THE PACIFIC CABLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8845, 23 September 1914, Page 5

THE PACIFIC CABLE

FANNING ISLAND WORK TO BE PUT IN HAND AT ONCE. Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 22. Mr Millward, manager of the Pacific Cable Board, arrived in tho Iris to-day. He states ho has had no communication from Panning Island since tho cable ■■■as cut. The board's employees and .families on tho island numbered thirty, and Mr Millward had no idea of what bad happened to them. Preparations have been made by Jlr Mil ward for the restoration of tho Pacific cable service as soon as arrangements have been made that will enable work to bo undertaken. Since ho has no explanation of tho cause of the interruption, Mr Milward has baaed his plans on the presumption Unit the entire equipment of the station, including buildings and instruments, will have to be replaced. Ho stated this evening that, provided protection is given against further inusrferenco by the enemy, ho will be able to restore communication within one month from tho departure of the equipment and workmen, from Auckland. Discussing tho interruption of the cable from tho commercial point ot View, Air Milward remarked that the enforced idleness of the cable was in every way most regrettable. Since the outbreak of the war the traffic had increased very greatly, and when tho .interruption occurred tho cable was handling 24,000 words a day. Tho cable was being worked to its maximum capacity, with no more khan tho normal delay, though a slightly heavier traffic oould have been sustained without serious delay in ■transmission. This rate was do ter minucl by ■fcbo 1 'slowest** section tbo long .span of 3458 nautical miles from Fanning Island to Bamfield Creok (VanNjouvor Island).