"Freak" reception

Novelties in wireless reception are now becoming fairly common, but the following incident is surely without precedent. In a letter to "Magna-Vox," Mr J. G. Jackson, of 19 Galloway Street, Mornington, states; "On Saturday afternoon last a friend of mine came in and told me he could hear music coming from his water tap. He was quite sober, so I went with him and to my surprise here was Schubert’s "Serenade" (a cornet solo) being given off from the tap. We asked another friend to come and hear it, so that there were three people listening. We could hear the music distinctly six feet away from the tap. I made inquiries and found that a certain broadcasting station was playing that selection and I am writing to see if anyone else has had the same experience. If you are doubtful as to the veracity of the above incident, I will be pleased to show you the tap and let you hear for yourself if you call at. Messrs Jas. M’Gill and Son’s premises, Moray Place." On referring the matter to Mr F. J. O’Neill, 4.Y.A., Moray place, he explained that such reception was quite in order as it was caused by having a "singing" condenser in circuit with his transmitting set.

The Wingatui

The Union Steam Ship Company’s cargo carrier Wingatui, arrived here at 6 o’clock yesterday evening after a 53 hours’ voyage, from Lyttelton. The vessel, which was riding very light, left the Canterbury port at 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday, and, no sooner was she past the Godley Head when she encountered the boisterous gale which delayed shipping considerably during the past two or three days. To avoid danger of being carried too near the land, the master, Captain Edge, navigated the vessel a considerable distance off shore, and consequently she was out of her course. 

As the gale increased in intensity the vessel’s steering became erratic as owing to the force of the gale and the high seas she did not answer her helm readily and instead of steering in a south-south-easterly direction she proceeded eastwards. As the vessel had very little cargo she had no hold on the water at all, and although all the steam possible was utilised she made very little headway; In fact it took the Wingatui 24 hours to sight Akaroa, which is usually sighted after a three hours’ passage. The vessel, which is of 2378 tons gross, was pitched and tossed in the stormy sea, and made no headway till the gales and heavy seas abated, and she then had a good passage for the remainder of the journey.

Weird sects in the Catlins

The third session of the nineteenth Synod of the Diocese of Dunedin was continued yesterday. Mr S. F. Whitcombe moved —"That this Synod take into consideration the question of supplying two priests for working the outlying districts of the diocese." Mr Whitcombe said that it would be recognised by all that the outlying districts of the diocese suffered from the want of priests. He referred to the Catlins district and the districts on both sides of the Otago Harbour, and said that there was urgent need of priests there. In these places the members of the Church were joining up with other churches, and, what was worse, in the case of Catlins especially, they were joining up with a number of weird sects that existed there. The Rev. J. L. Perkins said in Owaka there were almost as many denominations as men. He added that beyond Owaka there was more desire for services than there was in Owaka itself. — ODT, 19.10.1923