THE PACIFIC CABLE

Southland Times, Issue 17763, 23 September 1914, Page 6

THE PACIFIC CABLE

TO BE RESTORED IN A MONTH. (Per United Press Association). AUCKLAND, September 22. Preparations have been* made by Mr Mil ward for the restoration of the Pacific cable service as s( on as arrangements have been made that will enable the work to be undertaken. Since he has no explanation of the cause of .the interruption, Mr Milward has based his plans on the presumption that the entire equipment of the Stat on, including the buildings and instruments, will have to be replaced. He stated this evening that, provided protection is given against further interference by the enemy, ho will be able to restore communication witljin one month from the departure of the equipment and workmen from Auckland. Discussing the interruption of the cable from a commercial point of view. Mr Milward remarked that the enforced idleness of the cable was in every way most regrettable. Since the outbreak of the war the traffic bad increased very greatly, and when the . interruption occurred the cable was handling 24,000 words a day. The cable wag being worked to its maximum capacity with no more than the normal delay, though a slightly heavier traffic could have been sustained without serious delay in transmission. This rate was determined by the “slowest” section, th© long span of 3458 nautical mile from Fanning Island to Eamfield Creek (Vancouver Island).