TELLING TIME BY WIRELESS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 26 June 1914, Page 7

TELLING TIME BY WIRELESS.

The wireless, that greatest of mo- ', dern life savers and wonder workers, is to be put to still another great use, according to that French scientific' journal "Cosmos," which states i;hat we are now to have correct . time by means of these wonderful j electric flashes through the air. ! "There are watch factories in j Switzerland," says "Cosmos," "that ! receive the exact hour from the Eiffel ; Tower daily, but the communication of the time, minute by minute to numerous clocks by electric waves is an entirely new and unexpected fact. I A sufficient power must be given to j the electric wave to permit of pre- • cisc action, and receiving clocks must ;be so built that the hand will make only one advance movement in a ; given time, to avoid all disturbing influences from outside sources of i electricity. Finally, all hertzian i waves not coming from the sending j apparatus must be neutralised. All j these difficulties are solved in the i system of Mgr. Cerebontani, of Munich, well known for his work in electrotechnics. "The experiment would appear to be very simple. On a table is placed an ordinary clock, marking, seconds, in communication with a relay and a dry battery operating a wireless sending, apparatus. On another table is a receiving antenn a connected to a clock, which, instead of the ordinary clockwork, contains an electro-mag-net and a relay of special construe- ! tion. As soon as the second-hand of the first clock has made its round of the dial, the antenna sends out a wave that operates the minute-hand of the receiving clock, or of several such, causing it to advance by one division. The only difference between this device and an ordinary electric clock consists in the absence of a connecting wire. A second clock placed in any central position — on the top of a tower, for example—and provided with an antenna similar to those used in wireless telegraphy, can thus send out the correct time to a great number of public clocks, located in squares, restaurants, offices, &c. "A fact worthy of remark is that the new receiving clocks cost not more than three dollars, according, to Mgr. Cerebontani. He proposes to deliver lectures in various European cities to enable specialists to form an opinion of his invention." LUXURY, OF BALLOON TRAVEL. | A traveller says that a Zeppelin : airship leaves the earth with none of the balloon's soaring motion. It i is just like a Pullman train, starting , withou* perceptible jar, and kept in motion upon a perfect road bed, perfect track, and perfect wheels. At luncheon time in-dividual tables are placed in position, and luncheon is served much as it is in the ordinary buffet dining car. There is soup, an entree, a roast —all piping hot —vegetables, salad, cheese and coffee. More of a dinner than luncheon and all served as though the chef and waiters had the conveniences of a great hotel at their command. The princii pies of the tireless cooker have been brought into service in preparing the food, the exhaust from the engines being made to supply the heat. The comforts are all those of a very modern hotel, the cabin is kept at an unvarying comfortable temperature, and in the lavatories are hot and cold water. There is a library with the daily papers and the best of books. There is a lounge for those who are willing to sleep away the •i&°u£SL of fligfct.