"WIRELESS" AND THE CHATHAMS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14289, 27 February 1912, Page 6

"WIRELESS" AND THE CHATHAMS.

The anxiety that is now felt regarding the Himitangi is a strong argument in favour of establishing a, wireless telegraph station at the Chathams, that lie lonely and isolated 500 miles away from our shores. Tho steamer left Lyttelton for that group on tho last day of January, with nearly thirty people— passengers, officers, and crew-r-on board, and was expected back about tho 12th inst. Sho is now, therefore, fifteen days overdue, and not a soul in New Zealand has the faintest idea what has become of her —whether sho broke down on the outward trip or in or whether she has been delayed by some mishap at tho islands. In the meantime the relative- and friends of those

who wero on board the steamer on her outward trip, and of those who wero expected to return by her, are naturally becoming seriously concerned at her prolonged absence. Her owners havo arranged for tho despatch of a steamer to search for tho missing boat, and tho Government aro sending tho training vessel Amokura for the samo purpose on Thursday, the earliest date on which sho can ho got ready for sea. But a week or more must elapse before any news can bo received. The value of "wireless" in a case of this sort is obvious. If a wireless station wero in existence at the Chathams, wo should be kept informed of the arrival and departure of steamers trading to the group, and if any serious delay occurred in a vessel's return to New Zealand, the fishermen at the islands could bo asked to make search for her on the outlying islands. Warnings of approaching storms could also bo sent to tho Chathams for tho benefit, not merely of any steamer that might bo there, but also of the local fisher folk. Tho erection and maintenance of a, wireless station at the Chathams would entail a certain amount of expense, but not moro, wo believe, than Parliament would agree to, notwithstanding that tho islanders have no votes. Accidents moro serious in their consequences than tho breakdown of a little trading steamer have occurred at the Chathams; tho islands, havo been tho sceno of th© wreck of more than one ocean-going vessel, and in tho ever-present possibility of the occurrence of somo grave shipping disaster and tho advantage that would accrue from information speedily reaching New Zealand lio tho chief and most vital reasons for urging tho Government to undertake this much-needed enterprise.