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Mayfield (post-office and quarters). Napier (automatic-telephone exchange). New Plymouth (garage, store, line, and workshop buildings). Omakau (post-office and residence). Oturehua (residences (2) ). Pahiatua (post-office). Rotorua (garage, store, and line building ; battery and power building, &c.). Te Awamutu (garage, store, and line building). Thames (chief post-office). Waikari (post-office and residence). Waimana (post-office and quarters). Wakefield (garage and line building). Wellington (Lyall Bay) (cable-repeater building). Additions and alterations to the post-office buildings at Epsom, Kilbirnie, Mount Eden, Rahotu, Te Awamutu, and Kingsland were in progress, as also were extensive alterations to the Moray Place post-office building. A fire occurred in the Dunedin workshops on the night of the 25th May. The outbreak was confined to the south end of the building, but considerable damage was done. On account of pressure of work in the Public Works Department, the Post and Telegraph Department was authorized to employ private architects for building-work that the Public Works Department was unable to handle expeditiously, and also to undertake the maintenance of its own buildings independently of the Public Works Department. Private architects were accordingly engaged in connection with the Hamilton automatic-telephone exchange addition, the Oturehua residences, and the Moray Place alterations. The new arrangement has necessitated the appointment to the Department's stafl of an architect and draughtsmen, as it is desirable that the plans in the preliminary stages be prepared by an officer with architectural qualifications and a knowledge of the Department s requirements. In connection with the maintenance of buildings an Overseer has been appointed to inspect buildings and report upon their condition. DEPARTMENTAL MOTOR-VEHICLES. New motor-vehicles brought into service during the year numbered 157, of which 143 were of English and 14 of Canadian manufacture. All the vehicles, with the exception of twenty-one cars, were assembled in New Zealand. The provision of so many new vehicles was necessary on account of the poor condition of many cars and trucks which were continued in use during the depression years, and also in order to provide transport in connection with many new telegraph and telephone construction works. A new type of half-ton truck is being developed for use in country districts by faultmen engaged in the maintenance of telegraph and telephone lines. This vehicle has an enclosed driver's cab of modern design, but the body consists of a steel tray covered with a strong canvas hood on an angleiron framework. The ladder is carried overhead instead of on the driver's side as with the older vehicles used by faultmen. The vehicles in commission at the end of the year numbered 698, comprising 497 trucks and vans and 201 motor-cars. The number of vehicles withdrawn from service was 37. The fleet, including several vehicles held for sale, shows an increase of 120. The number of miles travelled by the fleet during the year was 5,257,720, an increase of 514,086. BICYCLES. Details of bicycles in service at the end of the year are as follows : — 658 machines owned by individual officers, for the use of which allowances are paid ; 181 machines purchased by the Department and supplied free of cost to officers, who are required under agreement to maintain the machines and to utilize them in the Department's service for a fixed period based on the average official riding-time ; 513 machines owned by the Department and held for use by officers as required. The bicycles supplied to officers under agreement and those purchased for official purposes are obtained from a New Zealand firm, which assembles the machines to the Department's specifications. EXTENDED USE OF MECHANICAL OFFICE APPLIANCES. By purchasing for the more important offices new and up-to-date mechanical office equipment it has been possible with the replaced appliances to extend the use of typewriters and, to a lesser extent, adding-machines to offices not previously so equipped. Typewriters are now in use at 155 offices. The employment of girl shorthand-writers has also been extended to an additional number of suboffices. ISSUE OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING TO MEMBERS OF LINE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE STAFF. During the year it was decided to revert to the practice in force some years ago of supplying linemen, faultmen, &c., regularly employed on outside construction and maintenance work with a personal issue of waterproof clothing. The usual issue comprises sou'wester, jacket, and trousers. In addition, supplies of gum boots are now held at line-stations for use in emergencies.
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