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XXI

Canterbury District. Construction. Thirty-seven miles of poles and forty-two miles of wire have been erected during the year, and nine telephone-offices opened—at Cass, Castle Hill, Port Robinson, Wainui, Barry's Bay, French Farm, Halswell, Upper Waiau, Hanmer Plains. Maintenance. A considerable amount of reconstruction will have to be undertaken in several parts of this district during the present year The section from Papanui to Kaiapoi, carrying no fewer than sixteen wires, now requires much heavier poles. The Waipara to Kaikoura Section, seven miles north of Amberley, is in an unsafe condition (many of the poles having been erected over twenty-seven years ago), and a considerable outlay would be required to put it in thorough order It is proposed, however, to abandon this route as part of the main system, except as far as Cheviot—connecting this office with Amberley The main line would then be run from Cheviot to Waiau, and a new line erected between that point and Kaikoura. Much better insulation and, consequently, more satisfactory working, would be secured by adopting the new route. Owing to the large number of wires now on the Ghristchurch-Lyttelton Section, the line will have to be re-poled in the near future. The Addington-Kaiapoi and Rangiora-Amberley Sections require a thorough overhaul this year, and the Southbridge, Akaroa, Geraldine, and the Darfield-Whitecliffs Sections will require the poles re-butted. The Christchurch to Bealey and Taipo line is now undergoing a thorough overhaul. Several diversions from the old route have been necessary owing to the change in the course of the rivers. The Kaiapoi-Waipara to Waiau Sections have been thoroughly overhauled, and are now in firstclass order. There are 838 miles of poles, and 2,790 miles of wire, in this district. Telephone Exchanges. The exchanges in this district are in good order Otago District. Construction. Thirty-eight miles of poles and 94 miles of wire have been erected, as follows Winton to Hokonui, Owake to Ratanui, Beaumont to Island Block, Anderson's Bay to Highcliffe, Gore to Waikaka, Naseby to Wedderburn, Invercargill to Bluff (trunk telephone-wire), Mataura Island loop, Wetherstone loop, and Hyde Railway to Hyde Post-office. Sixteen telephone offices have been opened during the year namely, Brown's, Crookston, Frankton Wharf, Highcliffe, Hokonui, Hyde Railway, Island Block, Mataura Island, Rae's Junction, Ratanui, Sandymount, The Camp, Waikaka, Waikaka Valley Wetherstone, and Wedderburn. Two offices have been closed —namely Caversham and Kew Bureaux. Maintenance. About 300 miles of line have been thoroughly overhauled, and strengthened where necessary The lines generally are in good order, but something like four per cent, of the wooden poles require re-butting or renewing. There are now 1,429 miles of line (including 693 miles of iron poles), carrying 2,861 miles of wire, in this district. Telephone Exchanges. All the exchanges are in good order, and are working well.

Post Office maps, showing the mail routes, Post-offices. &c, are attached. Maps showing the geographical position of the telegraph lines also accompany the report.

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