NEW CABLES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 74, 28 March 1923, Page 5

NEW CABLES

PACIFIC BOARD'S OPERATIONS

PREPARING FOR DUPLICATIONS.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL 10 THIS POST.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

The manager in Australia for the Pacific Cable Board, Mr. J. A. Milward, arrived in Suva by the Makura in connection with the duplication of the cable from Suva to Australia and New Zealand, writes the "New Zealand Herald's" Suva correspondent. When interviewed, Mr. Milward explained the intentions of the board. It was definitely decided to .duplicate the cables south from Suva at once. A cable is to be laid from Southport to Sydney, and another cable from Auckland to Suva direct, cutting out Norfolk Island! The board will then. in case of mishap be safeguarded by having three lines, so eliminating any chance of complete isolation. There is still a line between Sydney and Auckland. The cable steamer Iris has already surveyed the section from Sydney to Southpprt. She will leave Auckland on 20th March to survey the AucklandSuva section. Mr. Milward will go on to Auckland by the Iris next month, when she completes the survey. As the Iris is not big enough to lay these lengths of cable, the laving steamer Colonia has been engaged for the work, and will leave' England in June with the cable in her tanks, and should complete the laying of both sections by August next. The main duplication, the long stretch from Vancouver to Suva, which would be the main factor in increasing speed, has been postponed for the present. ' This is in order to watch the results of the working of an entirely new class of cable which has been laid across the Atlantic, and which the inventor claims will increase the speed ten times and at only a slight additional cost. It is anticipated that the tests will be finally settled in eight months, and if the new cable shows any material improvement on ' the old, the new section of the "Pacific" .will, be laid with it. la any case, the duplication should be completed before the end. of the next year. If this is done the "Pacific" will bo able to greatly increase its capacity, and the result should be a very considerable reduction in cable rates and a saving to the public of many thousands a year- . . I , In Mr. Milward's opinion, wireless will not displace the cable, at any rate for many years. However, his board is 'anxious to keep abreast of the times, and is therefore erecting two wireless sets for receiving, but purely for experimental purposes, in order to test the atmospheres of the Pacific. They will not be used for commercial purposes, and will not dispatch messages. There are many stations throughout the Pacific sending messages which they can receive, so that there should be no lack of opportunity. The new offices in Suva •will be commenced at once, and tenderi will be called immediately. At present the cable is landed through" a main passage at the rear of the board's old office, but the new cable will be brought through the sandbank passage and landed about 2£ miles from the offices. It Svill be brought along the shore encased in a cement covering. The board is also building several new concrete residences for married members of the staff, so there appears to be no foundation in the rumour that the board was contemplating reducing its staff.