IN THE AIR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 151, 26 June 1912, Page 3

IN THE AIR

WIRELESS ON THE TUTANEKAI OFFICIAL CEREMONY. "ON THE EVE OF GREAT DEVEOPMENTS." "R-r-r-r-r-r" came over the wireless of the steamer Tutanekai*6 aerial telegraphy house yesterday in reply to Sir Joseph Ward's menage to the Governor. The spark was singing in the air from the masthead like a harp in the air. "What does that moan?" asked Sir Joseph of Mr. Parton. tho official operator. "It means 'Yes'," was the reply; "the wirela-s 'Yes' to your message." Sir Joseph was manipulating the key, sending the first official message to His Excellency, and he showed (in the judgment of experts present) that his right hand had not forgotten its cunning when it came to transmitting a message by telegraph. "For one who cannot have handled an instrument for very many years, Sir Joseph did remarkably well," was the opinion of an expert telegraphist present. The message sent by Sir Joseph was published in full in The Post last evening. Shortly it was reminding His Excellency of tie installation of the wireleEs system on board the Government steamer Tutanekai, and further pointing out that the installation was the work of New Zealand engineers, and was working most satisfactorily. There was a large party on board the steamer at the time, including the Minister of Marine (Hon. G. Laurenson). the Postmaster-General (Hon. H. G. Ell), the Min inter of Justice (Hon. J. A. Hanan), and the Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren), Mr. Donald Robertson (Secretary to the Post Office), Mr. Jas. Mackenzie (SurveyorGeneral), Mr. C. E. Adams (of the Government Observatory), Mr. D. C. Bateß (Government Meteorologist), Mr. Orchiston (Electric Engineer, Post and Telegraphs), and a large number of ladies. The installation was made the occasion of a, run round the harbour, and afternoon tea on board- Captain Post was the commander. THE' SPEECHES. In asking Sir Joseph Ward to declare the "station' 1 open, the Minister for Marino referred to the late PostmasterGeneral's groat experience, and tho Govornment thought it would be a graceful thing 10 ask him to send the first message in the light of his long and distinguished occupancy of the position of PostmasterGeneral. It was Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. Laurenson observed, who- was instrumental in securing a cable repair ship for service entirely m New Zealand, rather than continue the practice of sending for a. fchip from the China station to effect repairs to breaks in tho New Zealand cables. There were twenty-one undersea cables in New Zealand, and the average cost for ouch repair was £500, as against £8000 to £10,000 which it used to cab* to repair when vessels were called from without to mend the breaks. The Tutanekai was a payable asset. At» the greatest Postmaster-General Now Zealand had ever had, Mr. Laurenboxi had pleasure in asking Sir Joseph to attend that day to declare the station open. IN THE BEGINNING. Sir Joseph Ward gave a brief, but interesting, iribtory of the rapid growth and development of wireless telegraphy throughout the world; but particularly in New Zealand. Engineers reported only eleven years ago that messages could be despatched sixty miles; but in order to allow a full margin of safety it was agreed to guarantee a message sent of thirty miles. A few years after that he obtained authority from Parliament for tho installation of wireless telegraphy in New Zealand; but held it back until it was established that messages could be received from a distance. That had been done for a distance of 1600 miles, and satisfactory communication had been niadti with _ vessels at 1100 miles. However, a policy of waiting for a more perfect' system was deliberately followed, in order to have the best in the world. Ho looked forward to the linking up of the tiinds of New Zealand and beyond, as_ that would mean greater safety .for ships, crews, and passengers, advantages that could not be over-estimated. The Government decided that the two Government steamers were to be equipped with wireless, and the Tutanekai was ttie ( lirbt ship station so equipped by any Government, with the exception of one or two_ cable steamers. The installation had been carried out entirely by engineers of the New Zealand Post and Telegraphs. This showed what could be done, by men on the spot, thus doing awajf with the necessity of eending out of the country for men to undertake this and similar scientific works. What could be done by the men of other countries, seeing the type and intelligence of the men of New Zealand, could 6urely be done by those men. The work on the Tutanekai had been most satisfactorily carried out by Messrs. Parton and Skinner (his assistant) and supervised by Mr. Gibbes. ' Captain Post would no doubt find the wireless of immense value to him in keeping in touch with tho. land when engaged on repair work. PASSENGER STEAMERS EQUIPPED. Sir Joseph added that he hoped that soon every vessel carrying passengers on the New Zealand coast would have the wireless installed. Whatever might happen in the future, he could not say; but if he went away — which he would not — then he hoped that he would not be in touch by wireless. He then described the connections by which New Zealand would be brought into wireless communication with Britain via Newfoundland. When in New York, Tesla, the eminent scientist, had told him that the time would <Borne when he would ring up "Sir Joseph Ward, Wellington," over the telephone, and ,it seemed that that prophecy wbb within range of fulfilment. They were on the eve 'of great developments — greater, perhaps, than they could realise. The discovery of the applicability of the duplex system, by which a wireless message - could ■ be eenfc and received through tho one installation. was explained. Speaking jocularly, Sir Joseph 6aid that "perhaps after all when we get to the Great Beyond we may be able to telegraph back and say how we are getting on." Ho congratulated Mr. Laureneon ou the success of the wireless int>tallation on the Tutanekai. New Zealand, was not behind any other country in wireless. He might add that the tender received for the wireless installation for New Zealand was £30,000 less than the next best offer that could be got. Tho cost of all New Zealand stations together would not reach the price of one of tho girdling stations in the world-system of which New Zealand would form a part He made special reference to the efficiency of the Tutanekai and the great saving in oost that she had effected for th» country in the^ matter of cable laying, repairs, and maintenance.