F.—l

14

The total number of connections is 42,934., compared with .'5T. 257 in 1912. They may be classified as follows: Paying direct, 32,252 ; extensions, 6,560 ; bureaux, 3,686 ; service. 136. New connections numbered 6,686, and those given up 1,795. The increase in connection is equal to 15-24 per cent. A new edition of tin , regulations for guidance d( officers in telephone exchangee was issued during fhe year. A branch telephone exchange for the Ueneral Post Office building was opened oh the -'loth December, 1912. On the .'ilst March, L 913, therejwere 1,976 miles of telephone-line and 47,005 miles of wire. New exchangee were opened at Albury, Coalgate, Darfield, Easi Oxford, Fordell, Havelock, Ahum rewa, Mercer, Ohaeawai. Owaka, I'apatoetoe, Piopio, Putaruru, Raglan, Rangataua, Renwicktown, Seddon, Thornbury, Urenui, and Waiwera. To meet the increase of subscribers at Auckland and Wellington, the switchboards have been supplemented by the installation of automatic sections to accommodate 5(10 numbers. Bare wires are being replaced by lead-covered cables where the increase of subscribers makes the number of individual wires excessive. Tenders were invited for automatic telephone exchanges at Wellington, Auckland, Blenheim Hamilton, Masterton and Oamaru. The tender of the Western Electric Company was accepted. Much trouble and expense has been caused by faults in the Wellingtnn-Hutt aerial telephone cable during stormy weather. Arrangements have been made for a subterranean cable service. Maintenance of Telegraph and Telephone Trunk Links Sections of line totalling 1,510 miles have been overhauled and strengthened during the year. as under : Auckland district, 185 miles ; Wellington district, 260 miles ; Nelson district, 50 miles ; Canterbury district, 565 miles ; Otago district, 450 miles. Xew testboards were fitted at Bluff, Cambridge, Eltham. Helensville, Inglewood, Kawakawa, Matamata, Murchison, Ohaeawai. Otahuhu, Putaruru, Te Aroha, Whangarei, and Win ton. A superimposed Morse circuit was opened between New Plymouth and Tβ Kiiiti, with Awakino intermediate. Tin , following were converted from telephone to .Morse offices: Awakino, East Oxford, Kaponga. Kohatu, Nightcaps. Ongarue, Roslyn, Stillwater, and Whangamomona. Metallic circuit for telephone-communication, Napier to Palmerston North, was completed as far as Waipawa on the LOth December. 1912, and brought into Use. The new metallic circuit was brought into use Eor bureau communication between Wellington and Auckland on the Ist April, 1913.