Hawke's Bay Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 43, 10 May 1929, Page 26

Hawke's Bay Notes

--- ON Tuesday night, April 30, Mr. J. Ball, editor-announcer for the R.B.C., paid his promised visit to Hastings, and he was probably very surprised at the enthusiasm shown, in Hastings at least, over his visit. Mr. Ball was met on his arrival. at midday by members of the executive of the Hawke’s Bay Radio Society, and in the afternoon was taken for a lengthy tour of the district, including a run to the top of the Havelock Hils, the site which local enthusiasts conténd is an ideal one for the establishment of the relay station as suggested by Mr. Harris’s proposals before the. Post and Telegraph Department. Mr. Ball was also very .favourably impressed with the site and tealised that a station at this point would undoubtedly efficiently serve all of Hastings and Napier, and, in fact, the whole of the Hawke’s Bay province. At the conclusion of the afternoon tour (during which the visitor was given an opportunity to listen to the afternoon transmission from 2YA), the members of the Hawke’s Bay and Napier Clubs’ executives, and also the local radio dealers, entertained Mr. Ball at dinner at the Grand Hotel, this being a very happy and social gathering. Following the dinner an adjournment was made to the Y.M.C.A. lounge, where Mr. Ball was greeted by an attendance of over 100 listeners: He was extended a very cordial welcome by His Lordship the Bishop of Aotearoa, who is president of the Hawke’s Bay Radio Society)-a welcome which was heartily endorsed by all present. Me. BALL gave a lengthy but exceptionally interesting talk on the history of the R.B.C., and also outlined the proposals for the chain of relay stations, announcement concerning which he made at the opening of 2YB. New Plymouth. After his talk supper was served and then a receiver was tuned in to 2YA to give Mr. Ball an idea of reception of the big station in this quarter. Although with a strange turn of fate reception at this demonstration was better than it had ee

been over the past fortnight, it was certainly not good, and Mr. Ball is probably convinced of the great’ room for improvement. If he needed any further proof, however, he got it in the: form of comments from all sides to the effect. that the test relay of the band concert from Auckland on Sunday, the 28th, was received here at least 50 per cent. better from Auckland than it was from Wellington-yet Wellington has ten times the power of Auckland and is mucb closer to Hastings. (PHE meeting was an exceptionally fair one, for although they had just reason for a kick over 2YA’s reception, those present realised that the Radio Broadcasting Company had done and was still doing its best to meet the wishes of all, and this sentiment was embodied in a motion of confidence in the R.B.C., which the meeting unanimously passed. Mr. Ball was also asked to convey to his _ headquarters the thanks of all local listeners for the innovation of the dinner music session and also the extra dance music programmes. ON the following day, Mr. Ball was again the guest of the Hawke’s Bay Radio Society, on a motor tour of the district, and in this tour about 90 miles were covered. An interesting break was the visit to the New Zealand Tobacco Company's factory. In the evening, he was the guest of Dr. Ziele. president of the Napier Radio Club. ° He surely had quite a busy but enjoyable visit to this part of the Dominion. OT many local listeners were able to pick up 2YB with any appreciable volume and this new station will be of no use to Hawke’s Bay. LOCAL fans will be glad to know that the Auckland Boxing Association has now decided to allow broadcasts of future boxing contests in the Queen City. ONGRATULATIONS to the Radio Broadeasting Compuny for its relay of 2YA through 1YA. It was a great piece of work, and in this quarter at any rate, 2YA was discarded in favour of the Auckland station. Me. BALL, by the way, has promised to investigate the possibility of a relay from Hastings on the same lines as was carried out from Wanganui. -_- -r ----s o-: -e @

If this comes to a head, the local society promises to arrange a concert which will "startle the natives." (THERE is every prospect of that fine orator, the Bishop of Aotearoa, being heard over the air from 2YA towards the end of this or early next month. Mr. Ball made the necessary arrangements with His Lordship, during his visit to Hastings. .