THE PACIFIC CABLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18359, 27 March 1923, Page 9

THE PACIFIC CABLE.

WORK OF : DUPLf CATION. SX)WER I>RATESl>RATES FORECASTED. (EXPERIMENTAL WIRELESS [jrr--"'ll OTTB * OWN CORRESPONDENT.-] • Ig&f SUVA. March 17 fi : "Brie manager in Australia for the Pacific m Cable Board, Mr. J. A. Mil ward,' arrived In Suva by the Makura, in connection with &£• duplication of the cable from Suva to Australia and New Zealand. P'(When interviewed, Mr. Milward ex-'i-:plained the intentions of the board. It v%a definitely decided to duplicate the cables south from Suva, at once. - A cable | fa' to be laid from Southport to Sydney, I nd another cable from Auckland to Suvt I direct, cutting out Norfolk Island. The board will then, in case of mishap, be safeguarded by having three line», jo elimin- ; ating any chance of complete isolation. There is'still tho line 'b*«vrotn Sydney ■ and Auckland. The cable steamer Iris ]ias already surveyed too section from Sydney to Southport. She will leave Auck- j land on March 20 to survey tho AucklandSuva section. Mr. Milward will go on to v'Auckland by the Iris next month when the completes the survey. I is the Iris is not bier enough to lay these lengths of cable the laying steamer . Colonia has been engaged for the work »nd will leave England in Juno with the cable in her tanks, and should complete the laying of both sections by August ', next. '»■ The main duplication—the long stretch •;&oro Vancouver to Suvawhich would be the main factor in increasing the imeed, has been postponed for the present. Tb 1 '" is in order to watch the results of 'the working of an entirely new class of cable which has been laid across the Atlantic, and which the inventor claims will increase the speed ten limes and at only a slight additional cost. It is anticipated that tho tests will be finally settled in eight months, and if the new cable show; any material improvement on the i old the new section of tho "Pacific" will be laid with it. In an . v case the duplication should be completed before the end of next year. If this is done the ;."Pacific" wild be able to greatly increase their capacity, and the result should be a very considerable reduction in cable raxes, and a saving to the public of i many thousands a year. In Mr. Milward's opinion wireless will not displace the cables—at any rate for .many years. However, his board is anxious to keep abreast of the tiroes, and is therefore erecting two wireless set* for receiving—but. purely for experiment purposes, in order to test the atmospheres of the Pacific. They will not be used for commercial purpose* and will not despatch messages. There are many stations throughout the Pacific sendin? messages which they can receive, so that there should be no lack of oppor- ; lenity. The new offices in Suva will be commenced . at once and tenders will be called immediately, ; • ■ " 1 'At present the cable is landed through the main passage at the rear of the board's old office, but the new cable will be , brought through the Sandbank passage ind landed about 2$ miles from the offices. lit trill be brought along the shore encased in a cement covering: ■"' it, The board is also building several new concrete residences for married members of the staff, so there appears to be no i foundation in the rumour that the board was contemplating reducing its staff.