LAYING THE COOK'S STRAIT CABLE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 36, 11 February 1880, Page 2

LAYING THE COOK'S STRAIT CABLE.

A correspondent telegraphed last night the following interesting account of this work : — The fast and favorite paddle steamer Lady Barkly left Nelson for Cable Bay at 8 p.m. yesterday with Captain Cross on board to meet the Kangaroo, and to arrange a position for the ship. Tbe Barkly arrived at Cable Bay at 10 p.m., and anchored for the night. At daybreak she commenced to take soundings, and placedia buoy for a mark at a little to the north of the Australian cable, as the most suitable position for the Kangaroo to take up a position for the landing of the shore end. At 5 a.m. the Kangaroo was Bighted, making for the Bay, and Captain Cross took charge as soon as possible and brought her to her position close in shore. Directly after breakfast all hands commenced to land the shore end. The Barkly waa called into requisition, and she, with all the ship's boats — some eight in number — arranged themselves in a line, at a distance of about eight fathoms apart, and safely carried the cable ashore, and ths end was run into the cable house at 11.30 a.m. The shore end consists of five miles of very heavy cable, weighing 14 tons to the mile, and very great credit is due to all concerned for the skill displayed in handling and safely landing a cable of such weight. After; landing it, the ship at once started and commenced to pay out the remainder of the end, when she buoyed the end and proceeded to Wangauui to lay a similar shore end there. As soon as this is done she will commence paying out the deep sea portion, which is of a smaller type weighiog _ about 3£ tons to the mile, and lay it towards this end where tbe splice will be made with the Cable Bay end. If all goes well bhe will land the Wanganui end to-morrow, and Bhould return here the following day (Thursday), wheu the final splice will be made and the cable will be open for communication. We noticed Beveral officers of the ill fated Hibernia on board, among whom is Captain Seymour, who at the time of the Hibernia's visit to Nelson was chief officer of that ship. Mr Sherwin is the cable engineer, and Mr Clarke is the electrician. Captain Cross proposes putting on the Lady Barkly to carry excursionists to the Kangaroo on Thursday, and if the weather holds good Ja number will probably avail themselves of tho opportunity to pay a visit to a ship of such a size, fitted up with all the latest appliances for cable laying. Although the Lady Barkly was advertised to take excursionists at 5s per head we were surprised to find that only one had taken the opportunity of having a most enjoyable" trip the weather being delightful the whole time.