“The Press” In 1866

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31129, 4 August 1966, Page 14

“The Press” In 1866

August 4 Hie mail from Wellington has arrived at last, and brought important news, both good and bad. The bad news is of the failure in the attempt to lay the submarine telegraph. After proceeding successfully for about eight miles, a foul occurred in the cable, either by a blunder of one of the men engaged in paying it out, or more likely, through some, fault in the coiling down. The result was that several coils coming up together in a tangled mass tore the machinery to pieces, grinding away and at last breaking asunder the cable itself. Fortunately the accident was not attended with injury

to any one on board. The submerged portion of the cable will now have to be picked up, the damaged piece (about 300 yards) cut off, and the two ends spliced together. . . . The good news is that the separationists have received a most unmistakable and thorough defeat A majority of 44 to 18 have decided against any change in the Constitution. All the Canterbury members, except Mr Ward and Mr Moorhouse, voted against separation. It is to be hoped that the party will accept this division as conclusive, and that the business of the country will be allowed to proceed without further waste of time.