ANNUAL ADDRESS. XIII. 



A review of the engineering works of the past year would be 

 incomplete without reference to the work of the Telegraph 

 Department, for, although none of the works may be of the 

 highest magnitude, yet in the aggregate they present a large 

 total. For instance, since May 1st, 1896, 4000 telephones have 

 been fixed, and although we have not yet the advantage of the 

 metallic return, the Engineer-in-Chief for Telegraphs has made 

 arrangements in the new Telephone Switch Board, for which the 

 contract has been let, for the adoption of that system. The work 

 would no doubt have to be done gradually, and would take time, 

 but it is satisfactory to know that this much-needed improvement 

 is contemplated. 



The completion of the tunnels for telephone wires in the city 

 has done much to improve the appearance of the streets, by 

 permitting the removal of many of the unsightly poles and over- 

 head wires. These tunnels are of an aggregate length of three 

 miles, and cost £43,000 to construct. Where the tunnels have 

 not been constructed the wires are in many places being laid in 

 wrought-iron pipes under the footpath. 



The construction of a telephone wire to Newcastle has been 

 successfully completed. The distance is 104 miles, a copper closed 

 circuit being used ; and a line to Bathurst, 125 miles long, is 

 now in hand. Although these appear long distances to speak 

 over, yet they are trifles when compared with what is done in 

 other portions of the world, and even in this colony I am in- 

 formed that conversation is 'carried on through 206 miles of 

 uninsulated wire, forming one of the wires of the fences connect- 

 ing Wonnaminta with two other stations belonging to the 

 Australian Mortgage Land and Finance Company in the 

 Wilcannia district. 



I have not much to call your attention to in reference to 

 Mining, except to mention the application of the Cyanide 

 Process for the extraction of gold from old tailings. One of the 

 largest plants in this colony is at Mitchell's Creek, where about 

 £2,000 has been spent upon it. They have there a heap of old 



