FIRST — Telephone Exchange in New Zealand — Christchurch, New Zealand - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

1881 - 1981

This plaque commemorates the establishment of the Christchurch Telephone Exchange

Officially brought into service on 1 October 1881

The first telephone exchange in New Zealand.

From The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

The Christchurch Telephone Exchange is situated on the first floor of the Post Office Buildings, close to the operating room of the Telegraph Office. In 1881, the Exchange was opened with thirty subscribers and a very limited staff of operators, but on the 31st of March, 1902, there were 1164 subscribers, and at present (May, 1902) twenty-seven lady operators are employed. They work six hours a day, each one attending to 150 subscribers, and at night are relieved by male operators. The multiple switch-board system is used, and the ultimate capacity is for 5300 subscribers. For a business connection not more than a mile from the office, the annual charge is £7; for a private house not more than a mile away, £5; and there is a general charge at the rate of £2 a mile for anything beyond these distances. Mr. R. Atkinson, who has seen the institution grow from its humble beginning over twenty years ago, is still the officer in charge. It is interesting to note that, according to calculations, about 43,000 calls on the exchange are made every week or six days. This reduces the average number of calls per day for each subscriber to only six. But it is obvious that many subscribers, such as those in private houses, do not touch the instrument for many days. The busiest man on record, so far as the Exchange is concerned, rang up no fewer than 108 times on a certain day between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and if he maintained the same rate right through for six days—which he probably did—he made use of the Exchange 648 times in the week.

As a suggestion for your visit log, please make every effort to supply a brief-to-detailed note about your experience at the Waymark. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures.