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D —1

XXV

The extension of the manual switchboard accommodation and the reconstruction of the outside aerial plant at a number of exchanges : The installation of underground and aerial cables at many of the smaller exchanges, and the extension of existing cable systems at other places : The replacement of the primary telegraph batteries at Wellington by the installation of the more economical universal-battery system : The conversion to metallic circuit of many earthworking lines necessitated by the extension of the high-tension circuits of power-lines : The reconstruction of many trunk and branch lines throughout the Dominion, and the erection of additional telephone toll circuits between the following places : — Ashburton- Ashburton Forks. Napier-Wairoa. Ashburton-Springburn. Nelson-Richmond. Auckland-Howick. Nightcaps-Birchwood. Auckland-Waimauku. Oamaru-Waitaki. Auckland-W arkworth. Otautau-Riverton. Dunback - Islay Downs. . Rangiwahia-Mangaweka. Glen Murray-Rangiriri. Rewhiti-Kumeu. Havelock-Canvastown. Thames - Hauraki Plains. Invercargill-Thornbury. Whakatane-Opotiki. Lawrence-Roxburgh. An important extension of the telephone toll system shortly to be undertaken is the laying of a submarine telephone cable across Cook Strait for the purpose of providing greater facilities for telephone communication between the North and South Islands. The cable, which will be 50 nautical miles in length, is being obtained from the United Kingdom, and should reach New Zealand towards the end of 1925. Arrangements have been made for the N.Z.G.S. " Tutanekai "to be fitted temporarily as a cable-ship, and, if no unforeseen circumstances arise, the new cable should be available for traffic before the 31st March, 1926. Tenders have recently been accepted for new automatic-telephone installations at Hawera, Stratford, and Dannevirke, and installation work will commence at these places as soon as sufficient supplies of equipment are delivered. WORKS FOR DEFENCE DEPARTMENT. During the past year a commencement was made with the construction of the necessary buildings at the recently acquired Waikato camp, Ngaruawahia. This camp will provide a mobilization base and training-camp for the Northern Command, and on completion of the Ordnance Stores will enable the Ordnance Depot at Auckland and the whole of Featherston Camp to be closed down. A railway-loop siding has been constructed, with a private siding within the camp giving access to the most important stores and other buildings. Several magazines have been constructed or are under construction. Married quarters and single-men's quarters are in course of erection, and a water-supply for camp purposes has been practically completed. A cookhouse for the training-camp has been erected. At Trentham and Burnham Camps important improvements have been effected, and small-arms ammunition magazines are under construction in both camps. Elsewhere, various additions and improvements have been made to existing drill-halls, and new halls are being erected. In the current year's estimates provision is made for continuing the works in progress at Waikato Camp, Ngaruawahia, and for the construction of several urgently necessary drill-halls at various centres throughout the Dominion. In the existing camps, attention is being paid to improvements to the men's messing accommodation, married quarters, and other necessary structures. MECHANICAL APPARATUS. Numerous requisitions have been received during the year for constructional plant, but from information obtained by keeping a close check upon the actual

iv—D. 1.

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