WELL-KNOWN LANDMARK REMOVED

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 153, 25 March 1938, Page 6

WELL-KNOWN LANDMARK REMOVED

Awarua Radio Mast Rased To Ground By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, March 24: . After maintaining its solitary vigil for 25 years, the 400 ft. mast at the Awarua wireless station was hurtled to the ground to-day, changing in one moment from a landmark known throughout New Zealand to a mass of twisted scrap-iron. Although there was no public announcement that the mast would come down to-day, the preparations were witnessed by a big crowd scattered in small group B a safe distance from the tower, and many cars were drawn up to the roped barrier. With the advent of shortwave apparatus, the Awarua mast has outlived its usefulness, and shorter masts will work with greater efficiency. During the Great War the station was closely guarded because of its importance in the link of communication, and at one time in those disturbed years it was the subject of strange and fantastic rumours, one being that one of the operators had been slwt as a spy- Like most rumours it was without foundation.