STEEL TOWERS AT AWARUA

Southland Times, Issue 24241, 26 September 1940, Page 6

STEEL TOWERS AT AWARUA

New Aerial System To Be Erected IMPORTANT RADIO STATION

Three steel towers, each 150 feet high, will shortly be erected at the Awarua wireless station. The replacement of the single tower, which was brought down about two years ago, has been delayed for some considerable time, but the departmental authorities have now completed arrangements and tenders have been called for the supply and erection of the masts. The Awarua wireless station was one of the chain of four New Zealand stations approved in 1912 and it was completed in 1914, the contractors being the German Telefunken Company. It was equipped with a single steel tower 400 feet high and was operated by a primitive spark transmitter which was replaced by a modern valve transmitter more than 10 years ago. The new steel masts will be erected in triangular grouping to suit a special type of aerial system which will be installed at the station. Awarua has probably been used to a greater extent than any of the other commercial telegraphic stations in the Dominion for many years. It is situated in a particularly favourable area for reception and much distant broadcast matter, including the British Official Wireless news service from Rugby, is received The station has been the principal New Zealand contact with many dramas of the sea in recent years and maintained close contact when the Tahiti lost a propeller and sank in the Pacific about 10 years ago. It also received the first information of the grounding of the Manuka and the Waikouaiti on the southern coast in recent years.