§ 84. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Postmaster-General how many telephone lines 841 were destroyed during the gale of last week; and what period will be required to put them into working order again?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe damage done by the storm on the night of the 5th-6th July was for the most part confined to the East and South-East Coast, and was mainly caused by branches of trees being blown across the wires and breaking them. The number of telephone trunk circuits affected was 200, and in addition 50 junction lines (i.e., short trunk lines) were also damaged. Temporary repairs were immediately put in hand, and the majority of the circuits were restored within 24 hours. The number of subscribers' circuits affected was 4,500, and these were practically all restored by Saturday night.