■F.—l

XXV

Wellington. Construction. New lines and wires, as shown below, have been erected in connection with the opening of new offices, and providing much-needed extra outlets for increased traffic : — Miles of Poles. Miles of Wire. Muritai to Pencarrow Lighthouse ... ... ... 6 6 Strathmore to Whangamomona ... ... ... 17 17 Ti-tree to Wimbledon ... ... ... ... 7£ 7J Pahiatua to Kaitawa ... ... ... ... 3£ 4|Wanganui to Mangamahu ... ... ... 22 25 Pahiatua to Hamua ... ... ... ... — 9 Otakeho to Auroa ... ... ... ... 4f 4f Kaponga to Awatuna ... ... ... ... .7 7 Waipawa to Tamumu, Patangata, and Elsthorpe .. 19 Eketahuna to Nireaha ... ... ... ..4 4-J Lead off Kaitawa line to Mangaramarama ... ... OJ O^ Lead off Eketahuna-Alfredton line to Eongomai ... 4J 4J Gisborne to Kaiteratahi ... ... ... 3| I3i Queen's Wharf Bureau... ... ... ... —- Of Trunk telephone lines have been erected between the following offices :— Masterton to Carterton (metallic circuit) ... ... — 18 Masterton to Eketahuna ... ... ... 26 Hastings to Napier (metallic circuit) ... ... — 25 Patea to Hawera ... ... ... ... — 20£ Hunterville to Silverhope ... ... ... — 3 Poles. Wire. For the Railway Department— Mile?. Miles. Aramoho to Kai-Iwi (block wire) ... — 9J^ Running-shed foreman, Palmerston North — 0£ Summit semaphore wire ... ... — Of Upper Hutt semaphore wire ... ... — 1 Wanganui (running-shed foreman) ... — Of Wanganui to Aramoho (block wire) ... — 3 Featherston to Cross Creek (block wire) ... — 7-J-Kai-Iwi to Waverley (block 2 wires) ... 20J 40 J Waverley to Manutahi (block 2 wires) ... 16 J 33£ - qa Manutahi to Hawera (block wire) ... — 10 * * Lower Hutt to Upper Hutt (block wire)... — 23J Wangaehu to Marton (block 2 wires) ... 16J 32J Woodside to Greytown North (block wire) 3 3 Wanganui to Aramoho (block 2 wires) ... — 6 Wanganui to Hawera ... ... — 60 Featherston to Carterton (block) ... — 12^ Palmerston North to Longburn (block) ... 3f 3f Kaitoke semaphore wire ... ... — 0J Totals ... ... ... 157| 461J Making a grand total in the district of 2,069f miles of poles and miles of wire. Maintenance. The lines throughout the district are in good order, and there were no serious interruptions to communication during the year. The following sections have received a thorough overhaul, viz. : New Plymouth to Sentry Hill, 12 miles; Carterton to Masterton, 9 miles; Wellington to Porirua, 13 miles; Ongaonga to Tikokino, 7 miles ; Wairoa to Opoutama, 29 miles (some 60 poles were raised or lowered as required where sand had shifted); Nuhaka to Moeangiangi, 60 miles (Gisborne-Napier line); and a number of poles on the sandhills on the Wairoa-Nuhaka section were also lowered or raised, as found necessary. Owing to the recurring trouble and expense on this part of the section, it will be necessary to shift the line to avoid the sand-drifts. Several larger poles were erected in the Feilding-Bunnythorpe section to raise wires at roadcrossings. Other lines are in course of overhaul, principally Greytown to Carterton, 6 miles, and Woodville to Dannevirke, 17 miles, in connection with trunk wires being erected on these sections. A considerable number of minor alterations has also been effected tending to improve the working condition of the main lines. New test-boards have been fitted at Upper Hutt and Stratford, and a testing-box at Paikakariki, and sound-proof boxes have been put in at Masterton and Muritai. Offices. A quadruplex set has been installed at Gisborne, and a corresponding set at Napier, which fully meets traffic requirements. iv—F. 1.