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(b.) The telephone at the telephone-office must be of the bridging-bell pattern ii there is more than one telephone on the line, but it may be an Edison-Bell telephone if there is only one telephone on the line. It is furnished, together with the fittings, at the expense of the owner of the private line. 11. When a private line is connected with a telephone-office in charge of a permanent officer a switohing fee, to be paid in advance, of £1 10s. per annum for each telephone, is to be charged for switching the private line to another private line. The service of switching the private line to the bureau, and the transmitting and receiving of telegrams on the private line, will be given free of charge; but the usual charges for use of the bureau, and the cost of the transmission of telegrams over the public line from the bureau, must be paid. 12. Non-permanent telephonists may fix a fee to be charged for their services in switching one private line to another private line. Approximately the charge is about £1 10s. per annum per telephone, but non-permanent telephonists may charge only the usual bureau fees and the cost of transmitting messages for switching to a departmental line. 13. Where a telephone exchange has been established in a country town private lines may be connected with the same on the owners signing the prescribed form of application and paving the entrance fee of £1 and the charges set out in clause 14. Only one entrance fee is required for each line. 14. When a private line is joined up to a telephone-exchange connection, either through a subscriber's wire or direct to the exchange by a departmental wire the rates in addition to the entrance fee shall be in accordance with those specified for exclusive and party lines. 15. The Department supplies a telephone free of charge to each subscriber, and, where necessary, an earth-plate, and, in the case of a long line, a lightning-guard ; but these remain the property of the Department, and are not installed or maintained by the Department except at the expense of the subscriber and when the Department can conveniently spare the services of a lineman. Neither does the Department maintain any part of the private line. The Department will, however, supply material for renewing batteries, and will also repair or replace a defective telephone if it is sent in to the telephone exchange by the subscriber. Otherwise such subscribers have all the privileges of ordinary subscribers. MAXIMUM DISTANCES WHICH THE DEPARTMENT WILL ERECT LINES FREE OP COST TO SUBSCRIBERS. 1 subscriber .. .. 4 miles .. .. 2 years'bond. 2 subscribers .. 5 .. .3 :{ „ .. .. 6 „ .. .. m 4 „ .. .. 7 „ .. .. 4 5 „ .. .. 8 .. . . . . 4 r> . .. .. (t ~ .. .. s

Approximate V.ost of Prtjwr.—Preparation, not given ; priming (1,500 copies), £<">.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government. Printer, Wellington 1911

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