ated ▁lines ▁connected ▁the ▁to ll ▁switch board ▁to ▁the ▁Master ton ▁police ▁station , ▁fire ▁brig ade , ▁and ▁the ▁hospital , ▁where ▁they ▁were ▁connected ▁to ▁a ▁special ▁red ▁tele phone . ▁The ▁line ▁connected ▁to ▁the ▁fire ▁station , ▁when ▁it ▁rang , ▁also ▁sound ed ▁the ▁station ▁alarm ▁b ells . ▁A ▁similar ▁arrangement ▁was ▁employed ▁at ▁the ▁police ▁station , ▁while ▁at ▁the ▁hospital ▁the ▁call ▁went ▁to ▁the ▁local ▁switch board ▁where ▁it ▁was ▁identified ▁by ▁a ▁red ▁light ▁and ▁a ▁distinct ive ▁bell . ▁ ▁Among ▁the ▁first ▁ 1 1 1 ▁calls ▁was ▁a ▁call ▁for ▁an ▁amb ul ance ▁after ▁an ▁accident ▁at ▁a ▁saw mill , ▁and ▁call ▁to ▁the ▁fire ▁service ▁after ▁a ▁rub b ish ▁tip ▁fire ▁in ▁Carter ton . ▁The ▁first ▁ho ax ▁call ▁also ▁occurred ▁on ▁the ▁first ▁day ▁– ▁a ▁caller ▁d ial led ▁ 1 1 1 ▁to ▁ask ▁for ▁the ▁address ▁of ▁a ▁Carter ton ▁hotel . ▁ ▁Exp ansion ▁After ▁the ▁introduction ▁of ▁ 1 1 1 ▁in ▁Master ton ▁and ▁Carter ton , ▁the ▁service ▁soon ▁expanded ▁to ▁most ▁major ▁towns ▁and ▁cities , ▁including ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 1 ▁the ▁main ▁cent res ▁like ▁Well ington , ▁where ▁the ▁multi - exchange ▁area ▁included ▁some ▁pre - war ▁Rot ary ▁ex changes . ▁ ▁By ▁the ▁mid - 1 9 8 0 s ▁all ▁but ▁a ▁few ▁rural ▁ex changes ▁had ▁the ▁service , ▁and ▁by ▁ 1 9 8 8