The Star. THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1894.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4858, 25 January 1894, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1894.

The Terranora, Some surprise ha 3 been expressed, and not without reason, at the telegraphic announcement from Wellington, which was published when the Cook Stiait cable broke, that the cable-repairing steamer Terranora, the property of the Government, was to go upon the slip, and would probably be a week before she was ready to start upon the work of discovering and repairing the break which had occurred. \ The public waß naturally under the impression that a cable-repairing ateamer should be kept in a condition of readineßß for emergencies, and that twenty-four hours at the longest would see her away on her journey. But this,, like many another "popular error," has proved unfounded. The steamer is not kept in readiness, but is, and has been since her first and only work for the Telegraph Department, laid up in Wellington harbour, where her yellow funnel has kept company with that of the once famous, bufc now discarded, Stella— the pair forming one of the "lions" of the Empire City's lovely bay. What has of late been done with regard to care-taking of these boats we are not in a position, to state, bat for some considerable time a watchman resided on board the Stella, which was costing the colony ,£l5O a year for keeping clean. Not writing as experts, we may, of course, be unaware of insurmountable obstacles which exist to the placing of the Terranora upon some useful work when she is not engaged oable-repairing, and thus keeping her in such a condition that she would be available in less than a week for that duty when it arises. It is certain that a vessel which has lain idle for any lengthened period will need to go upon the slip before ehe proceeds to eea, and the alternative would appear to be to keep her running, ehe then taking her periodical cleaningß, and being at all times ready for special Bervice. It is true that, according to the statement made in the House, by the Postmaster-General shortly after the vessel vas purchased, the colony saved a considerable sum in money, as well as much valuable time, by the one transaction, and for . the business tact which prompted the departure from old methods, Mr Ward deserved all the kudos he then received. Cannot he take another step and keep the boat ready for service ? The Terranora is, by his own admission, safer for heavy work than either the Stella or Hinemoa, although her carrying capacity is limited owing to the cable-tanks and machinery which Bhe has on board. Why not, then, let her relieve the latter vessel of the lighthouse and buoy work in the vicinity of Cook Strait, where she could always be within easy call by telegram from Wellington and signal from the coast if anything went ami3S with the cables? That the Hinemoa and her indefatigable captain are much overworked is well-known, her record for the year 1892-3 showing 30,840 miles run, 3662 hours under steam, 2638 tons of cargo landed, and 98 buoys, scattered all round the coast otNew Zealand, cleaned, painted and relaid, in .addition to a epecial trip to Sydney for his Excellency the Governor. When the class of service in which the

HiHemca is engaged is donuidered, it will ;be at once seen that she is almost continuously at work ; and, as a matter of : faot, it is a most difficult thing to find time for docking her. Unless some relief is afforded, the colony will shortly he called upon to find a new vessel. Is it not possible to secure a double object by using the Terranora in attending to the lights and buoys on the southern end of the North Island, and the t orthern half of the South — thus kerping her fit for cable service, and relieving the Admiral's ship of the New Zealand Government fleet?