GRAPPLING FOR THE CABLE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 20, 21 January 1876, Page 2

GRAPPLING FOR THE CABLE.

The following is an extract from an interesting letter- from the correspondent of the iV 7 . Z. Times dated "on board the Luna, j^ooday. morning," :— r Unmistakeable evidence had been obtained of the rocky nature of the bottom, and the way the cable appeared to have been laid created anything bui a good opinion' of those answerable for the work in the minds of those on board the Luna. The appearance of the cable— aud a very remarkable appearance it presented — as it was hauled in, amply proved that its only resting points had been a rock pinnacle here and. there. The length of the pioce broken off before it was cut Was 1267 fathoms; but that is now:, in two pieces— one -70 and the other 1197 fathoms— all of which is coiled away, in the hold of the Luna. A. considerable portion was practically as sound as when laid down, but in parts a good deal of oxidation was noticeable, though, not sufficient toimpair the cable, which, if laid upon, a good bottom, would no doubt last at least about anotbeir ten years. The auount sod variety of vegetable and animal life clinging to the cable was an interesting' sight, and enough to send a naturalist inlo ecstasies. There appeared to be an endless variety of seaweeds and mosses, of shells and sluge," anemones, and a thousand and one strange forms of marine life quite new to. the ordinary observer. In places the cable looked like a gigantic string of bananas. At others it was adorned by bulbous and knobby looking growth resembling pineapples. Some beautiful and delicate specimens of clear white and vermilion coral were secured. Amongst the shells were diminutive oysters, fluted cockles, and enormous barnacles, some of the.Jatter being of a delicate rose color. There were brilliant colored mosses and sponges, and what might be calied sea ferns, interspersed occasionally with pendant bunches of bright and many-colored berrieß. The whole mass was teeming with worms and animalcule that would be a treat to look at if placed under a tnicroßCope. Even young octopodsbad their home in the mass of vegetation which enveloped' the cabled Other parts came up. clean and bright without a trace of any growth whatever. The work of winding in occupied something over two hours, and as the afternoon wins well advanced, with a nasty sea tossing the vessel about, and the breeze freshening, it was deemed inadvisable to do anything, more that day, and the Luna was put back to Worser's Bay ! for the night, Dr.' Lemon and Mr Lloyd coming on to Wellington by the Egmont, which has been engaged to tender the Luna for a few dayß, What the next step, will be. is not, yet decided upon. An altogether new idea in connection with recovering the cable has been discussed and received with considerable favor, and as it is not without attractiveness, the public will no doubt feel interested in the matter. It is pretty certain that all the cable between White's Bay and the original break is in capital condition, and likely to remain so for an indefinite period. It is equally certain that a very large portion of the cable on the other side of the break has been laid over very rocky ground, and the probability is that there are more corroded and weak patches than the two that have been proved to be so. Forty-two nautical miles of cable vere laid, and as that is more than ought to, be necessary if laid in a direct line of any kind, it is considered that there is an unnecessary amount of slack, and that a good deal of that might be utilised to replace the present defective parts. The argument educed from these facts is that it would be wise to lift a few miles of the cable in Lyell's Bay, which is reasonably, supposed to be in good condition, pick up the White's Bay end, and splice it with that taken up in Lyell'a Bay, and then land it at Otoronp;o Bay, effecting communication, with Wellington by means of a short land line over the intervening ranges. This plan has a good deal to recommend it, but it will be understood that it is one merely under consideration, not decided upoo t

The following letter relative to the recent Wairarapa turf scandal appears W-sf -' S'-fZ. ,3rm«B --Sir— Just |Mow;||jjne space to contradict what Iprriffe hasi.written tb'ryqa .about the laije r&|e foif .the .jockey/ Club Plate at '^ was I ' standing within' - twenty yards of Derritt at tbe v time, and saw him jump up, throw his hat up, and deliberately frighten Korari off the course. Derritt was within two lengths,., of JCorari when he frightened Hu|l pUsaw the whole thing, and challenged immediately. He was speechless with fear, as well he might ~--bef n ?"I-'aHr not going to wade through his long, rigmarole, as I regard most of. itiasia sort- <Sf red herring that he is Jry^ing to draw across the scent. Derrifcf Is charged with frightening Korari off, |and I am not the only man who saw] him do it. Eeferring to his re--mark about the boy who rode Fishhook MBt j;be Ladies Purse. Just to show you 'how much faith can be placed in what Demt^-states, when. he says the boy nevernrode for hire, 1 can produce the man who paid him (Fishhook's jockey) V3p2 [for a winning mount previous to the -meeting at Tauherinikau, which disqualified the boy as a gentleman rider. Of course, Derritt will try and make out a good .story. This is to be expected.: I „-have told you sterling truth, which can be proved any. time our club chooses to call for evidence. — I am, &c, P. J. Armstrong. > § JThe Auckland correspondent of the Ylawfie's Bay Herald writes as follows of Mr Bees, the Mr Bees whom itwill be remembered the Auckland Star to the. electors . on the "ground that he would be found ready a.n.d willing to do all the dirty work that Sir George Grey, was too much of a-gentle.man to. perform :— "Eees was .elected for City East by a very small majority, considering that the Grey faction, and the Good Templars strained every nerve; in his favor! Eees, in the ' General Assembly,- should be at least equivalent to half a dozen votes for any Ministry to whom, he may be opposed. He was an utter, and ignominious failure,, even in the petty arena of the Provincial • Council. Only those who have ; heard Eees' long-winded wishyw^shy orations can form an adequate idea of the dismal infliction any. one ; of his public addresses is." Eeferring to the Port Chalmers election the Sttir says : — Every thing passed . off Very orderly, if we except- a little difference between the representatives of pur morning contemporaries at Port Chalmers.- ' With true journalistic esprit, each espoused the side favored by ' his ;; paper ; each '. was an. equally xsCrong partizan, but he of the Guardian was somewhat more important inasmuch as he was a committee man. When they met," iv the course of the the Guardian representative accused his journalistic brother of unfairly reporting Mr Eeynolds' meeting on Saturday, and making an improper allusion to the part he (the Guardian representative) had taken at that meeting. This he followed up with a threat to slap the other's face, but the latter. ' dissatisfied with his opponent's mode of expressing himself, immediately strut k him iv the face. Of course a crowd collected ; but what might have proved a serious combat was happily prevented. A Port Chalmers telegram says : — A swordfish, measuring 10 feet 4 inches long by 4s feet 4< inches across, was captured in a bay close to the Quarantine Island this afternoon by a waterman, after a determined fight on both sides. It is said to be the first of the genus seen -in New Zealand waters. The largest rope ever manufactured; •in Auckland, and we believe in the cblbny, is now being made at Mr Lloyd's, rope works, Ponsonby. It is 14 inches in diameter, and 1000 feet in length, and is intended for the United Pumping Association's mine at the Thames! . The material used is Manilla.-^- Herald. (For continuation of News see fourth page:')