WIRELESS EQUIPMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1245, 29 September 1911, Page 4

WIRELESS EQUIPMENT.

ON UNION COMPANY'S STEAMERS. For some months past the Union Company has devoted a good deal of attention to the equipment of its liners with wireless telegraphy, and already all the largest steamers have been or are 011 the point of having it installed. The Maitai and Aorangi have been fitted with wireless for the 'Frisco mail service, and'the Makura and Marama have been using it for somo time in the Vancouver mail scrvice. Still keeping well abreast of the times, tho Manuka was equipped with wireless apparatus at Sydney on September 10, and the Moeraki, Maheno, and Moana. are being equipped within the next few days as tliey arrive at Sydney and Melbourne respectively. In addition to these (says tho "Otago Daily Times") intercolonial steamers, the Union Company has decided to equip its Island steamers—Atua and Tofua—during next month. With the exception of tho Tofua, which is to bo fitted with tho Marconi system, all tho other'vessels have been installed with the Telefunkcn system by tho Australian Wireless Company. Tho new steamer Maunganui, and the recently-acquired Tahiti, will also be equipped with wireless telegraph apparatus beforo leaving for New Zealand. The Union Company is also arranging to equip two of the largo cargo steamers in duo conrsc, and further expansion in that direction is under consideration.

-. it will thus bo seen that the Union Company's wireless installations will ontail a largo amount of skill and supervision ort the part of its staff, and in order to moot all demands for the proper working of each unit the company lias derided to instal a low-power wireless station at headquarters in Dunedin, and another at Port Chalmers, and cadets will bo trained at these stations so as to maintain a steady, supply of skilled operators to take charge of the wireless stations 011 any vessel as circumstances may require. The enterprise of the Union Company in this field of modern science has so far considerably outdistanced tile /New Zealand and Australian Governments with respect to their respective land stations, Wellington lias, of course, one small wireless station pending the erection of the main wireless stations, but the only 0110 in the Commonwealth so far is that of the Hotel Australia, although there are said to be several other small experimental stations owned by private individuals. Nevertheless, the land stations are a long way behind our mercantile marine at tho present time. A steamer passing between 1 New-Zealand and Australia must send its wireless messages to Wellington, and (hey arc sent by cable .thence to their Australian destination, and as that adds considerably to their cost, wireless telegrams from intercolonial passengers (ravelling to Australia aro still somewhat of a luxury.

When the Union Company's fleet is fully equipped there will l;c stonily intorcommunieaiioii between most of (lie vessels at sea, and, of course, vessels in port will be able to keep in touch with sister ships within radio distance, and since the liiuldai'l-Parker steamers are also all being equipped, "wireless" conversation will soon lie a commonplace between here anil Australia.