WAKAPUAKA.

Timaru Herald, Volume C, Issue 15361, 2 June 1914, Page 9

WAKAPUAKA.

THE CABLE' STATION

BURNED TO THE GROUND

Feb Pbess Association. NELSON, June 1. The cable station at Wakapuaka was burned to the ground at 3 o'clock this morning. The fire when discovered had a good" hold, and it was seen to be impossible to save the office. Attention was then turned to the Bungalow, one of two buildings used by the staff as quarters. This building was only nine or ten feet from the office and soon caught and was also totally destroyed. The staff by splendid work with meagre appliances managed to savo the buildings used as "quarters."' The paint >on both of these buildings was badly scorched and blistered.

Tho loss is very heavy as only part of one cable instrument (there were three) ivii; saved. Another big was the* destruction of some hundreds of miles j of insulated line.

Tho cause- of the outbreak is a. complete mystery. The building destroyed was occupied by six of the staff, the others occupying a large building. The buildings were not insured and tho loss falls entirely on the Government. The company's instruments were valued at between £2OOO and £3OOO, and were insured.

Communication with Sydney from the shore office is practically re-established, and tho telegraph department is arranging communication'with Nelson and Wellington. COMMUNICATION FULLY RESTORED. Later. Excellent work by the two staffs under the control of Mr Kemp, engineer to the 'Telegraph Department, 'and Messrs Black and Houron. of the Eastern Extension Cable Company, resulted in the complete restoration of commu-nication-between Cable Bay, and Nelson. Blenheim, "Wellington," and Wanganui. on the one hand, and Cable Bav nnd Sydney on ; tbe other. Within a few hours a. temporary office had been established and all work is now proceeding with the usual despatch.