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Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1924, Page 2

Latest of the great practical applications of science, and offering, at its present stage, a wide and rich field ior the initiative and resource of both professional and amateur investigators, wireless communication, says a contemporary, lias exerted an extraordinary fascination on the minds of men, and young men especially, all the world over. 'J he spell exercised by tbo new mode of signalling is easily explicable! It lias many of (lie attractions of a game of skill, since the knowledge and ability of the experimenter count for far mene than the elaborateness or costliness of the apparatus employed. Also there is ever present the element of chance. The conditions of the other change from hour to hour almost from minute to minute, and each locality has its peculiarities which must he learned and understood by the earnest seeker alter knowledge. So far as wireless telephony is concerned, there is added to the scientific delights which attend all wireless manipulation something of the seduction of the gramophone, and with some exponents of radio that aspect of the matter is all-important. But the majority of the wireless amateurs in this country are either attracted by the intellectual delights of original research work or their imaginations are ensnared by the stark wonder of the process by which a little machine of metal, wood, glass and vulcanite can send vibrations round the globe. Thu actual complete encirclement ol the globe by oscillations of the ether has bee*', accomplished by some ol the huge stations in the Old World, (hawing current from powerful dynamos and radiating energy from antennae at the .summit of incredibly lofty steel masts. But so far as the amateurs are concerned, it has been lelt to three New Zealanders to send and receive signals over half the circiiiiifei'eiic e of the earth. This is the < ulininalioii of a brilliant series of long-distance records achieved by amateurs in the Dominion, and the final triumph of perseverence and intelligence, the exchange of messages between London and Otago, will make New Zealand a centre of interest to wireless enthusiasts all the world, over. It is a splendid advertisement for the Dominion, being a demonstration in a field open to all nations that New Zealand brains are as good as any in the world. .Mr Massey's dream that a time may route when the Prime Ministers of the various units of the Empire will lie able to converse* with each oilier while sitting each in his room in the capital of liis country is not yet quite within grasp, since the signals exchanged with London at last week-end weie telegraphic, nut telephonic, hut telephonic communication may be expected to follow, given the necessary equipment. Indeed, the sanguine in matte is scientific may look forward with a fair amount c.f confidence to the* time when the streams of Mr Henry Wood’s orchestra at the Queen's I lull will make themselves lienril in New Zealand drawing rooms, and when, in times id’ a national crisis. we shall gather ill the public squares to hear a speecdi Icy the I’rinje .Minister of Britain or by tin* King. Science is never a laggard where application is tlioroiigh and there are still mole tilings undreamt of in our philosophy yet to come to pass.

I’llK •■<*)■(■ I:i< inn • tin 1 I’rngiess League set up this week to go into the South Westland reading schemes, hits moved already, ami it is understood the members of tho Committee an* much impressed with their preliminary investigation. They found the Commissioner of Crown Lands for instance, pprticiilarlv well informed as to details ol wlmt promises to la* a notahle development for South Westland. Maps and records wen* laid before tin* Cominilltnt* which showed a good deal of advancement with the projects which are being put forward as a means to open up the country. South Westland is largely a Crown estate. The proportion of freehold is a limited (|iiantity. Any. in fact, all advance, adds to the value of tin* Crown holding chiefly, ami in the case of loading this is so specially. A complete survey, it appears, has heen carried out of the Jackson I lay to Oukurii route, and the lilans afford much valuable information. The road proposal further mirth, from Cook’s .Klat to the Clearwater (Oinetamatea) is said to he quite practicable, and survey work will he put in hand very shortly. The Committee of the I’rogrcss League which has the matter in hand, proposes compiling all possible data as to the country to he passed over, and will seek the support of public, opinion in urging the Covcrnmeiit to take up the work as in the very best- interests of the southern district, and its more rapid development. Cook's Flat is one of the best districts on the Coast, and the country in its neighbourhood is not likely to he of a barren nature. It is a locality where settlement could Is* pushed ahead, given decent road access. The bridging of the Waiho river is to some extent the key to the situation further south, for it will permit vehicle traffic pushing on at all times of the year. Hitherto the river was an impassable barrier. I hat blockaue is to he removed, and so step by step the route south can he made. The extension of the road hevond Cook’s Flat with the bridging of Cook’s river becomes obviously tin* next big task, and the new route to hi* opened up affords the way to the best bridge site, as well as opening up thousands of acres of new country.