THE LAYING OF THE CABLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4460, 29 February 1876, Page 3

THE LAYING OF THE CABLE.

We extract from the Nelson papers some particulars respecting tlie voyage of the cable ships:—At 8 o'clock, oil February 5, the Australian end was successfully landed, and the Hibernia proceeded carefully and slowly out of Botany Bay, keeping well towards the South Head to avoid the Buinbora Rock, the monuments erected to Captain Cook and La Perouse serving as first-class landmarks to shape the course by. By 10 o'clock, tlic live .miles of heavy shore end (14 tons to the mile) was paid out. The lirst iutermediate ccble was then commenced, the weight of this being 4 tons to the mile, and the 12 miles of this being laid, the second intermediate, of less weight, was commenced at noon. Observations proved the vessels' position to be 36*16*17 south latitude, 151*24*25 east longitude. All the time this vra3 being paid ,out the Edinburgh was keeping the position assigned to her on the starboard quarter of the Hibernia, and the latter vessel experienced strong southerly currents, for which due allowance was made. The second intermediate cable being exhausted, the deep sea cable was started (this weighs 35 cwt. to the mile), and the Edinburgh was signalled at 3 o'clock to go ahead and take soundings ; an hour later she reported 774 fathoms, but a few hours afterwards the bottom suddenly deepened to 2,600 fathoms, the greatest depth sounded during the voyage. (A greater depth was obtained once on the passage; but as there is some doubt about this, it will be verified on the return to Sydney). This sudden deepening causedsomeapprehensionsas to the sufficiency of the cable, but everything went smoothly, and the cable paid out like an ordinary rope.. On the Sth nothing noteworthy occurred j The steamers passed a British whaling barque, steering east, and at noon observations defined the vessel's position at lat. 36.19, long. 155.55, the distance run in the 24 hours being 137 miles, and the length of cable paid out 155.4. Some anxiety was felt at the non-appearance of the Edinburgh, but this was allayed when that vessel was sighted astern in the course of the afternoon, and she gradually drew up. The Hibernia was then paying out at the rate of six miles an hour. In the evening the Edinburgh again went ahead to sound. On the 9th the vessels experienced a light breeze, with cloudy weather. At 7 o'clock passed close to the Edinburgh, from which vessel the Hibernia received soundings—23oo fathoms. On the 10th, at 6 o'clock p.m., the Edinburgh was again sent ahead to. sound, the weather being pleasant arid fine ; at noon the position was determined to be lat. 37.32.11, long. 164.40, a 70-degree course having been kept, the run being 150 miles, and the cable paid out 156.3 mile 3. This was the fastest 24 hours made during the passage. At 5.45 p.m. the Edinburgh signalled soundings 700 fathoms, and the tidings was received with much satisfaction as a proof that the deep water was successfully passed. At this time, however, the weather was very threatening ; the wind increased until it blew a fresh gale "with a heavy southerly swell. On the 11th the weather continued rough and thick with a heavy sea; it moderated towards noon. Lat. 35.36, long. 167.35, By order of the - Superintendent on behalf of the Cable Company, the course was altered slightly to the northward, to get into well-defined soundings. About noon the wind shifted in a heavy squall to the southwest. At 5 p.m. the vessel stopped to splice on the second intermediate sized cable in the aft tank. While this was being effected, the Edinburgh took soundings in 267 fat!i6riis. This time the splice was made : in the unprecedently short period of one hour and tsa minutes, and in iejss than one hour and a

half from the time the Tessel 1 stopped, she was again steaming ahead*