THE COOK STRAIT CABLE. THE CABLE RAISED. (PER PRESS AGENCY.)

Evening Post, Volume XIII, Issue 10, 13 January 1876, Page 2

THE COOK STRAIT CABLE. THE CABLE RAISED. (PER PRESS AGENCY.)

On Board the Luna, _ mi Island Ba 7» Wednesday evening, btill at anchor, and intend standing out at two a.m. to-morrow, so as to be at work grappling about four. Of course, this will depend upon the weather, and hopes are not at present very sanguine, as the barometer has been acting in the most eccentric way. There is water, coal, and provisions enough to last six days, but if the weather should prove adverse during the night we will likely go back to town before the day ir over. Cook's Strait, Thursday. Lelf anchorage at Island Bay this morning at 2.30 and dropped the grapnel once more shortly before sunrise. After dragging twice across the supposed line of cable without succeeding in hooking anything the grapnel was hauled on board. The soundings were as usual, about 90 fathoms Only about 170 fathoms of chain had been paid out, and some diffeience of opinion existed as to whether there had been sufficient cable out to allow the points of the grapnel to drag well on the bottom, so as to hook any obstruction. The appearance of the grapnel certainly indicated that enough chain had not been paid out, as it had not the same iamisned appearance as was showji by the first grapnel. We hauled in once more, and put on the new and heavier grapnel brought from town by the Tui, and fn order that it might lie closer to the bottom, and so obtain more biting power, it was shackled to 50 fathoms of ship's chain, and thrown over for another dracginff match. The ship was then in about the same line as where the cable was hooked before, but half or three-quartera of a mile on the White's Bay side. Just after breakfast, and when, according to calculation, we ought to be on the cable, it was noticed that the man at the wheel was not keeping the course, though the helm was hard down, and it was soon beyond a doubt that we were fast to the cable. From that moment until the cable showed above water there was the most anxious suspense, and it was during this critical period that Capt. Fairchild's skill and seamanship came into play. He took every precaution to prevent any slip or surge in the hauling-in cear, such as had occurred previously. As soon as the cable showed above water it was made fast, so as to prevent it breakinc uway when the grapnel should be taken away. The cable was in good condition, but now having caught it there was a good deal of doubt as to whether it should be cut and tested or underran, to rTT discover whether wo were on the Wellington or Blenheim side. It is now noon, and preparations are being made to underrun the cable. The Tin upon coming up was kept alongside while the work of underrunning was going on to render any assistance that might be necessary. About one o'clock we reached the break and threw over the buoy, the end of the cable being fast to a chain which had been ready for it. All is now in good trim for joining the break, as the end can now be picked up in half an hour.