THEN AND NOW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16748, 1 June 1922, Page 7

THEN AND NOW.

HOW NEWS TRAVELS. WAIRARAPA AND WILTSHIRE. The revolution effected by wireless telegraphy in regard to maritime dangers is strikingly shown in contrasting the prompt news of tho Wiltshire wreck with that of the Wairarapa barely twenty-eight years ago. The Wairarapa was wrecked on October 29. but it was not till tho atfcernoon of November 1 that news of tho disaster reached Christchurch. The Wairarapa. was last spoken to by the Manapouri at 6 p.m. on October 26. and grave fears were entertained in Auckland when she became overdue. Although tho vessel was wrecked on October 29, her fate was unknown in Auckland until November 1, and the Wakafcipu and Waihora. which left Auckland oil October 31, had instructions to keep a shai*p look-out for the vessel. Tho Wiltshire, on the other hand, was able to wireless her position immediately she struck, and to send out messages which summoned to her help every vessel within range—the Katoa. twenty-five miles distant, the Arahura. ninety miles; the Dundala, eighty miles, and oven tho Tasmania, 300 miles. (LATER MESSAGES ON PAGE 8).