TELEGRAPHIC DELAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 190, 12 August 1919, Page 7

TELEGRAPHIC DELAYS.

CAUSED BY "EARTH" CURRENTS. CABLES ALSO UNTERRUPTED. Telegraphic communication with stations south of Auckland was being delayed to-day by the presence of "earth" currents. " The Superintendent jof Telegraphs at Auckland explains that 'these earth currents are always present to a certain degree, but at certain periods they become very active. As is well known, the earth itself is used as a "return" in the telegraph circuit, ko that the presence of these outlaw current's interferes with the passage of the telegraphic message. The cause of the sudden increase in the activity of the earth currents is ;i very remote one. capable of giving rise to a learned scientific treatise. The disturbing currents rniiy not I appear for a year or even two. In order to keep the telegraphic traffic with Wellington going, one or two entirely metallic circuit, (that is, v complete circuit of wires) are being used.

It was learned this afternoon that the cable service between New Zealand and America, and New Zealand and Australia was being interfered with by some extraordinary electrical disturbance affecting a large part of the globe. Cable advice from America and Australia received by the Superintendent of Telegraphs at Auckland, states that "earth" currents are prevalent in both those countries, and are interfering with telegraphic commimi-U-atiun there. The Superintendent stilted (hut the widespread nature of the phenomenon showed that it was due to v difference in electrical potential at different parts of the earth's surface.