F. —1

XXX

Nelson District. Construction. The following lines and wires were erected during the year : — Miles of Poles. Miles of Wire. M. oh. M. ch. Hopai to Eli Bay ... ... ... ••• 220 220 Poerua (lead off Stillwater line) ... 010 Crushington to Globe Hill ... ... ... 175 175 Eli Bay to Crail Bay ... ... ... 260 260 Crail Bay to St. Omer ... ... ... 260 260 Orail Bay to Homewood ... ... ... 7 0 7 0 Puponga (lead off Farewell Spit line) ... ■•■ ••• 0 2 Wharanui (lead off Kekerangu line) ... ... 04 04 Mokihinui (lead off Seddonville line) ... ... 0 3 0 3 Seddonville to Karamea ... ... ... 30 40 34 40 Grassmere (lead off Gape Campbell line) ... ... 0 1 0 6 Totals ... ... ... 47 23 51 40 Line dismantled— Poerua office lead ... ... ... • • • • • • 010 The total mileage of poles and wire in the district, after deducting the lines transferred to the Kailway Department and lines dismantled, amounts to 1,019 miles 68 chains and 2,827 miles 45 chains respectively. Maintenance. The Blenheim-Kaikoura section has been thoroughly overhauled—practically almost rebuilt— and is now in excellent order, and should stand for many years. The following sections have been strengthened during the year : Wairau Valley line, Okarito line, Greymouth-Ahaura section, Nine-mile-Inangahua Junction, Burnett's Face-Denniston, Tak'aka-Motueka, Cape Foulwind line, Stillwater Junction line, Greymouth-Marsden section. Copper wire has been erected in place of iron on the Greymouth-Dobson section. All other sections throughout the district have received necessary attention, and are in good working-order. The southern West Coast lines suffered considerably through floods, but repairs were promptly effected, and everything is working satisfactorily. The lines generally have been free from serious interruptions during the year. Offices. A spare set of quadruplex forked repeaters has been set up in Blenheim. Several small offices have been refitted and test-boards inserted to facilitate work. An extra duplex set has been installed in Nelson office to meet increased traffic. The business throughout the district is steadily increasing. Railway Department's Lines. The following lines were erected for the Railway Department, and will be maintained by that Department :— Miles of Poles. Miles of Wire. M. oh. M. oh. Grey mouth to Brunner (tablet line) ... ... 720 14 40 Brunner to Ngahere „ ••• ... 9 0 18 0 Ngahere (repeater-wire) •■• ... ••• 14 Stillwater to Brunner (repeater-wire) ... ... ... 15 Totals ... ... ... 16 20 34 49 The lines as under, alongside the railway, are no longer maintained by this Department: — Miles of Poles. Miles of Wire. Brunner to Stillwater ... ... ... 1 1| Ngahere to Eeefton ... ... ... 19 24£ Totals ... ... ... 20 26 Telephone Exchanges. Two new exchanges have been opened during the year —viz., Reefton and Kumara—with total subscribers now numbering 54. The subscribers to the eight exchanges in this district are gradually increasing and total at present 834, of which 713 are paying, 31 free, and 90 bureaux, requiring 60| miles of poles and 389|- miles of wire to connect them. Superimposed Metallic Circuits. Bureau communication is now held daily between Greymouth and Hokitika and Greymouth and Eeefton on metallic circuits superimposed on the telegraph-wires, it having been found that perfectly satisfactory speech can be maintained without interference from wires or affecting the telegraph service. The service is much appreciated.