Minimising Flood Dangers

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 12, 16 November 1928, Page 29

Minimising Flood Dangers

Prompt Work by 2ZF Saves Settlers

WHE recent heavy rains, and the con- | sequent floods upon the flat countiy,.in the Wellington province, have caused a great deal of anxiety, and in some cases, heavy loss to farmers. In the Manawatu basin, the floods are usually severe, and generally occasion great losses. In some cases, roads are blocked by several feet of water. The rivers rise rapidly, and, unless the farmers are quickly warned, they suffer . | During the recent rain, the Manawatu River commenced to rise at an alarming rate. The: Radio Society rose to the occasion. Hurriedly getting permission from the telegraph engineer, the officials put the station on the air, and at 7.30 p.m. the first warning of the impending danger was broadcast. For an hour, this station sent out continuously. Reports were collected from various up-river points, so that a forecast was able to be issued. These gave the indication that the river was still Hkely to rise. In consequence, 2 message was broadcast, together with a report on the state of the river locally. : "These warning messages were picked up, and several anxious farmers in Foxton and other outlying districts stated that they quickly spread the news to those vitally interested. 27 then went off the air for a brief three-quarters of an hour, in order to collect further data, at 9.30 p.m., the full seriousness of the flood was put out to listeners, together with the latest reports and indications. This was a great service to the far"mer, and, no doubt, the promptitude \.and initiative of 2ZF saved the pockets ot many, and the lives of some stock.

THIS station is proving very popular ~ with local residents, and the Manawatu Radio Club is growing rapidly. The membership figures published last week were those representing the position a few months back, but they do not represent the position now, AS stated by a letter from the secretary, Mr. I. N. Leet, the membership stands to-day, or rather stood on November 3, at 889 financial members. This is a fitting reward for the enterprise of the club. The station has been received at loudspeaker volume in several Australian States, and in the Cook Islands. The reports state that the music is very clear, and the transmission generally steady. The power on these occasions, has been 50 watts. During the last few months, many relays have been put over the air, with great success. 2ZF claims to be the first station to rebroadcast short-wave transmission from. POJJ, 2XAF, 2XAD,, 2XAG, and the long-wave transmission from KOA, a __ station rarely heard in New Zealand. The: two-way telephony tests were put on the air twice during the last month, . For these ‘relays, two purposes are claimed-to allow their listeners to hear foreign programmes, and to try and improve the technique of rebroadeast. In this latter respect, improvements have already been effected. For the Manawatu district, 2ZF is becoming quite a feature, trying, as it does, to minister to local needs, and it looks for, and merits, the support of those who benefit from its existence, Judging by the way its membership is increasing, this is to some measure being realised.

wave list, as you have in the "N.Z. Record" on September 28, I notice that Vienna has stations OHEK2, wave-length 70 E.A.T.H. 37, and two others with no call sign down, one at 44.4 metres, and the other at 22.2 metres. The Java station ANE is on 15.98 metres, but the Vienna station that I got was not (as it seemed to me) any more than about 18 metres. I heard Java and Vienna talking for about 4 hour, but Vienna was hard to understand---broken English, very much smashed. I could make out, "Hullo Bandoeng, Hullo Bandoeng," and "Dr-will speak." Time would be about 1.30 a.m., Saturday, October, N.Z 8S. Time. Also I had 5SW on for about half an hour before I tuned Vienna in great volume. I would like to ask Mr. Sellens, does he notice a

high-toned note beat about six. times when 5SW is changing over to. London? It seems to be a signal of some kind. I also heard 2HC, New South Wales testing. Good strength, but fading bad. I have received six continents in one day’s tuning: America, A9, Java R3, Vienna R4, London R5, Holland R3, and Australia R9, all on loudspeaker.