OVER THE AERIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 199, 23 August 1935, Page 14

OVER THE AERIAL.

RADIO NOTES.

from far and near.

(By TUNE-IN.)

Station 3YA, Christchurch, is now bein o, well received in Auckland, the field" strength being much better than that of the old 3YA.

Auckland radio dealers report that there is still a steady demand for a-ll-wave sets. Customers are mainly ini terested in the reception of matches in ; which the All Blacks will shortly take I part in England. I The greatly increased power of the various New Zealand broadcasting stations is already bringing unsuspected problems to light for the listener. Tho I harmonics of stations IYA, IYX, IZB and IZM are to be found right through the short-wave band, interfering with short-wave reception seriously. I Now that the Post and Telegraph Department does not provide a free service from its telephone exchanges, the broadcasting of the time at frequent I intervals from the YA stations has ! become an important and widely appreciated service. Particularly in the morning do listeners appreciate reminders that time is on the wing.

On Sunday at 7 p.m. the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, who has spent three months in Australia cementing the foundation of the Friendly Road there, will be accorded a public welcome in the Town Hall. The proceedings will be broadcast on relay by IZB. There iB a report that Mr. Scrimgeour, who some months ago committed himself to organising any necessary campaign for the preservation or extension of radio listeners' rights, will on Sunday launch that campaign.

The first of her return appearances will be made by Miss Gladys Monerieff from IYA on Monday, September 2. On the same evening Miss Heather Kinnaird, contralto, Mr. Raymond Beatty, bass baritone, and Mr. Fred Bluett, comedian, will give recitals in the studio. These artists are the latest to be engaged by the board to tour New Zealand taking advantage of the presence of such artists in Auckland, the board is staging another big charity concert on September 5 in the Strand Theatre. In addition to the artists mentioned the performers will include Gil Dech, pianist, John Robertson, cornetist, Harold Taylor, Canadian 'cellist, and Paul Vinogradoff, pianist.

The winner of the "Radio Record" DX Challenge Cup, announced last week, was Mr. A. Maule (37T), Patea, who logged 410 stations. The "Radio Times" Battery Cup was won by Mr. J. R. Bain (21 and W), of Marton, with 531 stations. Mr. Maule showed a verified log of 410 overseas stations operating on the broadcast band. He used a fourvalve battery set of New Zealand make, and has never operated an A.C. model. His aerial is 120 ft long and 35ft high, the earth being a modified Pierce, coupled with an Ollie Ross system. With this equipment he had some splendid DX, among his most treasured verifications being Danzig (500 watts), VK6RW (4 watts), WTRC (50 watts), WTBU, WEDC, WWRL, New York (100 watts), WMAS and WEBR. With his present set Mr. Maule logged 43 countries on the broadcast band, 37 of which were verified. In his opinion, a battery set is a little more suited for DX work than an A.C. receiver, as it is quieter in operation, and headphones can be used. Maximum results can be obtained by operating the set just on the borderline of oscillation.

Station IZM again demonstrated its enterprise and keenness in the interests of listeners when Mr. W. W. Rodgers, on signing off at 10 o'clock last night, advised listeners to tune in to v the main Australian stations if they wished to hear Yehudi Menuhin and big professional orchestra in a concert performance from the Town Hall, Mjlbo'.irne. The concert started at 9.45 (New Zealand time), and did not end until midnight. There must have been thousands of New Zealand listeners who stayed up to hear the notable concert and to enjoy the supreme artistry of Yehudi Menuhin. For obvious reasons the concert was not advertised in any of the programme schedules of the Australian stations, which merely stated that "an interesting programme has been arranged." No doubt large numbers of listeners removed from the main centres will be grateful for the timely reminder which enabled them to hear music of such quality.

The Australian Broadcasting Commission sprang a surprise on listeners shortly before 9.30 (New Zealand standard time) last night, when the announcement was made that the famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin would be heard over the Australian national network in a complete concert performance. The announcer added that the Commission felt- honoured in being able to present the virtuoso and a full professional orchestra under the baton of Professor Bernard Heinze, from the Melbourne Town Hall. "This is a unique occasion, for it is only the second time in Menuhin's amazing career that he has broadcast with an orchestra." ' Then followed an interesting description of the violinist's life and musical triumphs and comments on the compositions to be played by him. Fortunately reception was excellent last night, so that the artist's harmonics could be plainly heard.

FROM IYA NEXT WEEK.

Sunday—9.o a.m., selected recordings; 11.0, relay or service from St. Mark's Anglican Church; 1.0 to 2.0 p.m., dinner music; 2.0 to 4.30, selected recordings; 7.0, relay of evening service from Baptist Tabernacle; 8.30, concert programme, complete recorded presentation of "The

. I Gondoliers." ' | Monday—7.3o p.m., talk by Mr. E. C. 1 Jarret on "Poultry Keeping"; 8.0, concert i : programme of recorded items. Including .! another or tlie "Superstition" series; 9.5, i relay or wrestling contest rrom the Town I Hall; 10.0, final or series of talks on i "Greek Drama," by D'Arcy Cresswell; ,10.15 to li.o, music, mirth and melody 1 session. | Tuesday—B.o p.m., concert programme ,of recorded Items, including "Ebb and I Zeb" and "Japanese Houseboy," also Items by studio orchestra; 9.5, talk by Mr. Alan Muigan on "World Affairs"; 9.45 to 11.0, | dance music. I Wednesday—l2.Jo p.m., relay of community singing rrom His Majesty's Theatre, 8.0, chamber music programme or recordings; 10.0 too 11.0, music, mirth and melody session. Thursday—l2.3o p.m., relay of midweek service rrom St. Matthew's Anglican Church; 8.0, relay or concert by the Auckland Bohemian Orchestra rrom the Town Hall; 10.0 to 11.0, dance music. Friday—7.3o p.m., sports talk by Gordon Hutter; 8.0, symphonic programme or recordings with items by Paul Vinagradoff (pianist) and Robert Simmers (baritone) ; 10.0 to 11.0, music, mirth and melody session. Saturday—ll.o a.m., commentaries on Auckland Trotting Club to be relayed during the day rrom Alexandra Park, Epsom; 7.30, talk by the gardening expert on "Care and Maintenance of Lawns"; 8.0. concert programme reaturlng Miss Gladys Moncrleff, Miss Heather Klnnaird (contralto/ and Mr. Raymond Beatty, bass-baritone, in addition .to recorded items; 10.10 to 11.15, modern! dance music. *