Following the Old Year into the West

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 26, 8 January 1932, Page 3

Following the Old Year into the West

by

IVAN M.

LEVY

with Shortwave Notes

by

F. W.

Sellens

\! ; O pursue the fleeting year across land ‘ and sea and hear the glad welcoming: of the new-born year in cities near and far was my task on New Year’s Eve. No agency other than radio could have rendered this achievement possible. And as the hour of midnight drew near I thought of the great minds which had given this gift of the gods to mankind-Faraday, Kertz, Marconi, Fleming and De Forest came foremost to my mind. as . In the latitude of Wellington the old year was speeding past on its final course round the world at something like 10 miles a minute. Shakespeare’s "inaudible and noiseless foot of time": was winging toward me from out of the darkness of the Pacific, flying on double wings, as Seneca would say. From 2VA, Wellington, the most powerful of all broadcast stations in this quarter of the globe, came the relay of the Watchnight Service from St. Andrew’s Church. The wellmodulated, resonant voice of the Rev. W. Bullock caught my interest, ard his words bore a message which must have gone to many a heart. nd I lingered a while, for I thought as Paine did in his day, "These are the times that try men’s souls." . But there were other matters afoot, and I tuned my radio to 4YA, Dunedin. A relay from the Exchange Buildings, Dunedin, filled the air with the noisy clamour of the crowd in the street below. Songs, cheers, exclamations all blended uproariously. The speeding New Year was close at hand. . I next picked up 1YA, Auckland, where a familiar voice was describing the scene in the streets as viewed from F erry Building. The youth of Auckland was enjoying itself to the utmost. As on previous Rneeneinnn then ......141.._.

vi CdSiOus, the crowd was Hiting the rear part of passing motor-cars bringing the cars to a standstill as the driving wheels, revolving futilely, were unable to make contact with the ground. The fun was fast and furious. Happy laughter came in whirlwind gusts. ‘Tcrice to 3YA, Christchurch, where loud detonations punctuated the running description of the scene in Cathedral Square, being relayed from the United Service Hotel. It is strange how each city adopts some outstanding. characteristic in its New Year celebrations. At Christchurch there was an almost continuous discharge of fireworks, bombs or "bangers," as on the occasion of the previous welcome to the New Year. Strains of music, vocal and instrumental, provided a background to the general uproar. -* I glanced at my watch-one minute go. The New Year was only 10 miles to the eastward, and I switched across to 2YA. Wellington. ' ‘Here, indeed, was tumultous enthusiasm. The sound caused throtigh the

beating on empty petro! tins took a prominent place in the continuous din. There was a rapid crescendo of uproar as the deepthroated chimes of the Wellington G.P.O. announced the last few seconds of the expiring 1931. As the crashing tolling of the midnight hour overwhelmed the tumultous welcoming of 1932, the waterfront provided a new

note of exultation. ‘The big ocean liner Cumberland at the King’s Wharf roared her greeting to 1932. The American cargo, liner Golden Cross, at the Taranaki Street Wharf, added her deep-pitched whistle to the general hubbub. The Government lighthouse steamer Matai, berthed at the Ferry Wharf, then made the welkin ring with her screaming and wailing siren.

HORUSES were just audible amid the clamour. Then back to the studio went 2YA, and a happy group sang "Auld Lang Syne." The other "YA" stations were re-visited and the noisy celebrations could

still be heard. 4YA went back to the studio and provided several enjoyable vocalisations until 12.38 a.m. It was the last of the YA stations to close down. Away across the Tasman Sea sped the Old Year with the New Year right on its heels. Over the galewhipped billows they flew, for a strong north-westerly had set in across that waste. Two hours difference in time separated Sydney and Wellington, soto while away the intervening time I turned to each of the Australian stations in turn, to snatch a song here, a dance item there, and perhaps an orchestral selection elsewhere. And so I went the rounds until the clock indicated the proximity of 2 a.m., New Zealand time, and midnight eastern Australian time. Station 2BL, Sydney, had long since closed down for the night, while its big brother, 2FC, Sydney. was relaying dance items by a band at a cabaret. The happy chatter of the dancers was plainly audible. From 4QG, Bris(Concluded on page 27.)

Following the Old Year into the West (Continued from page 3.)

bane and 4RK, Rockhampton, dance ‘music from a cabaret was also being ‘relayed. Then I sought the voice of a city dear to me, Melbourne, my rative town, and the New Year was just breaking while 3L0 relayed the joyous cathedral chimes of St. Paul’s which were filling the air with tuneful reverberations. The boisterous cheering from the crowded streets came wafting through~ the ether. I left the peals of St, Paul’s and switched back to 2FO. The cabaret band was playing "Auld Lang Syne," and the dancers were singing the old familiar song. While listening to 3LO I had switched momentarily to 4QG. Brisbane, and 4RK, Rockhampton, and had just caught the Brisbane Town Halli clock thundering out the midnight hour. The announcer then expressed his \good wishes for the New Year to everyone.. I now returned to the Quesfisland stations again and heard a c&baret band playing "Auld Lang Syne,’* while the dancers sang the song lustily. A male reciter then gave an appropriate rendition. Back to 8LO, and once again I listened to the peals of St. Paul’s until at 12.19 a.m., Melbourne time, they ceased. The had certainly performed magnificently. There was still one Sydney "B" class station holding the air. It was 2UE. and I was in the nick of time to catch the station staff singing the final bars of "Auld Lang Syne." * bs s On to 5CL, Adelaide, I presset ahead of the New Year. A cabaret band was providing musie for a merry ‘gathering of dancers, The few re‘maining minutes of the old year soon fled, and as 1982 burst in the band struck up "Auld Lang Syne." which was heartily sung by the gathering. This rite having been completed, it was a ease of "On with the dance," and the band continued to provide delightful music for the merry-makers. & * * Now came a long wait till the New Year touched Perth, 3300 miles to the. westward and four hours behind. A concert programme was being broadeast from 6WI, Perth. My loudspeaker was now being subject to occasional erashes from distant lightning, these electrical discharges being plainly dis: tinguishable from the ordinary static. which resembles more the ceaseless beating of surf on a sandy beach. Lightning, on the other hand, comes in a peculiar "sharp and briefly sustained rasping sound. I have obseryed its effect when local displays of have been visible, and, once d. these discharges can always be

identified, whether local or distant. They now. stood out prominently against a background of peppery static. However, it was not sufficiently severe to necessitate more than a quarter reduction in the volume of reception. From 6WF came the strains of "Auld Lang Syne" and cheering, and I knew that thé old year had finished its unhappy career so far as this quarter of the globe was concerned. I knew that far to the westward it was fleeing across the Indian Ocean, followed hotly by the New Year, to be joyously wel-

a) comed by the multitudes in distant lands. May it prove worthy of its welcome, I devoutly wished as I glanced at the clock-it was 4.15 a.m., New Year’s morning (New Zealand time). I switched off the current from my set, Dawn was breaking. The gale whistled shrilly as it swept my aerial.