INVALUABLE WIRELESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 16

INVALUABLE WIRELESS.

NAVAL OPERATORS' PART.

DAYS OF STRENUOUS WORK.

SHORE STATIONS STAFFED. VALUABLE PORTABLE SETS. [BY WIRELESS. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] ' NAPIER, Saturday. Tho disaster at Napier has afforded another example of the bonefits of wireless telegraphy. On Tuesday when tho earthquako occurred, tho Veronica's wireless was tho only means of communication between the stricken town and tho outside world. Sinco then tho wireless operators on all three warships have continued to do magnificent work. A story of extraordinary fortitude is that of Ordinary Telegraphist Harris, of H.M.S. Diomcde. Tho moment the Diomcde arrived he was detailed for shore duty to assist the Telegraph Department. His parents resided at Hastings and his sister worked at Napier. He was working for 14 hours a day at his instrument in tho police station, and could obtain no information about his people, lie stood by until to-day, when word carno through that his parents had escaped, that his sister had a miraculous escape from tho top storey of a threestoreyed building, and that she was in Hastings. He was granted leave to visit theiii-

Wireless work on the Duncdin has been particularly strenuous. On Wednesday parties were landed with portable sets to establish communication between tho shore and the Dunedin and tho Veronica. This considerably reduced tjho staffs in the operating rooms. Indeed, tho wireless staff on tho flagship has worked for hours far in excess of ordinary watches, and, during tho first two days, when messages were being received from all parts of the world, tho wireless room was a buzzing hive of activity. Amid the rush and bustle, tho public of New Zealand was not forgotten, and time waa found to transmit press despatches from reporters on the spot. These were far longer than ordinary naval messages, but they were transmitted expeditiously and accurately, providing once more an instance of how the Navy has been of assistance.

Those in charge of the portable wireless sets on shore aro also doing excellent work, and so efficient is the organisation that they aro in a position to forward to the commodore particulars of developments in the town in an absolute minimum of time.

COMMUNICATION LINES.

HAWKE'S bay telegrams. MULTIPLEX SYSTEM IN USE. As the telephone exchange at Napier was destroyed at tho time of the earthquake, telephonic communication is impossible at present, said a Post and Telegraph official last evening. It was not yet known when communication by telephone would be restored, as a switchboard would first have to be obtained, taken to Napier and installed.

For the first lime since Tuesday morning the Auckland telegraph office communicated with Napier, via Wellington, last evening on the multiplex system. The restoration of this fast system would ensure better all-round service. The last batch of telegrams to be sent by air mail was despatched on Saturday morning and the telegraph lines were now able to deal with all the traffic offering. As far as the actual despatch of telegrams was concerned, traffic conditions were rapidly returning to normal. The officer said that Wellington had no telegraphic communication with Gisborne. The whole of the New Zealand traffic was going from Auckland through Opotiki and Motu to Gisborne. Communication by telephone was now possible to Gisborne, when the lines were not being used for telegraphic purposes.

TIiAFFIC CONGESTION.

RESTRICTIONS ENFORCED.

[BY TEI.EGRArH. —I'UESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. The Prime Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbes, has issued another appeal to relieve congestion on the road to Napier. He asks that motor-car traffic be restricted to bringing out relatives. The Napiei relief committeo advises that adequate facilities already exist for the removal of all who desire to leave Napier and Hastings. The committee, while appreciating the splendid public spirit, states that the influx of cars is causing serious inconvenience, and citizens are enjoined to refrain from using the road unless specifically requested by the Napier or Hastings citizens' relief committees.

The needs of safety on the road necessitate action being taken under the transport regulations, and only authorised persons with specific business will bo permitted to travel by road.

AUSTRALIA HELPS.

PRACTICAL SYMPATHY. OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE. (Received February 8, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 8. A message from Melbourne says the proprietors of the Argus and Australasian havo launched a fund for the New Zealand earthquake sufferers. The list is headed by Sir John and Lady Iliacins with £250. Sympathy with tlio sufferers in the earthquake is reaching the New Zealand Government Agent, Mr. L. J. Schmitt, from many quarters, including Mr. J. G. McPheo, Premier of Tasmania; the 'lourist Promotion Association of New South Wales, which has also sent a donation to the relief funds; the Travel Promotion League of Victoria, the Sydney Light-hour Labour Demonstration Committee, the Agricultural Society of Casino, North Coast, which is now suffering from serious floods, and the New South Wales •teachers' Association. Many individual offers of services and assistance continue to come in.