The Hawaiian gazette., 1895-10-04
TALKING MACHINE FOR KONA.
New Telephone Line From Kau Is
Nearing Completion.
Will Prove of Great Benefit to Peo-
pie of the Big Islsnd-Difh cult
Undertaking.

When l.. S. Aungst conceived the
happy idea of constructing telephone
line connecting the Konas with other
parts Of the island of Hawaii, he met
with deserved encouragement all
along the line, particularly among the
plantation owners and steamship
companies doing business on both
sides Of the big island. Although the
undertaking was a difficult one, re-
quiring the expenditure of large
amount Of money and much hard
work, the promoter was confident of
the ultimate success of the enterprise.
Poles have been placed and wires
stretched from Naalehu, Kau, to
within three miles of Kailua, Kona,
with an instrument at each end in
working order, which has proven
very useful to the Sheriff of Hawaii
in sending orders concerning the
quarantine and other matters. Poles
are also in position from Naalehu to
Honuapo, and Mr.. Aungst and assist
ants are now engaged in building the
line from the latter place to the vol
cano, which is expected to be COM
pleted within the next six weeks,
when connection can be had from
Punaluu to Kohala, via Hilo.
A subsidy of $4,000 has been voted
the line by the Government, which
amount the people along the line con-
slider substantial aid and in keeping
with the many beneficial results to be
obtained by connecting the upper and
lower portions of the country. The
new line will be especially useful to
steamers and Government officials, as
well as rendering valuable assistance
to the ranchers and coffee raisers in
the several districts through which it
runs.
Not least among the many conven-
fences resulting from the use of the
telephone by steamers plying along
the windward and lee sides of the ISL
and, it will enable the different purs-
ers-particularly the Hall, when that
messages from that point to Kau and
lCaih tuc IDc IduulDRS.
Many times the steamer is compelled
to remain at Kaapua over night, when,
if the state of the sea was known,
Punaluu could be reached early in the
evening and without stopping at
Kaapua.
Most of the material for finishing
the line is on the ground, except the
instruments, which are expected
shortly. The central office of the new
line will be at Naslehu and Is about
completed. Mr.. Joseph Pritchard will
be in charge of the central office. He
is most capable electrician, and the
residents of Kau are fortunate In hav-
ing the services of one so thoroughly
conversant with every branch of the
business.
Previously, when connection was
desired with Hilo from Kau, the Vol
cano House had to be rung up and the
circuit switched. This put Mr.. Lee to
a great deal of trouble, but when the
new line is in operation such will not
be necessary.
1t is hoped the Government appro-
priation will be Immediately avail
able, as several thousand dollars have
been spent in construction work.
The generous sum donated will aid
materially in accomplishing the early
completion of the line.
l.. S. Aungst, the manager of the
new company and promoter of the
enterprise, is we'll and favorably
known to the people of Honolulu and
the other islands. He enjoys reputa-
ton second to none in the telephone
business, and certainly deserves
great deal of credit for successfully sur
mounting the many difficulties incl
dent to the building of line several
hundred miles in length and over an
extremely rough country. His many
friends in the islands will be gratified
to know that the dream of his life Is
about to be realized. His earnest en-
deavors to furnish the people of the
Konas telephone connection with
their neighbOrs should be duly appre-
ciated by patronage in keeping with
the benefits he has made possible to
those residing along the line of the
new Kau-Kona Telephone and Tele-
graph Company.