SYDNEY-AUCKLAND CABLE

Southland Times, Issue 17002, 28 March 1912, Page 5

SYDNEY-AUCKLAND CABLE

AN IMPORTANT STEP. (Per United Press Association). AUCKLAND. March ,27. An important step towards the- Unking 'up of Auckland and Sydney by direct cable has just been taken. Final survey has been made by Mr R. M. Baird, -District Telegraph Engineer, of the country lying between here and the West Coast, and the route has been definitely fixed for the new cable to be laid by arrangement with the Pacific Cable Board. Preliminaries in connection with ■ the new length'of Cable to be laid into Auckland from Doubtless Bay station are also in hand. Should no unexpected hitch arise, there should be two separate cables with their terminal station at the new chief Post Office at Auckland, connecting with the Chief Post Office in Sydney. Speaking to a reporter to-day, Mr Baird stated that the new cable from Sydney to Auckland will be landed at Muriwal Greek, on the west coast. Generally speaking the route from Muriwal will keep closely to the straight line. Mr Baird is satisfied that the best route possible has been selected. The distance from Muriwal Creek to the new Auckland Post Office by the route chosen Is about 11% miles. A three-core cable is to be laid, and the whole length of the overland portion will have to be conveyed across country on big drums weighing two tons each and holding a third Of a mile of cable. The undertaking is consequently considerable. It -Is expected that It will be a month or two before the trenching operations are commenced. It ■ has hot been decided yet whether the Government will do the work by day labour or call for tenders. Meantime advices are awaited as to the arrival of the cable sections. The Department Itself will most probably undertake the actual laying of the cable across the land. The submarine portion is to be l£id by the manufacturer of the cajffe. Referring to the new line of cable to connect Auckland with Doubtless Bay, Mr Baird said that the cable terminating at the latter station will be left undisturbed in the meantime. The new extension is to consist of a two-core cable, which will run from Doubtless Bay to Takapuna. At that point it will be laid along Strand street to Shoal Bay and thence across the harbour to Ponsonby reef. From there it will be brought Into the new Post Office by the same ducts as the Muriwal cable. When the extension from Doubtless Bay lias been laid, It will be there joined to the present cable. Thus If at any time the new section along the coast should fall, communication will still exist from Doubtless Bay.