DAMAGE TO CABLES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1931, Page 10

DAMAGE TO CABLES

EARTHQUAKES BLAMED

IRIS'S WORK HAMPERED

The result of the grappling, operations performed by the cable steamer Iris, which was out-in Cook Strait from Wednesday, last'till yesterday morning, has given rise to the theory that the numerous, breaks in the Cook Strait cables have been caused by earthquakes. Considerable portions \of the cables have been found to be buried under rock and other debris, and one of the ship's officers told a, "Post" reporter this moriiing that some sort of an upheaval hi Cook Strait was probably responsible for the trouble. Lying on the Iris's decks were several lengths of old cable, and it was stated that this caused the ship's work to be hampered considerably. The grappling irons used to bring the cables to the surface are constructed to retain a hold of anything, which they grip, and it frequently happens that the grapnel lias to' be raised to release rock or other matter that has been caught.1 Tlis-lengths of old cable were from a line laid in 1860, which was of the obsolete three-core type In some cases the grapnel takes a grip on the seabed,: arid cannot be released, and then-it is necessary to sever the hawser and lose several fathoms of it, with the grapnel at (he bottom.. The Irk did not have'to' do this civ her last trip, but in one of the irons, brought back was a piece of hard rock which will have to be broken up before it can be released. On the whole. ■ however, tin: seabed where the Iris has been operating is favourable to the work. The Iris, in her two trips, botlrofi which have been interrupted by severe southerly weather, has completed repairs to' the No. 6 cable in Titahi Bay, and has "located tlie No. L! cable from Otrroiiga Bay lo" White Bay, This has been buoyed until the weather allows it to be repaired. Several breaks have been, found in this cable. The No. 1 cable, also between Oteronga Bay and White Bay. has yet to bo located and repaired. The Iris will probably leav.e to-night to continue her work, otherwise she will sail to-morrow. Fifteen miles of cable were taken when, she first, went out after Eastor, rind nine miles' are now being. shipped.