Enthusiastic Farewell from Christchurch.

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 12, 5 October 1928, Page 7

Enthusiastic Farewell from Christchurch.

At CHRISTCHURCH on Friday many thousands of people saw the "Southern Cross" leave the Wigram Aerodrome and then, hurrying home, they were able to listen to its journey up the coast and its arrival at Blenheim one and a-half hours later. Many thousands of people in Christchurch city itself did not go to the aerodrome, but chose rather to hear it all by wireless, and they had no reason to be disappointed. The sports announcer was at the microphone descr ibing ai! that took place at Sockburn. After the ’plane left the ground it was 1 ¢ long before it was over the city, It headed straight for the towers of 3yaA, and when directly above the station, it banked gracefully, its blue body and silver wings shining in the bright afternoon sun, and sped into the nov-nor’-east. A cheering crowd on the roof of 3YA-and on every high building in Christchurch-sped the aviators on their way. A MICROPHONE was installed on the roof of 83YA and from this coign of vantage the "Southern Cross" was watched and cheered until it became a mere speck and was finally lost in the blue sky to the north. This was at three minutes to three. From Sockburn, six miles from the city, crowds were streaming along the roads; on bicycles, on foot. by cars, trains, trams, ‘buses, and every other conveyance. When they reached home they took up their receivers and listened-in to the "Southern Cross" as she sped up the coast. 3YA was rebroadcasting 2Y.A, and listeners heard an excellent account from the editor-announcer as he described the scene at the Blenheim aerovdrome. HOUGH 38YA has handled splendidly all functions in connection with the ~ visit of the trans-Tasman flyers, one of the most successful was the broad‘ast of the proceedings at the citizens’ ball, when presentations were made to the airmen. Included in that presentation was the amount which listeners throughout New Zealand had donated through the Broadcasting Company. and there was also a gift from an old Maori woman, a centenarian, on behalf of the radio listeners of the North Island. REFE {RING to this relay, the radio writer of the Christchurch "Sun" said :-Last evening was certainly a red-letter one for radio listeners in New Zealand, for quite the best broadcast ever heard here was put across by 3YA. The occasion was the broadcast of the Citizens’ Ball to the Tasman flyers. Not only the speeches came through exceptionally well, but the whole spirit of the ballroom seemed to come through the loud-speaker. The jokes. laughter, and even the conversation between the groups of dancers came through with perfect clarity. Some of the dancers were evidently not aware of the fact that there was a microphone in the room, or were not aware of the sensitiveness of these little machines, for the conversation of some of the dancers at times was very amusing. Certainly last evening’s performance was easily the best yet put over by 3YA, and the operators are to be congratulated on the perfectness of the broadcast.