F.—l.

Lines dismantled— Miles of Poles. Miles of Wire. Woodville to Kumeroa ... ... . . ... — 24 Waipukurau to Porangahau ... ... ... — 28 Eailway lines ceased to be maintained by this Department (vide Appendix A) ... ... ... ... 1084 317 Totals ... ... ... 1084 3474 The total number of miles of poles and wire in the district, exclusive of those maintained by the Eailway Department, are now 2,0144 and 6,889 respectively. Maintenance. The lines throughout the district are in good order, but the increasing number of wires on the main lines makes it imperative that the matter of replacing the present poles with heavier ones should be kept in view. The following sections have been overhauled, and in many cases strengthened with extra poles: — Miles. Kahukura to Tokomaru Bay ... ... ... ... 34 Gisborne to Tokomaru Bay ... ... ... ... 60£ Gisborne to Mahanga ... ... ... ... ... 39f Wairoa to Nuhaka (partially) ... ... ... ... 20 Napier to Moeangiangi ... ... ... ... ... 27 Napier to Meanee ... ... .... ... ... 94 Woodville to Dannevirke ... ... ... ... ... 17 Woodville to Palmerston North ... ... ... ... 17 Palmerston North to Foxton (partially) ... ... ... 24i Bull's to Marton ... ... ... ... ... 9 Marton to Halcombe ... ... ... ... ... 11 Carterton to Greytown North ... ... ... ... 54 Greytown North to Featherston ... ... ... ... 9 Wellington to Oterangi Bay (partially) ... ... ... 12 Eailway wire, Kaitoke to Summit ... ... ... ... 74 Wairoa to Nuhaka (partially, second occasion) ... ... ... 20 Total ... ... ... ... ... 3234 A quantity of bush has been felled on the Druti-Mount Messenger section of the New Plymouth-Mahoenui line, which has so far been effective in preventing further faults from falling timber, but it may be necessary to continue the clearing to make the line absolutely safe. The Napier-Taupo section is in process of overhaul, and arrangements are being made for removing the Napier-Opoutama section of the Gisborne line from the beach to avoid the recurring expense of overhauling the existing line at frequent intervals on account of the sand-drifts. No less than 10 faults (contacts) were caused in the district through pieces of wire being maliciously or mischievously thrown over the lines. Several faults have also occurred through traction engines and threshing-machines coming in contact with the wires. Offices. Four offices were destroyed by fire—viz., Otaki, Egmont, Cheltenham, and Eaetihi. Transfers were effected to new permanent offices or to other non-permanent premises at Wanganui, Gisborne, Tokomaru Bay, Pongaroa, Okiawa, Norsewood, Woodville, Tekaraka, Tongaporutu, Tariki, Kiwitea, Muriwai, Kilbirnie, and Manawatu Heads. New test cabinets have been put in at Gisborne, Greytown North, Carterton, Ormond, Tokomaru Bay, and Tolaga Bay. A quadruplex forked repeater set has been installed at Hawera, which enables that office to work duplex with Wanganui, whilst the latter office also works duplex simultaneously with New Plymouth. Mangaonoho has been separated from the railway and converted to a telephone office. Ohingaiti has been combined with the railway and converted to a Morse office. Tokomaru Bay and Tolaga Bay are also now Morse offices. Nineteen new offices were opened during the year, one reopened (Huiakama), and two closed Tiniroto and Te Moehau). Cables. The laying of a 10-ton cable 38 knots in length to connect East Cape Island with the mainland was completed on the 7th July, 1902. The No. 4 Lyell Bay cable, in which a fault was located near White's Bay, was repaired on 16th July, and has been working satisfactorily since. At the end of December last No. 1 Oterangi Bay cable broke, without warning, about 4 miles from Oterangi Bay ; and on the 15th January No. 2 Oterangi Bay cable developed a fault about 3 miles from Oterangi Bay, which, however, did not entirely destroy the use of the cable. Early in February the " Tutanekai" was equipped to repair both cables, which were restored on the 21st of that month.

iv—F. 1.

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