The Napier Automatic Telephone Exchange in Browning St before the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. Napierites wanted an all-night telephone service but this was refused by the Postmaster General on the ground of cost. During the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake those working at the automatic exchange crouched under the switchboard, which was credited in saving their lives. In mid-March 1931, a temporary manual telephone exchange was built which connected at first 250 people. A manual exchange had operated since the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake in a small tin shed using a manual telephone exchange.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 05, 2021 16:52 UTC