CABLE STATION DESTROYED

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 12, 2 June 1914, Page 5

CABLE STATION DESTROYED

SERIOUS DAMAGE AT WAIiAPUAKA. By Te'egraph Press Association. j Nelson, Monday. J The cable station at Wakapuaka was ] burned to the ground at three o'clock j this morning. The tiro when discovered [ had a good hold, and it was seen that j it was impossible to save the ollice. At- : tc-ntion was then turned to the "Bunga- J low," one of the two buildings used by ; the staff as quarters. This was only { nine or ten feet from the office, and t soon caught fire, and was also totally ( destroyed. The staff, by splendid work , with meagre appliances, managed to ( save the other buildings used as quarters. ( The paint on both these buildings was . badly scorched and blistered. There was { an anxious time until safety was assured. The loss was very heavy, as only part of one cable instrument (there were three) was saved. Another big item was the destruction of some hundreds of miles of artificial line. It is hoped to restore communication with Sydney and Wellington or Nelson to-day, as there is a spare set of instruments kept in a place on the beach. The cause of the outbreak is a complete mystery. The staff did great work. The quarters building destroyed was occupied by six of the staff, the others occupying the large building. 1 The cable buildings destroyed are the ! property of the Government, and were not insured. The company's instruments, valued at between £2OOO and £3OOO, are well insured. Communication with Sydney from the shore office, has been practically established, and ' the Telegraph .Department is arranging for communication with Nelson and Wellington. COMMUNICATION RESTORED. . SMART WORK BY CABLE STAFF. Wakapuaka, Last Night. Excellent work by the two staffs, under the respective control of Messrs Kemp (engineer of the Telegraph Department) and Black and Hanron, of the Eastern Extension Cable Co., resulted in the complete restoration of communication between Cable Bay and Nelson, 'Blenheim, Wellington and Wanganui on the one hand and Cable Bay and Sydney on the other, within a few hours. Temporary offices have been established, and all work is now proceeding with the usual despatch.