STRAY SPARKS

Evening Star, Issue 21724, 19 May 1934, Page 4

STRAY SPARKS

Several listeners have sent inquiries to the writer as to the cause of the interference during the church relay last'Sunday night. The fault was due to someone at the service evidently tripping over the cord lying across the floor of the church, and leading to the microphone in the pulpit. This apparently caused a break in one of the seven wires'in the microphone head, accounting tor the disturbance during the 'sermon. * . ■ * * * The special weather reports for farmers, given from the main stations every afternoon during the summer months have now ceased. Due to an error in the detailing of programmes these special weather reports have until this week been regularly advertised for 4.30. This explanation is given for the benefit of those who had I‘stened for the report but failed to receive jt. The success of wireless telephony, as applied to the trawlers, was so marked that the Adelaide Steamship Company has. installed wireless telephony on the company’s six small cargo vessels trading between Queensland and South Australian ports. The system has proved advantageous, not merely from a business point of view, but also for the safety of the whole ship’s company. '** * * . There is. a lad in Sydney who is totally' bedridden. Yet with indomitable courage be has studied the art and construction of radio. He makes all his own sets, and his work is said to be an example in efficiency and neatness. * * * * This year the Victorian Radio Associatitm’s annual show at Melbourne is to be known as the Centenary Radio Show. In honour of the event the association has gone to a great deal of trouble to make it more attractive than usual. * * * * The Broadcasting Board has not yet decided when it will go ahead with the plan to build new studios for the broadcasting station in Christchurch. The present building will probably serve lor sonic time yet. * * * * Some of those who • listened to 4YA toward the end of last week might have noticed a decrease in the volume and a slight swing in th& station's frequency, but few know that the station came within an ace of being oft the air altogether. It , appears that two or. three of the tubes in the transmitter expired one after another without warning, and a hasty was sent to ,Wellington for replacements. It was then found that these could not be delivered until last Monday, so just prior to the departure of the express from Christchurch on Saturday a ,phoue call was put through, and the necessary valves were hastened to the train to arrive at Dunedin en Saturday evening.