DX Activities

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 25, 30 January 1937, Page 2

DX Activities

HAWKE'S BAY BRANCH MEETS ANNUAL REPORT READ WAIPUKURAU, Jan. 28. “The New Zealand DX Club, which started with an approximate membership of 500 in 1930 had a membership of 2031 up to the end of March, 193 G, which makes it easily the largest in the world," said Mr B. Mathieson, at the annual meeting of the Hawke's Bay branch of the New Zealand DX Club. The Auckland branch headed the list for New Zealand with 501 members, Wellington coming next with 450 and Hawke's Bay third with 265. The N.Z. DX Club has branches in Tasmania, •Ingland, Australia and U.S.A. The year's activities of the branch -ro reviewed in the third annual report of the secretary, Mr L. Mathie, presented at the annual meeting. The branch had had quite a busy year, stated the report, several events of note taking place. A special meeting had been held on February 22 for the purpose of welcoming members of the Manawatu branch, Messrs Cowlandshaw, Newth, Follet, Morgan, Lacy, Clemos, Schwabe, Avison and Coleman. This meeting had been a unique one as, iior the second timo, two members of the advisory board of the N.Z. DX Club —Messrs Cowlandshaw and Mathie — had been present. • Large Number of Trophies. The popularity of dual and all-wave oceivers had resulted in more comietitions being necessary. The followag trophies were therefore set up: W. ■J. Gower, cup for the best commercial hort-wave verification entered; the HQ (L. W. Mathie) cup for the best .onthly commercial short-wave veri cation; and certificate for best month y American amateur verification, /hree members of the DX Club had .ontributed towards the cost of the VK3 competition and members of this branch had handed in the best average, but because of a technicality in the rules they gained only fifth place. “However, this was a good performance," says the report. “Wo hope to win the competition for 1937. The departure for Wellington of Mr G. Oliver, ono of our keenest members, was regretted. We have been fortunate in securing Mr L. Blackie as a lecturer, and technician. 44 There are nine cups for competi- 1 tion—the cup for the best American! verification received monthly, the C. L. Crooks Cup for the best VK amateur station (1100-1500 K.C.) monthly, thei King-Oliver Cup, for the best Eastern verification received monthly, the V. 1 King Cup for the most verifications re-< ceived half-yearly and the branch trophy for the best verification receiv-' ed from European stations on the' 8.C.8. monthly, the branch trophy for the best quarterly South American verification, the Jenkins trophy, for the best short-wave VK amateur received monthly, the W. E. Grover Cup, for the best short-wave VK amateur received monthly, the 4HG (L. Mathie Cup) for the best short-wave commercial station monthly. There is also a certificate for the best short-wave American amateur verification. * 1 The number of verifications held by members is approximately 1200, most of which are on the broadcast band in c-luding the following countries: Japan, United States of America, Canada, Mexico, Porto Rica, Costa Rica, Cuba, Argentine, Australia, Siam, France, China, Hawaii, Belgium, Russia, Czechoslovakia, Rumania, Austria, Germany, India, Philippine Islands, Switzerland, Guatamala, Fiji Islands, and Italy. The best individual effort is the secretary's (362) verifications. 11 The branch is indebted to the postmaster, Mr Browne, who has been most sympathetic to pleas for better, 4 radio conditions,' in the Central Hawke's Bay area." The number of meetings for 1936 was 22, the attendance 227, and the average per meeting 10.3. Members of the N.Z. DX Club up to December, 1936, totalled 2031, and the total members in Hawke's Bay district was 265.