THE COOK STRAIT CABLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1060, 23 June 1892, Page 18

THE COOK STRAIT CABLE.

The Terranora is now complete as a cable ship so far as her machinery is concerned. In her bow she carries three large iron sheaves, over which cable can be paid out or hauled in. Three iron girders bolted to the deck and collision bulkhead below carry these sheaves. These girders are covered with planking, with massive hooks left free for fastening the cable to when neeessaiy, for stoppages or splicing operations. A wheel capable of moving across the width of this platform, working on a frame fixed a few feet abaft the bow serves to lead t.he cable to tbe u heel of the dynamometer. The frame of uprights belonging to that machine rises above the neck on the starboard side, not far from the winding machinery, fixed in front of the engine house; the wheel of the dynamometer being in line with the winding drum, completing the lead from the bow sheaves to the drum. The winding machinery stands before the e'ngine with brakes and engine complete, a compact mass of ten tons. On the bridge a shelter is erected for the officer in charge of the operations to take his hearings, consult his charts and generally superintend operations. Abaft the enginehouse stands a new deck-house for the electric instruments. In the two holds are placed la/ge elliptical iron tanks for coiling cable, each provided with wooden frames in the centre to act as the eye of the coil. The holds have been painted, fresh cement has been laid in the bottom of the ship, and the tanks have been painted outside and washed with cement inside. Yesterday after trying the winding gear, which is worked from the steamer’s boilers, the Terranora went to the slip for overhaul. To-day she will coal and take on board her complement of cable, with grapplers, mushroom anchors, hawsers, buoys, and all things necessary for the work before her. After that everything depends on the weather. With fine weather the thre~-core cable ought to be in order by Monday. Dr Lemon will be in charge of the proceedings, his lieutenants being Captain Gray (formerly of the Stella), who has had large experience in these operations, and Mr E. H. Bold, of the Telegraph Department.