Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 42, 3 May 1929, Page 8

Auckland Notes

(By

LISTENER

LJSTENERS are quite as eager for sensations. as. are the most inveterate newspaper devourers. Hence the attention that has been given to Australian. stations during the. early part of the week, when a series of exciting aerial events closed with stark tragedy. All of the details ef the search for the Southern Cross have been followed with the keenest of local interest, but there was a general feeling of sincerest grief among listeners here when they learned, first through 4QG, of the sad fate which had overtaken the gallant Keith Anderson and his mechanic. He was known to New Zealanders only through newspaper ‘and broadcasting, and more personally through the latter had he become the hero that the history of aviation will make him. DISTANT reception during the past . week has been execrable, there having been: the most persistent and eonsistent: period of static that comes within recent memory. Its effect was noticeable at times even on the local station. WHILE these notes are being written the broadcast of the Anzac Day service has just concluded. The —

morning has been one of rain squalls, and there is no doubt that many who would have been persuaded by fine weather to proceed to the Town Hall, stayed at home’ and tuned in to the excellent relay of the service, and the touching tribute which Mr. Culford Bell paid to the memory of those who fought on Gallipoli. 1YA is making radio history with its repeated re-broadcasts of Australian boxing contests in which New Zealanders are participating. On Saturday evening Aucklanders were delighted to hear the final rounds of Leckie’s second big victory "on the other side." 8LO is a station not usually received very strongly here, yet on Saturday its fight announcer’s description was splendidly. audible’ to thousands who rejoiced at the verdict, and were grateful for the local station’s effort to convey it to them on the instant. Purdy’s victory was also re-broadcast with the best of audibility. Of late the crystal set user has been receiving much more than he bargained for in taking out his license, and if such achievements as last week’s rebroadcasts continue, there should be another boom among crystal users in the next few weeks. There are numbers of "fight fans" who would willingly go to the small expense of a crystal installation were they assured of such descriptions as have lately been supplied. through overseas broadcasts. -_-

HE Sunday night concerts in Wellington are a great attraction here. Most of those who have the sets to do so, abandon 1YA after the church service, and tune in 2YA, with its resumed treats provided by the Municipal Tramways Band and assisting artists. On Sunday last, when Christchurch re-broadcast Wellington’s transmission, several listeners tuned in 8YA, and noted a phenomenon not unusual here. 38YA came in more clearly than its bigger brother. Such intense interest is being taken in the elections for Mayor and City Council that few sets will not be operated on Wednesday evening next. 1YA has made full arrangements for the quick announcement of results, so that thousands of city and suburban residents will not have to journey to the city, or await the early morning paper. In a purely local contest such as a mayoral election, it seems a pity that each of the candidates could not have been given half an hour at the microphone. By such means the aspirants for civic honour could have reached far greater numbers of electors than by the holding of district meetings. HE deadlock over broadcasting the Municipal Band still exists, but there are great hopes of a more sensible consideration of the situation when the new City Council is elected. Meanwhile, the Salvation Army Band fills the breach, and fills it well. The addition of contributions by the ever popular Lyric Four made’ last Wednesday’s programme a specially attractive one. The Shakesperean evening. on Tuesday, through the wide range of the excerpts broadcast, gave many a listener a better appreciation of the works of the bard than would be received from the attendance at a stage presentation of one of his plays. Of course there were some complaints at a whole evening of Shakespeare, but where yet has there been put out a really good programme that satisfied every taste.