NEW ZEALANDER ALOFT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 128, 6 July 1914, Page 8

NEW ZEALANDER ALOFT.

FLIGHT OVER SYDNEY. MISHAP TO ENGINE. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. SYDNEY, July 5. Mr A. J. Roberts, formerly of Patea, New Zealand, in liis Australian-built dirigible, made a flight over the city from the Show Ground, rising to a height of 6000 ft. A slight mishap to the engine caused the aviator to descend.

What is claimed to be the first Australian dirigible has just been invented and constructed by Mr Alban Joseph Roberts, of Randwick, and is at present lying in a hangar at the Sydney Agricultural Ground, said a recent issue of the "Daily Telegraph." The airship is 85ft. by about 20ft., and is claimed to be able to carry four passengers. The balloon portion, which was taken from the hangar and placed on private exhibition, has an iMation capacity of about 30,000 cubic feet, and is made of silk of the best quality. Some idea of the strength of the silk may be gauged from the fact that although one end of the hangar was blown out'during last week's gale the balloon did not suffer the slightest damage. The undergear of the vessel will be placed in position in a day or two, and a wireless apparatus will be put aboard. It is probable that Mr Roberts will be accompanied on his first trip by his mechanic (Mr Colin Hall) and Captain Penfold, the well-known aeronaut. Mr Roberts, who is a native of New Zealand, is also the inventor of a wireless torpedo "control," and a contrivance for the augmentation of the sound of wireless calls. Some time ago he was sent to England by the Commonwealth Government to place his wireless torpedo "control" before the Admiralty. After two trials, his invention was on the point of acceptance when, during a third trial, the "control" was interfered with on the return journey of the torpedo by another wireless apparatus. Mr Roberts claims, however, that,he has overcome this difficulty, and has invented ai '' non-interferable'' wireless '' control.''; Speaking concerning the invention for ; the augmentation of wireless sounds, a friend of Mr Roberts said: "The idea j of the invention occurred to Mr Roberts immediately after the Titanic disaster. It will be remembered that the captain of one of the steamers'in' the Atlantic at the time stated that the operator did not hear , the Titanic's distress calls because he was absent from the operating room. By means of Mr Roberts's invention, a, wireless call be heard 100 feet away from the receiving room, and there is an auxiliary attachment which will set bells ringing in any part of the ship. Tests have been made,, and it has been proved that the invention is of great commercial value, ilr Roberts intends to equip both the hangar and the airship with the invention, and in due course will give a demonstration of its Efficiency. Listeners will be able to hear the calls of the airship in any part of the hangar. Another feature of the invention is that it is immune from atmospheric disturbances. Mr Roberts also proposes to give a demonstration of his wireless torpedo 1 control' in the course of the next couple of weeks." It is the intention of Mr Roberts to leave for London about the middle of next month to place his invientions before the wireless authorities there.