CABLE SHIP IRIS MAKES REPAIRS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18062, 24 January 1927, Page 7

CABLE SHIP IRIS MAKES REPAIRS.

WORK WAS PERFORMED IN QUICK TIME. (Special to the “Star.") AUCKLAND, January 24 Smart cable repairing work was carried out by the Pacific Cable Board s steamer Iris, which returned to Auckland yesterday morning after repairing a fault in the Australian-Tasmanian cable. The Iris sailed from Auckland on January 5, and six-and-a-half days later the vessel called at Williamstown and took on board ten miles of the type B cable. She then proceeded to a position ISi miles off Low Head. Tasmania, where the fault in the cable was estimated to be. On reaching that position the accuracy of the navigators on board was shown by the fact that the first drag with grapnels in 40 fathoms of water hooked the cable, which was then hoisted to the bow of the Iris and tested. The first test showed that the Tasmanian end of the cable was in good order. A test was then made of the Australian portion of the cable, and so accurate had the estimate of the shore cable operators been that the fault was found to be within a quarter of a mile of the spot where the Iris was anchored. The cable was then cut and the Tasmanian portion dropped overboard attached to a buoy. The cable connected with Australia was then lifted on board the Iris until the faulty portion was reached. The damaged cable was cut away, and the end of the new cable on board was spliced on in its place. Paying out the new cable the Iris returned to the buoyed end of the Tasmanian cable, which was taken on board, and spliced to the required length of the new cable, which measured 1.1 nautical miles. The total time taken to locate and repair the cable was only eleven work ing hours. Afterwards the Iris returned to Williamstown and landed the surplus portion of the new cable taken on board. Fine weather prevailed throughout the voyage.