CLOSED DOWN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 979, 23 May 1930, Page 10

CLOSED DOWN

AWANUI WIRELESS STATION DISMANTLED AND SOLD NO LONGER NECESSARY The big wireless station at Awanui, which has been in operation since 1912, was officially closed down last month. All wireless communication formerly done through this station is now done through Auckland and Wellington Last week an auction sale was held at Awanui, when all the furniture and fittings of the station were disposed o L The buildings and the masts will be sold shortly. The mast is 400 feet high and contains 40 tons of steel. Some idea of the advance made in radio communication during the past few years can be gathered from tie fact that the Awanui station was rated

at 50,000 watts. The work done by the station can now be successfully done by Auckland with its 50 watts station. The Awanui wireless station, which is situated in the Far North, was erected in 1912 by the Public Works Department under the supervision of German engineers of the Teleftmken Company who were brought to New Zealand for the purpose. The station had a daylight range of 1.200 miles, but its night range was about three times that distance. Only two other stations were in operation in Xew Zealand at that time —Wellington and Auckland. Their range was only 200 miles. The mast of the Awanui station was a prominent landmark for visitor* to the north. Those employed there had made the area surrounding the station most attractive with gardens.