A FAULTY CABLE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 56, 9 March 1929, Page 11

A FAULTY CABLE

COOK STRAIT LINE

REPAIR WORK IN HAND

The work of repairing one- of the two telegraphic cables between Lyall -Bay and White Bay, in the South Island, is now in progress. About 18 months ago a fault was located in the cable approximately Hi miles from the Lyall Bay end, but other cables were available to do the work, and repairs .were postponed until now. During the preliminaries to the job of remedying the original trouble, another" fault developed 2-1 miles out, and 'both are now receiving attention.

This morning the id-laying of the first length of 2i miles was commenced. The Janie Seddon towed the scow Wanderer close in to the Lyall Bay shore, and the new cable was paid out from the latter vessel, extensive electrical tests being made during the process: ' Each nautical mile of the new cable weighs 10 tons, as compared with S. tons a mile of the link between the two faults. It is also, more heavily armoured than the old cable. A splice will be made to the cable which Tuns under the road from the cable hut at" Lyall- Bay",' and the shore end of the new length will then be buried about 3J feetrunder the ;sand bolow the sea level. No casing of any kind is necessary,'.,or desirable,, as the cable deteriorates if k"ept..dry.'

Two other- splices ."wiir.be. required to complete, the job', wh.iQla, .with, fine weather, should, not.occupy in'ore?than two or three days. . It is probable that'the nine miles of cable between :;the faults will be renewed, or, at least, substituted by sound cable. The existing length.is not in the best of condition, the rocky bottom in Cook Strait; and ..the strong currents haying an. effect.which very quickly damages the! cable. ' .The work of splicing the cable, will'be carried out on the cable steamer Iris, which' will also lay the link' between the faults.

Tho greatest care is taken to see that the cable is in proper working order before it is finally laid.. All manner of electrical tests are carried out, both from the shore and from the ship,' a number of delicate, instruments being employed for the;purpose. This testing is exacting work, and requires to be in skilful hands, ■ but it is well recognised in cable-laying that only.by this means- can the best service be-expected. Picking up cables at sea and locating faults is an arduous business; besides which, a faulty . line :'may. cause serious disorganisation to a very vital public service. • . ;'.' ... ■■;• ■'