A PRIVATE WIRELESS, PLANT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2815, 5 July 1916, Page 8

A PRIVATE WIRELESS, PLANT

ERECTED WITHOUT AUTHOR ITT. By Telegraph—Press AssiciatiDD. Gisborne, .Tuly 4. An interesting case was before tho Magistrate's Court to-day, when, a l>oy lli years of age, named Ercil Mervyn (.-iofl'e, was charged with erecting a wireless plant without tho consent of the Government. Arising out of the same matter, William Edward Uolfe, father of_ the boy, was charged that, between January and June, 1910, ha did aid his son in committing the above offence. Mr. J. 11. Kirk appeared for tho defence. Evidence was called showing that the plant, if properly, fitted up, could send messages a short distance, and could receive from Auckland and Wellington. For the defence, Mr. Kirk said the offence was admitted as far as a technical breach was concerned, and the defendants regretted the matter and gave the assurance that the machine was quite incapable of TecMving or transmitting any message. The boj would say he never sent or received any messages. AVith the necessary crystals it , might have been possible to'receive from a short distance, but not without them, and crystals were quite unprocurable. Tho detective .had not said (and it was well all the facta should come out) that there had been complaints from shipping masters about having trouble through their apparatus being interrupted by eoine stations on shore. They did, not suggest fliat these machines lrad been capable of doing any more than interrupt the ship's plant. This was not the only wireless plant that had been in Gisborne. .ATI tho others had been dismantled as a result of this oase. It would be amply demonstrated that this machine did not interfere with shipping. Mr. Barton, S.M., after hearing evidence for the defence, which showed that the plant was probably quite useless, said the junior defendant, would be fined oE2 and costs, 7s.', and the father would be fined ,£lO and costs, Vs. "I would like it understood," added Mr. Barton, "that I do not believe there was auy attempt to. make improper uso of the instrument. The mistake made,was that the proper authority was not obtained before going, to work."