TELEPHONE TO WAIHEKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 12

TELEPHONE TO WAIHEKE.

LAYING OF SECOND CABLE. ADDED FACILITIES PROVIDED. Adequate telephonic • communication with the mainland is assured for somp time to come as a result of the laying of a second cablo from Waihekc Island on Wednesday. Tho cable, which comes ashore at Maractai and is connected with Auckland, via Howick, by land-lines, .is four miles long and weighs 30 tons. Thp, ie\v service is expected to be in use within a week.

The laying of the second cable was undertaken in view of tho increased number ot visitors to the island, and the e<'nsequent need of additional telephonic facilities. Waiheko is now connected with tho city by two lines, one entering the island at the south end .and Iho other at the north end. Favourable weather conditions enabled the new cable to Lip laid without difficulty, and 12 men from the Post and Telegraph Department were able to lay tho whole length within two hours.

Use was made of tho old scow Era. which has been transformed into a punt in laying the cable. The launches Jumbo and lonoto were employed in towing the punt, from which was fed tho cable length over blocks nt the stern. The land-lines from Manetai have been in position for some time, and a;s soon as Iho jointing is completed at Waiheko and at the mam land terminus the now telephone service will be brought into use.