Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 10, 21 September 1928, Page 9

Auckland Notes

(By

Listener

been exacting, but triumphant. All preparations were made to relay from the Aorangi a speech by Tom Heeney, but the fates decreed against this, for the mail liner berthed later than was anticipated, and listeners received from Princes Wharf only a description of her dropping anchor and a detail of the crowds assembled on the waterfront. It was perhaps fortunate, for interference on the relay line was most pronounced, and marred the fine: account put over. It was greatly to the advantage of listeners that the remarks of the pugilist and his wife were made at the station, where transmission was ideal. **OUuR Tom’ was brief, frank, and homely. There was an atmosphere of geniality that carried over the air, and conveyed the impression of spontaniety that makes a broadcast of this type just what it ought to be. Mrs. Heeney did not appear to suffer from microphone fright, though she spoke her piece with a rapidity charyr. 1YA the past few days have

gcteristic of the land of hustle. Twice during the proceedings the regulation regarding controversial matter was unwittingly broken, but honours were even for both sides of a contentious subject, and only quibblers would worry over the incident. SHERE-was a late night on the Sunday at 1YA, and the staff, who had been on the qui vive for over a week, awaiting news of the commencement of the flight, were doubtless thankful that their weekly day of rest was to follow: There was no rest for them, however, for Kingsford Smith and his associates sprang a real surprise upon all radio people when they hopped off unexpectedly on Monday evening. 1YA was immediately on the air, and _ kept going for fully _ fifteen hours, It was a hard task that operators and announcers faced, but they tackled it cheerily, and performed it right well. "ihe finest performance to date" was tha general verdict... During the whole night; through which thousands of en- _ thusiasts sat sleepless, news of the .’plane was of the briefest. Then the reason of this was unknown, but now that it has been made plain we realise how much our local station did with the little material it had at its disposal. Information was put on the

air as promptly as it was received; musie and talks, judiciously interspersed, filled acceptably the long periods of suspense; and under adverse atmospherie conditions the southern sta‘tions were relayed in the early morning hours. ; . Bur the real triumph for 1YA came with the rebroadcast of the landing. It was a fine achievement that spoke volumes for the excellence of the plant and the eapability of the staff. Statie was strongly in evidence, but it did not prevent Aucklanders from hearing the whole story, and many excuses for lateness at shop and office were received with a.smile by unbelieving "heads." Crowds gathered round the doors of radio dealers, and each set had its quota of visitors. Near one licensee’s home was a big factory. 'The licensee sent word to the employees that he would wave a white sheet from his window when the ’plane landed. The wave duly came, and the workers, many regretting that ther were not listening at their own homes, greeted the signal with a cheer. OTHING could better demonstrate the efficiency and the service of our New Zealand stations than their performances throughout the Monday manetencncanarasnegearnea PTITITITITITITITITLITTIILLhiinHnneinnnennneee

night and the Tuesday morning. Carping critics. were thoroughly silenced, and the Broadcasting Company earned heartfelt thanks for it splendid service. ~ } OW comes the news that we are to be entertained twice weekly by a gmall studio orchestra. In numbers it is not large, but its personnel is sufficient guarantee of its capabilities to satisfy all who move in musical circles. There will be a hearty welcome accorded to Mrs. Singer and. her band of instrumentalists: "The Maid of the Mountains" on Tuesday last. Verdict: "Hxcellent." General request: "More of a similar kind."