WIRELESS BRINGS WELCOME RELIEF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18055, 15 January 1927, Page 10

WIRELESS BRINGS WELCOME RELIEF.

BREAKING THE ISOLATION OF PACIFIC ISLAND. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON. January 15. It is almost inconceivable that any civilised being could be practically cut off from civilisation for months at stretch, but that is the fortune or otherwise of Mr D. J. Kennedy, Resident Commissioner of the Ellice Islands group, some 2000 miles north of New Zealand. Mr Kennedy and his wife, who are the only Britishers on the island, sometimes receive no mails for nine months. There is no cable communication, and the latest newspaper is three months old. This fact has been ascertained by a Wellington wireless enthusiast who has been in communication with Mr Kennedy. The latter has contrived a transmitting set with a battery of the old-fashioned wet type made from cocoanut shells, with two receiving valves as transmitters. His signals, though naturally weak, were picked up clearly enough in Wellington, and now a local wireless friend has agreed to supply Mr Kennedy with news at stated intervals. One of Mr Kennedy’s first questions was whether there was any truth in the rumour that there was a war with China. Evidently he had heard snatches on the air which had whetted his curiosity. The foregoing is only one more example of the value of wireless.