WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 198, 19 August 1908, Page 7

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.

THE SYSTEM EXPLAINED. An interesting and exceedingly instructive lecture detailing the vonders of wireless telegraphy was delivered in the V.M.C.A. Hall last evening by Mr Irwin Crookes, A.M.1.E.E., chief "instructor in Electrical Engineering at the Auckland Technical College. The address was illustrated by means of a number of splendid limelight views, and the lecturer demonstrated to his audience the points of his subject in practical experiments which were strikingly handled. In introducing Mr Crookes, the Chairman (Mr C. F. Jones) remarked that the subject -was one which engrossed the attention of all at the present time, in that its utility and wonders bad. been vividly brought home to them by its adoption by the American fleet in transoceanic communication. It was possible that Mr Crookes would also lecture at an early date on the subject of X-rays, under the auspices of the V.M.C.A. Mr Crookes opened his subject by referring to the comparatively old idea which had been constantly before mankind, that of signalling without intermediary material means of communication. He paid a tribute to the memory of Michael Faraday, who, he said, had probably accomplished more foT electrical science than any other man who had ever lived. The lecturer showed by means of a stone dropped into water, the effect of the similar impulse which wireless telegraphy cast, ever-widening, into the ether, which, after many years of patient search, had been discovered to "permeate" everything. The electrical waves from the apparatus were sent to this medium of ether in just the same way as the water waves. The lecturer then gave a striking illustration oif the methods of wireless telegraphy on modelled lines, the exhibition being loudly applauded. The labours of Hertz, Lodge, and Popoffs in the field of search were outlined, afteT which the speaker described the immense impetus given to the science by the work of Marconi, who, when only 20 years of age, so perfected his system as to make it applicable for commerce. The system of Lodge and Muirhead (English) was a good second to that of Marconi, hut the latter's was accomplishing more. It had been complained that the American system could not be tapped, but only last week H.M.S. Powerful had picked up wireless messages from the Connecticut. At the conclusion of the lecture, which was followed closely by the large audience present, the lecturer was accorded a vote of thanks by hearty acclamation.