130 Transactions. 



It is but twelve years ago tliat public meetings were lield in Otago to 

 discuss tlie possibility of establishing an overland mail between Dunedin 

 and Cbristcliurcb, the country lying between tbe two towns being then a 

 teri^a incognita. "Within the last few weeks we have witnessed the successful 

 laying of the Cook Strait cable, connecting the seat of Govei'ument in the 

 North Island with aU the principal towns of the Middle Island, and have 

 had laid on our breakfast tables the printed reports of the debates with 

 which the walls of the legislative chambers at "Wellington were echoing but 

 a few hours previously. 



It may be interesting to record the dates of the successive steps by 

 which this result has been attained. 



The first telegraph line opened in New Zealand was a short line, con- 

 structed under the direction of the Provincial Engineer, between Lyttelton 

 and Christchurch, which was opened to the public 1st July, 1862. 



The line between Port Chalmers and Dunedin was opened a few days 

 afterwards. 



These first efforts were followed by the construction of the main line 

 through the Middle Island, from Bluff Harbour to Nelson, under the direc- 

 tion of Mr. A. Sheath, the Telegraphic Engineer to the General Government, 

 the communication between the extreme points just named being completed 

 23rd March, 1866. 



Next in order must be recorded the erection of the line between Christ- 

 church and Hokitika, which was commenced in August, 1865, and opened 

 to Hokitika, one of the ports of the western gold fields, 14th Eebruary, 1866. 

 This line has since been extended northwards along the coast as far as 

 Greymouth, another gold fields port, the connection between Hokitika and 

 Greymouth having been established 9th July, 1866. 



And, lastly, the whole scheme of telegraphic communication in the 

 Middle Island has been connected with the seat of Government by a cable 

 laid across Cook Strait, the first official message between the Middle and 

 North Islands having been flashed across the Straits 26th August, 1866. 

 The total length of telegraph now open in the Middle Island, including the 

 line across Cook Strait, is 986 miles, of which 199 belong to the communica- 

 tion between Christchurch and Greymouth. 



Every new country presents special features which affect the character 

 of its public works : this is well exemplified by the working of our telegraphs. 

 There are two special causes of interruption to our lines which are worth 

 recording. Pirst, the breakage of the wire by falling trees. The trees of 

 the New Zealand forests have no tap-roots, and depend upon each other for 

 support ; hence, if the edge of the forest is abruptly exposed, as when a 

 river cuts for itself a new line through the bush, or when a wide clearing 



