ENGINEERS IN CAMP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2858, 23 December 1908, Page 13

ENGINEERS IN CAMP.

The Dunedin Engineers, now in camp at the Central Battery, conducted com« highly successful long-distance bignalline experiments on Saturday. Wishing to establish & chain of stations for praotical work in the field, two terminal and two transmitting stations were established, to whioh officers and men journeyed on Saturday afternoon. One group was stationed at Big Hill, at Oamaru, a transmitting station at M Kensie s Cairn, another at Harbour Cone (on the Peninsula), and a final station at Saddle Hill— a total airline distanoe of - 85 miles. In the army two systems of signalling are used— the Mora* and the semaphore. With the neliotfiraph and lamps the Morse code is used, the Utters being represented by short and long exposures of light. Heliograph signallinor Is effected by reflecting the light of the sun from a mirror or mirrors on to the distant etation >.in acoor dance with the Morse system. Limelight signalling is conducted on the same principle, but in this case the light is inside the lamp, the dots and dashes being obtained by means of a shutter. On Saturday night the communication was obtained by lamp between Oamaru and the cairn. The result was such as to evoke the utmost gratification. The recognised limit of such signals is 15 mil«e, but the (joints named are 35 miles apart in an airlino, a.nd communication was efficiently established. Sarurday morning was dull, but the signallere stuck ro <h«ir task, and at 12 noon a mes-sage was received at Central Battery from Saddle Hill to th c effect that communication had ho&n opened with Harbour Cone. Shortly after the cloud-! lifted from the hilltops, and Harbour Cone reported contact with the Cairn. Saddle Hill and Harbour Ootie contingents then camp into camp, and later in thY eveninga telephone message from Shag Point intimated that the me«sa«r« had been sa.My transmitted per heiio to Oamaru. Thi operations were thus c-ntirelv successful. and the officers and men concerned are to be congratulated op their yery fine performance. The message beliograpbe^ wgs

from the Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, and read as follows : — I wish you every success in the heliograph signalling scheme between Oamaru and Dunedin, and congratulate the corps on their progressive and up-to-date work. Mention must be made of tho electrical section, which on Saturday afternoon established telegraphio communication between Saddle Hill and Mosgiel, and thence to the Dunedin Exchange. This is a thoroughly-trained section of electrical men whose services are always in request, and who always give the utmost satisfaci tion. On Sunday the Cadets, to the number of 51, attended church parade at St. | Peter's, the Rev. Canon King preaching a most interesting sermon on "Duty." A parade was held on the 14th, when 64 of all ranks were present. The O.C. District was present, and expressed himself in terms of warm commendation at the efficiency of the companies. He said he was particularly struck with the prompt and comprehensive manner in which the non-commissioned officers displayed their acquaintance with their duties, and with the manner in which they promptly answered his questions.