Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 52, 12 July 1929, Page 19

Auckland Notes

(By "LISTENER ")

"WHANGAREI ‘provided its second relay programme last Sunday evening, and earned very general appreciation for it. They can put on a most enjoyable Sunday evening concert:in the capital of the Far North, and on. the second occasion of its broadcast there was a noticeable improvement over the initial venture. The items were of the same enjoyable standard, and the land-line transmission showed marked improvement.

So successful was the football rebroadcast from 2MH, Sydney, on Saturday last that interested bodies and some enthusiastic individuals are considering the question of giving the general public the benefit of the deseriptions per medium of the "public address amplifiers’ of which there are several in Auckland. The Rugby Union would undoubtedly have installed such a broadcast system at Eden Park, for the benefit of its patrons, were it not for the fact that the latter would have to remain in winter darkness to hear the account. As it was, numerous football enthusiasts hastened home to enjoy by ear what they had previously appreciated by eye-and they were duly grateful to the enterprise of the local station in providing what, to footballers, was an historic broadcast. It was the first occasion on which a running commentary had been made of a New Zealand team’s achievements overseas. Let us hope that there will be a repetition, just as successful, for the ensuing games.

"To quite ‘a large section of listeners there has been little appeal in the excellent grand opera lecture-recitals which have been given at 1YA. Such, however, cannot be urged against the splendid half-hour which was provided by Mr. Karl Atkinson and the gramophone on Tuesday evening. His remarks about the waltz, and his illustrations of notable waltz compositions were within the appreciation of all. One gentleman, a lover of-music, though not a musician, informed the writer that the final portion of Tuesday’s programme was to him a musical treat such as he had not enjoyed for many years. AUCKLAND rather prides itself upon the fact that it has been the real nursery of New Zealand broadcasting. It was here that listening-in first gripped New Zealanders; it was here that the first modern broadcasting plant operated under the control of the R.B.C. In consequence both traders and licensees feel that the southern centres are rather leaving the north behind in the organisation of big radio exhibition. There is a strong feeling locally that Auckland, too, should have its radio show, and it is not improbable that within the next few days steps will be taken to organise a rival to the Wellington and Dunedin displays. THE writer wonders if other listeners have experienced a difficulty similar to his own. For over a week he was troubled by interference which defied. location. In an electric set this was irritating, either with or without serial eonnection, Trans-

formers as a source of trouble were eliminated, valves were replaced, and official tests of the power lines outside the house were made. No cause was visible, but the distracting noises continued.. Then, one evening, the house telephone failed suddenly-and the interference vanished. The trouble had existed all the time tn a faulty telephone, J EEPING well in touch with public functions, 1YA broadcast the speeches of the official opening of the winter show this week.

"THER is very general expeciancy here regarding the. new Australian programmes which will shortly be audible-when static is in a quiescent mood. So much of promise and anticipation has appeared in the local press that listeners are waiting to pronounce the verdict upon performance, which is the one thing that really counts.