CABLE STATION BURNT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 98, 1 June 1914, Page 10

CABLE STATION BURNT.

A TOTAL LOSS.

INSTRUMENTS DESTROYED.

Press Association,

NELSON, June 1.

The cable station at Wakapualca was burned to the ground at 3 o'clock this morning. Tl-e fire, when 'discovered, .had a good hold, and it was seen that it would be impossible to save the office. Attention was then turned to the '' builgalow,'' one of two buildings used by the staff as quarters. This building .was or ten feet from the office, and soon caught, and it was also totally destroyed.

The staff, by splendid work with meagre appliances, managed to' save the building used as their quarters. Tlie paint on both these buildings was badly scorched and blistered. There was an anxious time until the safety of the building was assured. • The loss is very heavy, as only part of one cable instrument (there ' were thr6e) was saved. Another big item was the destruction of some hundreds of iriile3 of artificial line. >

It is hoped to be able to restore communication with Sydney and Wellington or„ Nelson to.-..day,, as there ..is . a spare set of instruments kept in a place oil the. beach. -

of the outbreak is a complete mystery. The staff did great work. I'hc quarters .building destroyed was occupied by, six of the staff, the others occupying larger buildings. The buildings destroyed were the property of the ■ Gftverninent. The, company/s instruments' were" valued at between two. and three ..thousand pounds, and were well insured. Communication with Sydney from the shore office has been practically established. The Telegraph Department is arranging for communication' between Nelson and "Wellington. , The cable buildings were riot insured. The loss falls entirely on the Government.

[The cable station, at Wakapiiaka is an isolated community; It is, situated about 14 miles by. road from'Neison in one .of the bays that ' open, out into Golden ,Bay ; There are SQven buildings all; told, five beitag residential and the otO§er the operating station. TheV;fire started in the latter, and. .the outbreak is 'a mystery,, ans will' probably,-remain one, as extra precautions are taken on the station with regard to fire. No linked lights are supposed to be on .the premises, and all wires are earthed. before,. the station is closed after .workusually about 2,' a.m. The bupding described .as the " bungalow'was Originally the station proper, but the. Go-vernment-built a new operating station a. few-years ago. . The'fire should riot seriously inconvenience cableusers, as, besides a makeshift plant kept on the water's e*lge by the. Eastern,. Company, :Who control Cable Bay through the 'Government, a direct wire, tov Sydney was recently completed frbni Auckland ;city.] .. ;r;