ARRIVAL OF THE CABLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 44, 17 February 1876, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE CABLE

SIEAMEKB,

A short time after the firing of the gun which yesterday afternoon' announced that the Hibernia and Edinburgh were in sight, these two noble steamers were, greatly to the astonishment of all, to be seen slowly steaming down the Bay froni the direction of Wakapuaka, and, being unaccompanied by the Lady B^rk-iy, there was at once some speculation as to where they had come from and what they had been doing, whether they had actually completed the landing of the cable, or cut and buoyed ifc outside, and merely visited Schroder's Mistake to see what sort of a place it was. It was a long time before the curiosity of the public could be satisfied, for the wind was blowing so strongly that ordinary rowing boats could not communicate with the steamers, and it was not until late in the evening that the pilot boat returned. When she did reach the shore it was ascertained that the cable had been cut and buoyed about twenty miles the other side of the Sandspit, or about sixty miles from the laudingplace. The laying of the shore end will commence from the land, the cable being of a much greater weight, namely, ten tons to the mile, instead of 35cwt, which is the weight of the deep sea portion, and the steamers left the anchorage this afternoon for Schroder's Mistake, where the work will commence as soon as the weather is considered sufficiently favorable, and it is expected that communication with the sea line will be completed in about fifteen hours. The electrician will remain on shore, so that it will at once be known when the splice bas been effected, and communication between Australia and New Zealand established. Should everything progress favorably, it is expected that the cable will be open for the transmission of messages by Monday next. During the passage from Botany Bay, which was left on the Sth instant, fine weather was experienced, and no mishap of any kind occurred, the cable being paid out regularly at the rate of about six and a half knots per hour. Communication was kept up all the time with Australia, and, in mid ocean, far away from any other vessels or from land, the news was received of the successful splicing of the Cook's Straits cable, and also of events that were occurring in England, such as the execution of Wain wright the murderer, &c. The following gentlemen compose the staff engaged in this great and important work : — Engineering Department — Messrs T. E. Lucas (chief), E. Riddle, 11. W. Walter, and J. Sherwin. Electricians — Messrs J. C. Laws (chief), H. C. Donovan, T. Clark, E. Stringer, and AY. Granville. Neither of the two steamers Lady Barkly and Tui having returned this morning, arrangements were made by the General Government with Messrs N. Edwards & Co to despatch the Wallace to inform them of the arrival of the steamers, ou which errand sbe sailed a little after noon. [Since the above was in type, the Lady Barkly has returned to harbor. A report of her proceedings will be found in our shipping column ]