire reconstruction, which will be put in hand shortly. Otherwise the lines in this district are in good serviceable order. Canterbury District. Christchurch to Kaikoura section : Owing to the Kowai Eiver changing its course it was necessary to put in a pipe pole. This line has been considerably strengthened at Kaiapoi, and raised over street-and road-crossings, and also overhauled. It will be necessary to rebutt and overhaul the line from Christchurch to Kaikoura at an early date. The Christchurch to Waitaki section is in good order ; nothing has been necessary in the way of repairs this year. Eolleston to Darfield section has been thoroughly overhauled. Between Darfield and Bealey a heavy snowstorm and gale knocked down twenty-two miles of this line last October. This section will not require any unusual expenditure during the ensuing year. The section Christchurch Eailway to Amberley is now receiving a thorough overhaul. The Darfield to Whitecliffs section has received a slight overhaul, and is now in good order. The Whitecliffs end suffered greatly from the storm of October last. The Kaiapoi to Oxford and View Hill section is being overhauled at present. The View Hill portion is in good order. Christchurch to Southbridge section has received a thorough overhaul; many poles restumped, angles strengthened, and road-crossings raised. The Christchurch to Lyttelton section requires strengthening and uprighting ; this will be done soon. Christchurch to Akaroa: This line has been put in good repair ; many poles had to be stumped and road-crossings raised.

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