RADIO

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18805, 6 July 1929, Page 24 (Supplement)

RADIO

BY “AERIAL.” I Notes and News. i Now that New Zenland has topped! the 45.000 licensed listeners mark. it is interesting to compare our progress with that in other countries. Taking the latest available figures. the posi: tion is as under. The third column in the following table gives the ratio of licensed listeners to 100 of the popula—tion:»«- ' ' Country. Licenses. Ratio. United States .. Unknown 6.59 Eng. and \Vales ”2.450,1 e ‘ 6.35 1 Germany Unknown 4.85 1 Australia ...... 296.317 4.73 1 Scotland '18:}.000 3.71 ; New Zealand .. 45.000 3.19 Ireland .... . . . . 55.000 3.07 .‘ S. Africa (whites) 17.000 1.00 1 1': 2'2 3'2 ‘ The ratio given against the USA. and Germany is that estimated by ‘ the controlling authorities in those countries. \Vhen it is remembered that broadcasting—as we know it at present—Wis only a bare three years old as compared with five years in Australia and longer still in Britain and USA. it must he conreded that New ‘ Zealanrl has done very well in its-ap-premation of the new art, as demonstrated by the number of licenses now . in force. :1: a: 3k as One of the first relay stations to be built, by the Commonwealth Government under the National Broadcasting Sex-vine is anticipated to be one in the ‘ Newcastle district. where there is a ‘ population of over 200.000 people who will come directly under the influence of rarlio. Newcastle, at the present time. suffers from certain disabilities in respect to its reception of programmes from Sydney, according to reports. The night programmes are affected to a certain extent by distortion. and it is to the relay station that listeners in that district look for relief. It may ‘ be anticipated._says a Sydney message. that within twleve months of the es—tablishment of a relay station in the Newcastle district 20,000 new licenses will go towards swelling the total for New South “'ales, which now stands at 98,550. 3 3': 3'2 “’hile on the subject of licenses, it is interesting to note that, according to figures issued by the Federal authorities, there were. at the end of May, 298,551 wireless licenses in [once in Australia. The greatest increase for the month was in the State of New South \Vales—l673, while in Victoria there was a decrease of 49, all the other States showing increases of from 32 (“'.A.) to 387 (5A.).

I Tomorrow evening there will not be any church service broadcast Ly QBL (Sydney, Instead. the Sydney llarA monic Choir (\Villiam Bourne) will render a programme of “Elgar" music There will also he well-known hymns with organ accompaniment, and instrumental and vocal numbers by the "Empire Trio" in association with Miss Le Brun Brown. “‘Wet" Battery Notes. 1 Many listeners are still apt to regard their accumulators for “A" and “B" isupply rather suspiciously. This suspicion presumably arises from a lack of understanding of how the cell works and how it should he treated. Certain it is that; if an accumulator (better known as a "wet" “A” or “13") battery is mishandled. whether unintentionally or not, it will cause a great deal of trouble both mechanically and electrically. The average battery contains lead plates and diluted sulphuric acid. There are a number of positive and negative plates in each cell. The posi» tive plates are made chiefly of lead peroxide; this is the active material. The negative plates are composed of spongy metallic lead. The former plate is reddish brown in colour when charged. while the negative plate is ligh‘. grey. \Vhen a conductor is connected between the two terminals, e.g., a valve filament or suitable resistance. current flows from the positive to the negative pole outside the battery. The lead peroxide of the positive plate and the active material of the negative plate are gradually changed to lead sulphate, which slowly covers the surface of the plates. As the pores of the plates become clogged up, the currcnt slowly falls off, the battery becoming die» charged. It is then necessary to reverse the action by a current flowing in the opposite direction, to clear the plates of the sulphate. The charger drives the acid off the plates, allowing: the pores to open and the acid to circulate freely. During the charging action the acid returns to its full strength, so that obviously in the whole process no acid is lost and consequently none should be added. The only way the acid may be lost is‘ by actually spilling it or allowing it to leak away. The acid does not evaporate. but the water with which it is diluted does. and so, pure water is the only necessary addition. \Vhen the cell is first charged. pure distilled water should be added to pure sulphuric acid until the specific gravity of the solutiun, as shown by a reliable hydrometer, is as stated by the makers ofl the celL Ilene-eiurward. unless the} acid is spilt or leaks out. distilled water only should be added to allow for evaporation.

: Radiostatics. ' Song of the lost signal: “Come back ‘ to ’earing.” _ l :-: :~: :-: : Teacher: “\V'hieh country is farthest ‘ from us?" 2 : Johnny: “1 know, teacher. DX!” ; . :-: :-: :-: Country \‘okel (seeing aeroplane tearing along in a cloud of smoke and Flame. and heading for certain destruction): “There’s another of them, wire. less messages caught fire!" ‘ :4 3 :o: 8.8. C. officials recently failed in an ' endeavour to record the screams of seagulls for an effect in a wireless play. \Ve understand that in the end an ordinary soprano was used.——-“ Passing , Show.” 2': :4 :3 Caller: “Is Mr Jones in? This is ' Mr Smith, who has come to see himi” Butler (a radio enthusiast): “Yes. 1 sir: will you kindly stand by for a moment?"—“Radio News." 3': $1 2': ‘_ Inquisitive Gentleman: “Is that an , aerial mast you are putting up, young ' man?” . Busy One: “No. this is a flagpole to . hang a flag at half-mast for old men who are killed {or asking silly ques- ‘ tions."-—-—“lrish Radio News." , : :4 2‘: $2 : Hamlet (bitterly): "This bunch out l in front to-night must be a crowd of radio fans.” _ I Polonius: “\Vhy, what gives you ' that notion?" I Hamlet: ”Because they just sit there ' like beetles and don't give you a peep : of applause.”~—“Radio News" :-2 3'2 3': - Son: “\\'here is that lady telling the 1 bedtime story?" = Dad: “in the \VXYZ studio.” ' Son: “\\'hat is a studio?" Dad: “A studio is' like a Small ' theatre" I Son: “\Vhy do they make the child- ? ren sleep in the theatre?"——“Radio ' News.” ' I‘2 :9: :4 - Extract; from letter addressed “To l my Postmaster”:——— - “. . . . I decline to dismantle any , apparatus which Tom has left stand- ' ing, or to haul down rny aerial. The 1 gas company does this much better. ' [t dues not send me little buff post- , cards suggesting I should dismantle my gasfire or geyser. No. It Just Cuts ; off my gas 80 if you fear I am evadling payment of the ten shlllmgs tax: ‘lyou are at perfect liberty to cut oft l your gas. I suggest you begin by cut» ' ting me off from all iterns_by learned professors."—~“London Opinion.”

WEEKEND PROGRAMMES. For To-night. Details of to-day’s YA programmes appeared in last night’s “Star.” Following are some notes from R.B.C. headquarters anent this evening’s concerts :—- This evening’s radio vaudeville programme at IYA will be of outstanding interest, in that two miniature concerts will be presented by the “Olympians.” These will include popular songs and choruses interspersed with bright dialogue and sketches. The Studio Orchestra will play popular selections and the Snappy Three will be heard in the latest vocal hits. There will be a bright vaudeville / programme at 2YA. Miss Lily Charles will sing several of the latest song hits, and novelty on the instrumental side will be provided by Messrs Harman and Deere. Miss Winifred Birch-John-son will entertain with a whistling solo and comic song. Also on the programme will be sketches provided by the Co-optimists. The Studio Orchestra will play Engleman’s “Potted Overtures,” “A Day in Paris” (by Finck), an orchestral arrangement of Logan’s “Pale Moon,” together with a cornet solo by Mr W. Sneddon, entitled “The Besses o’ the Barn,” and a musical comedy selection, “Glorianna,” will also be played. At 3YA this evening Mrs D. W. Stallard, popular singer of old favourites, will include in her numbers “The Land of the Leal.” Miss Marjorie Miller will sing "Poor Wandering One” (from “Pirates of Penzance”) and other songs. A trio headed by Mr Charles Lawrence will give a half-hour’s pot-pourri of bright and varied entertainment. Mr George Titchener, humourist, is appearing. Miss Anne Stephenson will sing popular songs at the piano to her own accompaniment, and Mr Jock Lockhart will also entertain with humorous Scottish songs and stories. There will be selections by the popular Studio Trio, and several special records will be introduced into the programme. 4YA will relay 3YA’s programme. From Australia To-night. 2BL, Sydney (353 metres)—9.3o p.m. to 1 a.m.: Concert. 9.30: The Troubadours. 2FC, Sydney (442 metres)—9.3o p.m. to 1 a.m..: Concert. 9.30: Sydney Operatic Society Revue Company. 4QG, Brisbane (385 metres)—9.3o— Theatre relay. 9.4o—From the studio—Annie Adams (soprano), “ The Reason,” “A Request.” 9.48: Frank Warbrick (pianist), a short recital. 10.0: A, N. Falk (baritone), *'Invictus.” 10 3: The Rio Grande Serenaders. 10.10: Mrs Ferrier (contralto). 10.15: Savoy Theatre relay. 10.30: Weather forecast; Mrs Ferrier (contralto). 10.35: the Rio Grande Serenaders, more Hawaiian melodies. 10.40: A. N. Falk (baritone), | “ World that was Once a Garden."

10.45: From Lennon’s Ballroom, dance music. 11.30: The “Sunday Mail” news; weather news; close down. FOR SUNDAY. IYA, Auckland (333 metres). 3 to 4.30 p.m.: Afternoon session. 6.0: Children’s song service. 6.55: Relay of Divine service from St Matthew's Church (preacher Canon C. IL GrantOwenL 8.30: Relay of concert by Port Nicholson Band, Grand Opera House. Wellington. 9.30: Selected record- 1 9.45: Close down. 2YA, Wellington (416 metres). 3 to 4.30 p.m.: Afternoon session. 5.0: Children's song service. 7.0: Relay of service from St Thomas’s Anglican Church, Wellington South (preacher Rev C. V. Rooke). 8.15 (approxi mately) : Relay from the Grand Opera House of recital by the Port Nicholson Silver Band. 9.45: Close down. 3YA, Christchurch (306 Metres). 3 to 4.30 p.m.: Afternoon session. 5.30: Children’s service. 6.15: Hymn chimes from the studio. 6.30: Relay of evening service from Holy Trinity Church of England, Avonside (preacher, Rev O. Fitzgerald). 7.45 (approximately) : Contralto, Miss Vera Martin “Dawn,” "Trees.” 7.51 :" Baritone. Mr W. H. Inkster, “ The Blind Ploughman,” “ On the Shores of the Aegean Sea.” 7.58: Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, “ I Call upon Thee, Jesus ” (R). 8.2: Contralto. Miss Vera Martin, “ The Sands of Dee.” 8.6: Baritone, Mr W. 11. Inkster, “The Mighty Deep.” 8.10: San Francisco Orchestra, “Funeral March of a Marionette” (R). 8.15 (approximately) : Rebroadcast of 2YA, Wellington; close down. 4YA, Dunedin (463 metres). 3 to 4.30 p.m.: Afternoon session 5.30: Children’s song service. 6.30: Relay of evening service from First Church. 8.5: Relay from His Majesty’s Theatre of concert by the St Kilda Band. 9.15: Close down. Australian Stations. 2BL, Sydney (353 metres)—B.3o to 11.30 p.m.: Special offering by Sydney Harmonic Choir, “An ‘ Elgar ’ Night.” 2FC, Sydney (442 metres):—B p.m.: Relay of evening service from St Stephen's Presbyterian Church. 9.30 to 11.30 p.m.: Concert by the N.SAV. Government Tramways Band and assisting artists. 4QG. Brisbane (355 metres)—S.3o p.m.: The complete evening service will be relayed from St Stephen's Roman Catholic Cathedral. At the conclusion of the church service, the concert by the Brisbane Municipal Concert Band wiil be relayed from Wickham Park. 11.30 p.m.: Close down.