CABLE STATION ON FIRE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2165, 2 June 1914, Page 6

CABLE STATION ON FIRE

AT T/AKAPUAKA OFFICES COMPLETELY DESTROYED. Jtßy Tolosrrc-Dh.—Pto3B . Association,! Nelson, Juno 1, The cable station at Wakanuaka was burned to tho, ground at 3 o clock this morning. Tho fire,-, when discovered, had a good hold, and it was soon seen it',.'would, be impossible to savo tho offico. Attention was then turned to tlie ''Bungalow," ono of two buildings used , >y tho staff as quarters. This-building /ras only nino ot ten feet from tho office nud'soon caught, and l was also- totally Jostroyod. Tho sta(T,_ by splendid work with meagre appliances, managed to savo one building used as quarters. Tho paint on this building was badly scorched and blistered, and thnro was an anxious . t-iino until its safety was assured. The loss is very heavy, as only part „ of ono cable instrument (there wore ' ; three) was saved. Another big-item was , the destruction of some hundreds of ' mile*; or artificial line. The causo of the outbreak is a com- , -pkte mystery. Tho staff did great work. * Tho quarters building destroyed was occupied by six of the staff, tile others .'■'occupying l tho'large building. Excellent work by two staffs under tho.respective control of Messrs. Kemp (engineer to tho Telegraph Department) pnd Black and ITnnron, of the Eastern Extension Cablo Company, resulted in ii_ complete restoration of communication between Cable Bay and Nelson. Blenheim, Wellington, and Wanganui on tho one hand, and Cable. Bav and Sydney on tho other within a few hours. A temporary offico has been established, arid all work is now proceeding with the usual dispatch. ■ The cable buildings destroyed were tho property of the Government. The company's instruments were /alucd at between £2000 and £3000. ''They were well insured. . ADViCE TO THE POST OFFICE " ' ' Tho first intimation to the Post Offico was a telegram from the postmaster at Nelson stating that tlio Wakapuaka offico had been destroyed and nothing was saved. .'At. 9.l'r he advised that tho '■'telegraph''engineer-.'ivitli his staff and full equipment of goaf bad left for Cablo ■ Bav. by motor-car. ■ . " Tho Superintendent for the Eastern Extension Cablo Company telegraphed: . —"I regret ,to report that the new and ■ old offices were completely destroyed-by fire. Nothing was savedi 1 have-asked the Chief Postmaster to supply two Morse sets and apparatus ajid l to repair lw:d lines. The firo was discovered at 3 o'clock in tho morning, an hour after tho offico closed. The origin is l not yot known. 1 will advise yoti of further - progress. Am now endeavouring .to in- • stal apparatus at cable houso oh tho ..beach." •