THE TELEPHONE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 168, 26 February 1878, Page 2

THE TELEPHONE.

We publish below the opinions of a valued and esteemed correspondent oil ours, who assisted, in Christohurcli, at the telephonic experiments which were conducted between Akaroa and that city, on the early part of the evening of Friday, the 22nd inst. The opinions of onr correspondent, except in a few minor matters, are so identical with our own that we thoroughly endorse his remarks and ideas. Says our friend :—"After the exhibition of this afternoon, in which we ourselves have been brought in contact at the end of a wire 50 miles in length, I think I owe it to you and others, then present, that I should give my experience at this end, leaving you to explain on your side if it is worth your while to do so. Our party at first consisted of three—Mr Meddings (the principal operator), Dr Deamer, and myself ; afterwards another person was called into requisition, we three not behig sufficiently musical. What you may have heard at your end may have been improved by distance, but I must say was anything but first-rate here. I presume you must have heard us, but to what extent, of course, correspondence only can determine ; I shall, however, explain as clearly as I can the effect of your voices here. Some of your efforts of speaking were, comparatively failures ; there was one person in particular, who I think must have been one of the principal operators and who apparently, tried to make his words very distinct and seperate, but it was a failure, and his endeavors were lost upon us. The best speaker was (as he gave us his name) Kobertshaw; his intonations were very distinct. I could also understand Daly, but not so well; Herbert Bridge also we could hear, and his singing particularly— not the words —buttheaira most distinctly, the "Death of Nelson" in this respect sounding most clearly. Other songs, and especial]}' the choruses, went well; I could detect at least three voices— (here may have been more ; I remembered the various airs, but I cannot quote from memory the 'names. The cornopean was a great success, and the notes, though sounding as if j'ou heard them upon a very still evening, say at a mile distant, were perfectly distinct and clear, and did not appear muffled as did some of the speakers' voices. In the last, " God Save the Queen," I fancied I could detect either an accompaniment of a flute, fife, or piccolo, .but I think the first, as it seemed soft. I detected J. Wood's voice most distinctly. Garwood's voice, if I remember, was in answer to mine ; I forget what. I think he said—" We are all sober at this end." He then asked about 10,000 devils, to which I replied—3o,ooo if he liked, as I understood him to allude to an advertisement. ,- There was much more, but there is a certain amount of confusion in not thoroughly understanding each other as to management ; in fact, sometimes the answer came before we could get the instrument returned to the ear in time to catch the whole of the reply; occasionally, too, a cart

would be going past, and the rumbling noise thus made prevented us hearing with distinctness. From what I have read of experiments tried in America, I was always led to believe that anyone in the room could have heard, but then this was-stated to be at short distances. lam sure that, with perfect quiet, no ,one a yard away from the Telephone could have heard, and it was only when the instrument was applied close to the ear that we could catch the sounds distinctly. The music \yas the greatest success, and as we knew the airs, we could follow the player; the notes came out distinct, but at times it would seem wavy, as if the vibrations, or sounds, from the instrument did not strike fairly on the Telephone at your end. When I say that I could detect Garwood's, Herbert Bridge's, and James Wood's voices most distinctly, in fact, the same wellknown tones —and all have very dissimilar voices—you will understand what I mean. Robertshaw's voice was the most distinct as to clearness, and every word told; Garwood's and Wood's, to my ear, were next; Daly's sounded muffled and thick, but there was one voice that is indescribable, although he spoke several times, and evidently tried to make himself understood by spreading out his words from one another, yet we could not understand scarcely anything he said. The cooeys were always distinct, and I think there should be some signal of that kind before anyone speaks so as to attract attention ; a short space of time should be allowed to lapse before answering, otherA'ise one gets confused. Perfect silence is a necessity for the operator receiving and explaining answers, or requesting a repetition if the words are not understood. I think the Telephone is in its infancy, and requires, what it will receive, much attention and improvement; operators also require practice in its management. Altogether, I was much pleased and gratified with the results, but the sounds are feeble compared to what I expected."