THE SUBMARINE CABLE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 404, 20 August 1866, Page 3

THE SUBMARINE CABLE.

{From the 'Wellington Independent, 9th August.) On Tuesday morning last the Sturt started away again from the harbor to pick up the broken piece of cable. As it had been found impractible on the previous day to grapple the cable where it was cut away, it was decided that an attempt should be made to under-run it from the shore. On the steamer arriving at Lyall’s Bay the grappling irons were thrown over in fifteen fathoms of water, but as they failed to seize it, the vessel was taken nearer into the shore, when the cable was grappled in about six fathoms of water. The under-running gear, with a suitable block passing under the cable, was then attached to the stern of the steamer, and she steamed away astern for about five mile?. When she arrived off Sinclair’s Head, being about three miles from the broken end in 25 fathoms of water, the bight of the cable was buoyed, as it was now night and the tide was running strongly and the wind increasing. The machinery for paying out has already been completely repaired; the second casting of the spur-wheel, as we mentioned in our last issue, w as finished on Monday, and on Tuesday it was taken on board the Weymouth and fitted to her machinery. Yesterday morning the Government steamers St. Hilda and Sturt started at 11 o’clock, for the purpose of picking up the submarine cable in Cook’s Strait. The steamers arrived at the place where the cable had been buoyed the previous day by the Sturt, at 1 p.m. Operations were commenced immediately to get the bight into the notch block, previous to under-running the cable. Everything being prepared, the steamers started at 2'30 p.m., the St. Hilda towing the Sturt. After passing Sinclair’s Head, the strength of the tide was found sufficient to drive the vessel along, when the St. Hilda’s line was let go, and she remained standing by to render any assistance that might be necessary. About 5 p.m. the Sturt arrived at the position which was supposed to be within a quarter of a mile of the end which bad parted, when the cable was again buoyed. Search was then made for the buoy, which had been let go to mark the spot when the accident occurred; but, notwithstanding every exertion was made to discover it, it could not be found.

It coming on dark, both vessels returned, and arrived in port about 8 p.m. Wo understand that everything will be prepared and readj tor re-laying the cable to-morrow, Friday. The Taranaki wall the Weymouth in tow, will leave here early to-morrow morning, fur Lyall’s Bay. They will bo accompanied by the St. Kilda and Sturt. There being sufficient cable left on board the Weymouth to cross the Strait, we understand it is the intention of Mr Donovan to land an end from her, and after it has been made fast on shore, to proceed towards Port Underwood in a more southerly direction than that previously taken. If the cable is not long enough the St. Kilda is to take the broken cable on board at Lyall’s Bay, and convey it to the other side of the Strait, where it will be spliced.

(From tlie Special Reporter of tlie Weilington Independent) Wednesday 15th August. Hating an opportunity to communicate with you owing to the return to vV eilington of the s.s. Wanganui, which brought out a few members just to take a look at us and see how the work of laying the cable was proceeding, I send you a brief •ketch of what has been done.

The St. Hilda left the wharf shortly after one o’clock on Tuesday night, or rather Wednesday morning, and proceeded to Lyall’s Bay; where we anchored. At daylight on Wednesday, the weather looked gloomy enough, and fears were felt that stormy winds and waves might interfere with the intended work.- But our hopes were raised by observing that the glass was rising, end also by noticing some Maories fishing of the shore—a sure sign of fine weather. At ten minutes past six o’clock on Wednesday morning we sighted the s.s. Taranaki with the Weymouth in tow, they having left the harbor at 10 p.m. At four a m. we proceeded in the St. Hilda, with a chain and grapnel to grapple for the cable but the chain broke. A second attempt was made with a stout rope, which was successful; and the cable was drawn to the surface, when itwas secured with another stout rope. Mr Stafford then went in a boat to where the cable was raised, but in so doing knocked the grappling iron off; the rope, however, fortunately supported it. The cablo was then lifted at about a mile and a half from the shore, and a rope fastened round the cable on the shore side of the bight, and firmly secured to the St. Hilda, another rope was then fastened to the cable on the sea side of the bight and attached to a buoy. The cable was then filed in two by Mr Stafford between the ropes, the shore end was supported by the St Hilda’s rope, but the outer one sank. Some of the cable was then brought on board of the St. Hilda from the ship and spliced to the shore-end of the cable already laid, being first thoroughly tested. At the time the chain was drawing up the cable, the strain on it was hetweeen two and three tons. The operation of grappling and cutting the cable and getting all things ready tor splicing, occupied about three hours. Tne splicing was commenced between 11 and 12 o’clock, and was performed as follows :—The core was stripped and the ends carefully soldered together, and the guttapercha then laid over it. The operation of splicing is just finished as I send this off at 1 o’clock. We expect to start paying out the cable at about 4 o’clock, or perhaps a little earlier, and may be back to Wellington by mid day to-morrow. (By Submarine Telegraph.) The following telegrams were received at the Postmaster-General’s Office yesterday. August ,15th, 11.30 a in. Late in starting. Cannot be over till late. Please send a steamer across to see guide fires are alight. Notice. —Not started to pay out cable. 12 26 p.m. Splicing cable. 3T5 p.m. Weymouth just started to pay out cable. 3’51 p.m. - All going on well. 4’Bo p.m. Going on well. All in good working order, and expected to reach White’s Bay at six o’clock on the 16th. 4 a. in. Commenced raising cable. 6 a.m. Chain broke on first attempt. 10’45 a.m. Made temporary connection to test wire before splicing. 2'45 p.m. Splicing completed. 3 p.m. Commenced paying out. 5*30 p.m. Three miles now paid out. Insulation perfect. Weather very calm and promising. Present rate of progress two miles an hour. 8 p.m. All going on well; eleven miles paid out, 9 p.m. Thirteen miles cablo paid out; all going on well. 10 p.m. All well; seventeen and a-half miles cable out. 11 p.m. ' All going well; about 19 miles paid out. 16th August, OTS a.m. All well; about twenty-two miles of cable payed out; fine weather. 2’SO a.m. Twenty-seven miles of cablo paid out, and everything working well. 4'5 a.m. Hanging on for daylight—five miles from shore. STO a.m. Cablo nearly all paid out, going on well. 6 30 a m. All going well. 7‘20 a.m. Cablo buoyed, three miles off the shore.