Communications

1876 The shore end of the Backstairs Passage was laid successfully on Christmas Day, at Kingscote, Kangaroo Island. The telegraph steamer Edinburgh returned to Normanville this afternoon. Seven miles of the Backstairs Passage cable have been laid. The cable starts from half a mile north of Yankalilla jetty, and goes out at right angles for three miles; then curves to Nepean Bay to join the line thirty miles to Cape Borda.

The Kangaroo Island telegraph, between Kingscote and Cape Borda, was completed on July 7. All that remains to be done to finish the contract is the burning of a few miles of scrub along the line. The contractors experi-enced some difficulty and delay in the prose-cution of their work, in consequence of the boggy nature of the ground. On the erection of the instruments on the island, communication will be established with Adelaide.

1908 : The cable has been out of order for some time :  

The cable between Kangaroo Island and the mainland, which was repaired a few months ago, is to be permanently joined up next Wednesday when it will be lifted and a fresh splice made. The cable has given a great deal of trouble during the past few weeks, causing considerable delay to business.

NEW TELEGRAPH STATION, KANGAROO ISLAND.—The telegraph line from Kingscote to Cape Willoughby, Kangaroo Island, has been completed, and there is now through communication between Cape Willoughby and Adelaide. This will enable the names of all vessels passing through Backstair's Passage to be telegraphed to the various telegraph stations in the colony, thus making a very desirable addition to the general shipping news available for the public. The line was constructed by Mr. Walter Thompson, contractor, who has been but a few months over the work. Its cost, roughly estimated, has been about £2,500, its total length being about 45 miles. Leaving Kingscote the wires are affixed to the same poles as those of the Cape Borda line for about six miles, at which point the two lines branch away in opposite directions. The telegraph-poles are of iron throughout.

Kangaroo Island Telephones.

[1927] On Wednesday of last week, the last pole was erected for the new line between the head of American River and Penneshaw. When this line is joined up with the existing one, which at present follows the south coast to Cape Willoughby, the old line will be disconnected and later on dismantled. From Penneshaw the line will join the one which now con-nects the present one near Hog Bay River. It was expected that a great deal of trouble would be met with during the sinking of the holes along the new line, owing to the lime-stone formation of the new country, but fortunately the sinking was not so difficult as was anticipated. Some of the holes had a crust of limestone on the top, and then sand and shells. In some of the holes pretty frilled cockles were found. The contractor is now engaged putting the arms on the poles The running of the wire will be started in a few days. Up to the present only Mr Dutton of Rocky Point, has completed his application to be connected up with Penneshaw, and the residents along the new route, who desire to be connected up, should put in their application as soon as possible. As soon as the work in hand is completed, the contractor will remove his camp and plant to the Kingscote district, and proceed with the erection of a line from MacGillivray Post Office to Hawks Nest. Those who desire to be connected around Kingscote should also put in their applications as soon as possible, so as to avoid delay. A linesman is to be permanently stationed at Kingscote. He will have the whole of the lines under his care. He will attend to the mechanical part of the work also. Residents could assist the Post and Telegraph Dept. by reporting to the nearest Post Office, any defects or breakages along the telephone lines.

[1928] The latest telephone subscribers list issued for K.I. contains 60 names. When the telephone cable is laid across Backstairs Passage this list will be augmented by the addition of a number of subscribers who will then be connected up with the various exchanges. The line foreman (Mr Lock) has been making preparation for the connecting up of the present line with the underground cable which was recently laid from the Post Office along Telegraph Road and on to the first pole in Dauncey Street North. A pole has been erected near the corner of Telegraph Road and Kingscote Terrace and all lines at present being brought into the Terrace via Dauncey Street will be carried along past the Police Station.

KANGAROO ISLAND CABLE

It is officially announced that the tender of an English firm has been accepted for the supply and laying of a telephone cable between Kangaroo Island and the mainland, the work to be completed by May 28. The cable will extend from Cuttlefish Bay (on the island) to Land's End (near Cape Jervis). a distance of about nine miles, and it will cross Backstairs Passage at practically its narrowest part. The land line from Cuttlefish Bay to Kingscote is nearly complete. The present cable, which starts at Kings cote and links with the mainland at Normanville, is about three times as long as the new one, and it was put down about 50 years ago, but for some time has not given satisfactory vice. It is expected that the new cable will be working in June. 

The new cable service between Kangaroo Island and the mainland will be opened officially this evening. Among those who will be present at the ceremony at Kingscote will be the Deputy Postmaster-General (Mr. E. P. Ramsay), and Messrs. M. D. Cameron, M.H.R., and P. T. Heggaton and H. S. Hudd, M.P.'s. An official dinner will form part of the celebration in connection with the occasion.