THE COOK STRAIT CABLE.

Evening Star, Issue 4013, 6 January 1876, Page 2

THE COOK STRAIT CABLE.

The preparations for repairing the Cook Strait cable still proceed vigorously., A donkey engine of 25 horsepower has been placed just forward of the Luma’s bridge to drive the large drum and gear. The cable, after winding two or three times round the drum, parses by a succession of sheaves over tbe bridge and poop to the large paying-out sheave at the stem. Similar appliances nave been fitted in the forward part of the vessel in case it should be found advisable to work from the bow. The plan of operations is first to make an effort to grapple, and raise each of the broken ends of the cable, which then will be buoyed, and each end spliced successively to so much of the spare cable earned as may be found requisite. The time occupied in the work must dspend mainly on the success which may attend the grappling operations. If Luna is fortunate enough to pick up the severed ends at once, the work of splicing will not be a lengthy one ; but it is quite possible that two or three weeks may be occupied in this important description of fishing.— ‘ Post.’