NAVIGATION IN FOG

Evening Star, Issue 18650, 3 June 1924, Page 8

NAVIGATION IN FOG

EADIO BISECTION-FINDING-. TESTS BY THY TUTANEKAI. In ideal weather far the particular work in hand, the New Zealand Government steamer Tutanekai left Auckland for a demonstration with her radio direefioufinding apparatus (says the ‘ Herald ’). From every point of view the demonstration was an unqualified success, the ship being navigated to Tiri through dense fog, and, thanks to Her apparatus, making a perfect land-fall. The vessel, which is under the command of Captain J. Bollons, an enthusiast whore radio direction-finding is concerned, left Prince’s wharf at 9 ii.ni., having on hoard representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Harbor Board, and the Merchant Service Guild. The nautical adviser to the Marine Department, Captain G. Hooper, was on hoard, with Ida assistant. Captain W. Whiteford, and during the eight hours that the ship was away they had abundant opportunity of demonstrating the operations of the ship’s receiving set and of explaining its very simple, mechanism. Admittedly a, fair proportion of those making the trip came on board as critics, hut they left the ship fully persuaded that their previous doubts had gone by the board, and they were candid enough to make frank admission of their new and enlightened attitude. Peeling her way cautiously in the murk, t'a* Tutanekai went down the harbor. Yv lien between North Head and Beau Rock, she dropped anchor, and at once got into communication with the temporary radio station on Tiri. In Hut Tutanckai’s wheel-house, where is placed her receiving apparatus, Captain Hooper gave what in effect was a clearly phrased lecture on radio directionfinding. Ho wore one sot of receivers over his ears, and in turn all of those present listened in. Many questions were asked, and in Ids replies Captain Hooper wits able to give just those essential facts which the average seafarer most needed. A point was raised as to Ihe Joss on the coast of California of seven American destroyers lilted with radio direction-finders. On that matter Captain Hooper said he had received written official information from the American Government representative that, irrespective of any result of the court-mart ial concerning Ihe loss, the [lnite.d States Naval Department’s faith in the direction-finder was unshaken, and it was its intention to develop and enlarge its scope. The apparatus was subject to quadrat)tal error, said Captain Hooper, hut that error was constant. There could be no error when taking a direction directly ahead, astern, or abeam. As to deflection which, it had been suggested, might be caused by mountains being between (lie ship arid the transmitting station, Captain Hooper said (hat on one trip they tried to discover deflection when the vast mass of Mount Kgmont was between the vessel and the Wellington radio station, hut they found the mountain had no deflecting effect. Asked about the use of the apparatus at long range, Captain Hooper said (hey had operated with it when fifty-seven miles off Ihe Throe Kings, in a dense fog, and had come safely in and anchored. That, lie said, was a. toiling indication of their faith in it.

Thr.ro wc.ro. said Captain Hooper, eighty-eight ships running between (treat Britain and the United States fitted with the apparatus, and as it was utilised between slap and ship it had proved most valuable in preventing collision. A shipmaster remarked that if it wore so perfect, it was the duty of the Government to have, say, six such directiongiving stations along the Now Zealand coast. To that Captain Hooper replied that anything that assisted navigation they always helped along. Thq tests at anchor completed, the Tutanekai got, under weigh ami headed toward Tin. After clearing Bangitoto Beacon the fog was sp dense that the ship had to go at a very slow speed, making about two or three knots, and at Limas stopping and taking a east ol Lne, lead. 'Hie direction of Tiri was obtained immediately by the apparatus, and the vessel kept her course solely by the, aid of the apparatus. The tidal streams dell noted the ship somewhat from her conrso, but this deflection was remedied from time to time by means of the directionfinder. The fog hung heavily over the water till the ship was within less than a mile of Tiri. As she steamed into dear weather it was seen that her how was pointing directly for the mast, of the radio station on the island.

Thi'» Chairman of t!ic Auckland Tlarlxir Board, Mr (f. 11. Mackenzie, speaking after lea had been served, said he was satisfied ’flu’. (iovcrrirnent was doing the rift hi- tiling in its tests, and especially so if it. creeled a station at (iape .Maria Van Diemen. To Captain Hooper he said: " Vonr word has been yuor bond, ami you have proved your ease."

Captain K. .M. Cliffe admitted Unit for eleven years he had eonsist ently opposed the idea, of wireUss direction-lindins'.

" Hut," lie continued, “ from what I have seen to-day, 1 am more than satisfied, I'Vom (lie navigator's point of view the. (eats have been absolutely satisfactory. 1 have opposed this in lieu of a light, arid 1 want to say now that, while 1 do not consider it will take the place ol a light, it- will, as a help to a light, prove invaluable.” The President, of the Chamber of Commerce, -Mr A, A. Martin, said he thought the demonstral ion would he the Logining of a system of direction-giving station around tin- New Zealand coast. Mr A. C. Dunn said he was convinced the Chamber of Commerce would he unwise to press for a. light at the Three Kings, unless there was the best of grounds for feeling that radio was not so good as, from what they had seen Unit day. he thought it was. Both Captain Rollons and Captain Hooper replied. The latter said that when the Marine Department took up any new device it did not foist it on people without thoroughly testing it.