284 Ni:W SOUTH WALES. 



in some continental cities the charges are only about half what they 

 are here ; but these critics possibly forget that cheap labour and conse- 

 quent favourable conditions for cheap telephones exist at those places. 

 It is understood, ho^yever, that the present Postmaster-General^ having 

 given very careful attention to this question, has decided that from 

 the 1st April next some concessions shall be made in the annual sum 

 — sufficient, at any rate, to induce a very large number of subscribers 

 to come in whose means do not enable them at present to do so. 

 Besides the Central Exchange, there are now twelve suburban and 

 five country exchanges. [The regulations in regard to the reduced 

 rates have since been issued, and are very liberal, varying from one 

 third the present rates to one half. — Ed.] 



During the year ended 31st December, 1895, no less than 467 new 

 subscribers joined, showing that even the present tariff is by no means 

 prohibitive. The total number of subscribers to the Telephone Ex- 

 changes of the Colony in December, 1895, was 2,902. 



For the convenience of those who are not connected with the Tele- 

 phone Exchange, what are termed bureaus have been opened at the 

 head office and at fourteen suburban offices. These provide for per- 

 sons using the telephone for the purpose of conversation with friends 

 who are telephonically connected on payment of 6d. for every three 

 minutes to places not exceeding o miles distant, a higher charge being- 

 made for longer distances. 



The telegraph and telephone system and management of this Colony 

 are admitted by travellers and other competent persons, to be equal 

 to anything of the kind to be found elsewhere. 



The total length of the telegraph lines (not including telephones), 

 on 31st December, 1894, was 28.085 miles 2 chains, and the total cost 

 to that date was £831,470. The total length in 1884 was 18,681 miles, 

 and the cost £601,459. 



The number of telegraph offices open on 31st December, 1894, was 

 813, and the number in 1884 was 394. The number opened during 

 1895 was 15, making the total number at 31st December, 1895, 828. 



In view of the insular position of Australia, it is necessary to 

 maintain an efficient means of communication, by sub-marine cable, 

 with the outer world. To secure this has, for the past 20 years or 

 more, been a subject to which great consideration has been given, and 

 has necessarily resulted in a large expenditure. To the enterprise of 

 the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company are we mainly indebted for 

 the success Avhich has attended the exertions made. When we recollect 

 the difficulties and failures which followed the earlier attempts, some 

 thirty-five years since, to lay sub-marine cal>les, across the Atlantic for 

 instance, we cannot but wonder, in glancing at a map of the world, 

 showing the existing network of cables, at the achievements of science 

 and enterprise in this direction. 



Australia was first connected by a single cable, laid in 1872, between 

 Port Darwin and the Island of Java, by the Eastern Extension 

 Company. In 1879 a duplicate cable was laid, the company having 

 contracted to lay this cable and maintain it for a period of 20 years, 

 in consideration of an annual subsidy of £32,400, to which all the 

 Australian colonies (except Queensland) and, also, Tasmania, contri- 

 bute on the basis of population. These cables would, however, have 



