WIRELESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10753, 26 April 1913, Page 8

WIRELESS.

PROPOSED TELEGRAPH IMPROVE-

MENTS

[Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, April 25.

At the opening of the post office at Ravensbourne to-day, the Hon R. H. Rhodes, Postmaster-General, made soma interesting remarks on the work of the Department of Post and Telegraphs. Touching on wireless telegraphy, h® said that the station at Awanui, north of Auckland, which is now completed, was of thirty-five kilowatt power. Tests had for some time past been made from Pennant Hills station, Sydney, in accordance with contracts, and would be continued for some time They had been fairly satisfactory so far, but he wan making special arrangements for a series ot tests of so searching a character that there should be little fear that the station would fail on any point. When opened, the station at A warn a Plains (near Bluff) would be similar to that- of Awanui, and he expected that this station would be completed in about two months, when similar tests would bo carried out. These two highpower stations, it was anticipated, would be capable of carrying on wireless communication with Australia at any hour of the day or night.

Mr Rhodes said that he did not know how far wireless would be used for commercial purposes. The PostmasterGeneral of Victoria, who visited NewZealand some months ago, was anxious that it should be used commercially, and if possible he would arrange a scale of fees so that it might be so used.

Tenders had been called for full auto- i matic telephone exchanges at six places , in the dominion, viz., "Auckland, Weilington, Blenheim, Hamilton, Masterton and OamarUj and tenders would close at the beginning of next month. Agents representing the principal automatic telephone firms of the world had been in Wellington ascertaining conditions, and there was evidence that there would be keen competition. The new system would be extended to other places later. The new long-distance telephone. between Auckland and Wellington had been working only after 6 p.m., but would ultimately be available for bureau purposes at ail hours. The Department had now under consideration the question of providing a submarine cable across Cook Strait, especially adaptable for telephonic purposes. The providing of this cable in conjunction with a modification of the extension of existing land lines would render practicable telephone conversation from Auckland to Bluff.

Attention was being given by tele- . graph experts in other countries to direct printing telegraph apparatus, and the Department was obtaining full information in regard to the matter. Considerable attention was being paid by the Department to labour-saving devices. Space bad been reserved for a model post and telegraph office at the coming Auckland Exhibition, in which it was intended to show as far as possible how the business of the Department was expedited by the use of machinery. An automatic telephone exchange set would not be the least interesting of the exhibits.