CABLE OVERHAUL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1937, Page 9

CABLE OVERHAUL.

WORK COMMENCED.

LONG JOB AHEAD.

The arduous, though fundamentally simple, task of overhauling the submarine telephone cable between Devonport and Point Resolution was commenced yesterday by workmen of the Post and Telegraph Department, under the direction of Mr. G. W. Gilchriet, central district engineer of the Department. Two punts, coupled together, will follow the course of the cable across the harbour, the cable passing over them ae they move. As it doee so it will be closely inspected, foot by foot, for faulte, several of which are known to exist in its length. Each fault will be repaired before the punts move, and this work is expected to make the job a long one, taking in all several weeks. . Although this cable has never previously been lifted, other cables have in the past been subject to similar overhaul*. Little of scientific interest ha« been found amongst the growths on them, but quite a number of anchors have been recovered. Usually they have been small "hooks" by which dinghies have been moored. Dragging, they have hooked themselves on to the cahles and their owner*, after trying in vain to lift them, have unshackled them or cut them loose.