PRIMITIVE BROADCASTING

Northern Advocate, 4 June 1924, Page 5

PRIMITIVE BROADCASTING

Interest has always attached to methods used throughout the ages for the broadcasting of news of importance. To-day, when wireless makes light of distance, i\ sort of miniature system is adopted by the Putonm'o Indians of South Africa. They place two bamboo poles* side "by side on the ground, and two others on top transversely. Messages arc tapped out in a Polynesian, cod-y mid-arc transmitted by the earth to the next receiving station. In South Africa messages arc signalled by means of drums made of bark, the tapping on which can be heard many miles away. It was by this method that the defeat of Sir Eedvers Bullcr at Colenso was made known to natives sixty miles distant in thrj space of two hours. In the old days a fire was generally used to give warning of a t.M'feite'hed invasion. From the coast to a 'certain distance inland bonfires were erected on every hilltop. These were lit by watc'iers when they observed the warning beacons on the coast burst into flame. So "from hii'i to lull the signal flew, ,, and by this method the countryside was in arms, and preparations made to resist the invader.

Mr Clutha MacKenzie reports that tho total revenue received to date for the benefit of the blind from royalties on New Zealand sales of St. Dunstan's cigarettes amounts to £419 H2s 1M This has ! >een distributed, according to f'ne contract with the manufacturers and merchants, as follows: —£08 10s to the New Vα aland Comincorial Travellers' Blinded Soldiers and Sailors Fund; £(iS 10s to St. Dunstan's Hostel for Blinded Soldiers and Sailors. London; and £282 12s lid to the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial for the benefit oP the civilian'blind' of the. Dominion.