"N.Z.W."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1572, 16 October 1912, Page 5

"N.Z.W."

—_—e THE LISTENERS ON THE HILL. An interesting account of tho building ami equipment of the new high-power wirele&s fetation 011 tlio Tinakori Hills.was given, by the l'ostinaster-G«neral (the lion. ]{. H. Rhodes) during tho course of his speech at tho official opening on Monday. The land selected, about twelve acres in extent, was taken by proclamation under the I'uhlic Works Act, tho price to bo paid to the Xativo owners to be settled later, explained Mr. Rhodes. The Native Land Court awarded the 6um of X 990 compensation to tho owners, and also j!200. the estimated cost of forming a road giving access to the sixteen acres retained by the owners, tho Crown to give free of charge tho land required for the road. On application to tlio Court for a rehearing, in order to obtain a diminution in tho amount of J2200 for forming thn road, it was suggested by tho Court that if the Crown would take tho remaining sixteen acres of the block, it could obtain tho same by paying .£'llo in addition to the .£998 already awarded, i.e., tho wholo of tho twenty-seven acres could bo obtained for ,£H3O. This was considered a verv good bargain, and the amount was agreed to.

In tho meaintime, with tho consent of tho owners, preparations wero mado for tho erection of tho buildings and masts. This proved a task of somo difficulty. The approach to the site was rough, and a road had to bo formed. Tho'work of erecting tho two 150-feet masts was delayed by the boisterous winds. The masts could only bo erected in the comparative calms, which seldom bless these heights. It was a slow process hoisting up the heavy Oregon pine masts. Deep foundations had to bo dug and filled with concrete to form solid bases for tho- maste; anchorage for the guy ropes had to be cut into tho rock, bo that tho steel cables, which hold tho masts erect in all gales, might not bo ripped out under the great pressure.

Tho building was erected by day labour, under tho supervision of tho Department's engineers. It is c flat-roofed, nevcn-roomed, one-storey structure, 57 feet. Jot 20' feet, and has a height of 15 feet. The walls are 20 inches thick, and are composed of rubble—that is, rough stone a:nd mortar. Facing the city are the three living rooms for the operators, fitted with electric radiators for cold days ond nights. Tho end toom to the north is tho battery room, whero largo storage cells hold eurTont in. resjrve for all occasions. Tho remaining three rooms contain tho wiroless_ apparatus, the power for which is derived from the city lighting .mains. The..site of the wireless station is being planted with alpino trees and shrubs, at the suggestion of his Honour Judge Chapman. The planting is being superintended by Mr. Martin Chapman, K.C., brother of .Tudge Chapman. Tlio Early Settlers' Association suggested that the new station should be called "Wakefield." Tho nnme "Etako," explained the Postmaster-General, was use.l to distinguish this station from the one over the General Post Office building, but the official name ha-) been "Radio, Wellington," throughout, as being more convenient. The latter name will now lie ieserved for this station onlv, and the station on tho Post Offioe building will be dismantled. The station call has been, and will continue to be, "N.Z.W."