THE PACIFIC CABLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14933, 5 March 1912, Page 8

THE PACIFIC CABLE.

AUCKLAND THE NEW ZEALAND BASE. THE DEFERRED RATES, Mr. John Milward, manager in the Pacific for the Pacific Cable Board, is at present on a visiii to Auckland. Speaking to a Herald representative yesterday, Mr. Mil ward referred to the fact that tenders had been let to lay the new cable' from Sydney to Auckland, and to bring the Norfolk Island cable to Auckland instead of to Doubtless Bay. When the laying of the cables are completed, which is expected to be about the end of November, both, said Mr. Mil ward, would come into the same office in the New Auckland Post Office, thus making Auckland the cable base for New Zealand.

-The idea of bringing the Norfolk Island cable to Auckland, as well as the Sydney cable, was to cut out all land lines for general working. Auckland would thus bo in direct cable communication with Sydney on the ono hand, and with the main Pacific' cable on the other.

Regarding the Doubtless Bay station, Mr. Milward said it would practically be abandoned as a transmitting station. Tho cable ends would, however, remain there. This would enable connection to bo made with a land lino should the other cables bo broken or interfered with in any way. If the station for the Norfolk Island cahlo had remained at Doubtless Bay, a gap would have been created between it and the Sydney cable. By having the office for the two cables at the one place, a saving was effected, owing to the fact that one staff would be required instead of two.

In answer to a question, Mr. Milward stated that the representations to have the cable base in tho South Island had been considered by the Board. The Board, however, could not fall in with the request from the South, as it would have meant a greater expenditure. Besides this the consulting engineers had advised the Board that the sea bottom near tho South Island was unsuitable for the cable. Mr. Milward said the object of his visit was to make final arrangements for the landing of the cables on the two sides of Auckland. .With this object in view; he would probably be in New Zealand about a month, and would visit the Postmaster-General in Wellington in connection with the matter. The Norfolk Island cable would be landed on Takapuua .beach, and the Sydney cable at Muriwai beach, 17 miles to the north of Manukau Heads. Connections from both tho main cables would be made to the city of Auckland' Post Office.

Asked if there was any prospect of further reductions being made in cable rates, Mr. Milward pointed out that since his last visit here, in January, a deferred plain language rate of Is 6d per word, and a deferred press rate of <Ud per word, had been introduced between the Australasian colonies and the United Kingdom. This rrjoant a 50 per cent, reduction on the ordinary cable rates at present charged, the Board reserving the right to despatch messages under the deferred rates at any time within 24 hours. It meant that these messages would be sent after the higher;iaii messages had been despatched. In ordinary circumstances the deferred messages would probably be despatched in from eight to 12 hours after being sent to tho office. It was hoped that the cheapening- of tho rates' in this direction would tend to increase the volume of messages and : news, not of an urgent nature, but which it was desirable to send by cable. Tho United States of America would be brought within the scope of the deferred am language rate some time this month.