WAKA CABLE STATION DESTROYED

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12806, 2 June 1914, Page 8

WAKA CABLE STATION DESTROYED

Press Association. —By Telegraph. NELSON, June 1. The cable station at Wakapuaka was burned to the ground at three o'clock this morning. The fire when discovered had a good hold, and seeing that it was impossible to save the office attention was turned to the "Bungalow," one of the two buildings used by the staff as quarters. This building was only nine or ten feet from the office, and soon caught, being totally destroyed. The staff, by splendid work with the meagre appliances, managed to save the other building used as quarters. The paint on this building was badly scorched and blistered and there was an anxious time until safety was assured. The loss is very heavy as only part of one cable instrument (there were three) was saved. Another big item was the destruction of some hundreds of miles of artificial line. It is hoped to restore communication with Sydney and Wellington or Nelson to-day as there is a spare set of instruments kept in place on the beach. The cause of the outbreak is a complete mystery. The staff did great work. The quarters building destroyed was occupied by six of the staff, and the others occupied the large building. The buildings were the property of Government. The Company's instruments were valued at between iZUOO and £.'>ooo and were well insured. Communication with Sydney from the shore office has been practically established. and the Telegraph Department is arranging communications between Nelson and Wellington. FULL COMMUNICATION RESTORED. Excellent work by the two staffs under the respective control of Mr Kemp, engineer of the Telegraph Department and Messrs Black and Hanron, of the Eastern Extension Cable Company, resulted in the complete resto. 1 ; tion of communication between Cable Bay and Nelson, Blenheim. Wellington and Wanganui on the one hand and Cable Bay and Sydney on the other within a few hours. A temporary office has been established and all \wrk is now proceeding »< Ith the usual despatch.