NEW PACIFIC

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1926, Page 13

NEW PACIFIC

WEAK SPOT DISWVERED

WORK NOT INTERRUPTED

ARRANGEMENT FOR REPAIR

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copy light. Received Dee. 17, 11.47 p.m.

Melbourne, Dee. 17.

The superintendent of the Pacific Cable Boaid states that it has been found necessary to relay 180 miles of the cable recently' laid near Suva, as one of the spikes had not come <ip to requirements.

The steamer Faraday has been despatched from Sydney for Suva to relay the , section, Work on the cable . will not be interrupted. Speaking at tn® function to eomineniirate the duplication of the Pacific Cable, the Poetinastei-General, Mr. Gibson, said that the Federal Government was prepared to grant concessions which will cost £79,009 yewrly. It was also prepared to reduce its terminal charges from fom pence to twopence per word. The postmaster said that the terminal •charge on Press messages was one-half penny per word. ' The Press here now enjoyed a cheaper rate than in any other part of inc world. He did; not think they eould look for a greater reduction. ■

Received Dee. 17, 8.10 pm. ; London, Dec, liO.

The Pacific r-a'ble proposals are hfeing most keenly discussed, especially: in relation to the tariff's of other companies and the -bearing of wireless' competition.

It is already evident that quick transit -of deferred Press matter over :the .Canadian beam -service; made the cable companies eager to retain business: for which, il.e multiplicity of. lines acioss the Atlantic is now apparently more than sufficient fo? the traffic offering. The fact that the Imperial Government’s Atlantic line is the slowest of the lot, is regarded as something of a ease for a reduction of rates over its section of the All Red Route. '

The Eastern Company slates that it has not considered a reduction tariff at present, but is awaiting developments.

RTATBM ENT DEN IED.

NIXT-PAGE IN THE CORE.

Received Dec. 17, 9.45 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 17. Mr. Bain, general superintendent; of the Pacific Liable, emphatically contradicts the statement published in the Press that the steamer '■Faraday is proreeding to Suva to relay a section of cable owing to a defective splice. He adds that there is no such situation, but an intermittent stoppage of the continuity of the cable core has revealed itself since the- completion of the cable. This has since ceased and the cable' is being operated at its full capacity, and is showing normal electrical conditions under test. The necessity of removing tljis fhA'lt ii» biiihg. dteciissed with the contractors in London, and meanwhile the Faraday has been ordered to Suva to be in readiness should it be decided to cut out the faulty portion. ■ . The -point of fault is 184 miles from Fanning Island, and a repair is a simple matter once the ship ie on the ground.

By Trlcpaph.—Frf*» A»«ct!»tioB.

Wellington, Last Night. The New Zealand manager of the Pacific- Cable Board states that tie cable message from Melbourne to-day regarding the relaying of 180 miles of cable at Suva, which had not come up to the required standard ie misleading and erroneous. He contradicts the statement absolutely and adds that the cable is in use for traffic and working at its full speed. ' . In reply to a congratulatory message from the British Postniaster-General on the duplication of the Pacific Cable, the Hen. W. Nosworthy says that the ties of loyalty between the Mother Country and New Zealand have never been stronger than -to-day. The function in Wellington, attended by the ActingPrime Minister- and leading citizens, was a complete success, and an indication of approval of the Cable Board’s progressive action in duplicating the table.