Islands

Wireless In The

How Cook Group Is

Linked Up

AN indication of how wireless is linking the Pacific Islands, and completely altering the conditions of social life and commercial development, is provided in the annual report on the Cook Islands, just issued by the N.Z.

Government.

Wireless communication (says the report) has been improved throughout the group. The new station on the island of Mauke was opened in June, 1929, and has since maintained an efficient service. The operator is a native who was educated at St. Ste phen’s College, Auckland, and after wards trained in wireless work at Wel lington and Rarotonga.

Land for a station at Penrhyn, 750 miles north of Rarotonga has been ac quired. This station, when built, will be of considerable value for Adminis tration and trade matters, as well as for general use.

The apparatus necessary to convert the parent station at Rarotonga to short-wave, which will be used in con junction with the present spark set, has been procured, and the work of installation is proceeding. When it is completed Rarotonga will be able to get direct communication with New Zealand and other distant stations. In the past, Rarotongan traffic, both in ward and outward, has been relayed through Samoa, at an extra cost of 6d. per word.

There are sub-stations in good order at Aitutaki, Mangaia. Atiu and Mauke.

All the islands in the group at which cargo-steamers call are now in wire less communication with Rarotonga.

Two native youths are being trained in telegraphy at Rarotonga, with a view to their filling any vacancies occurring in the sub-island stations.

Five radio receiving licenses were issued in the Cook Islands during the year. Unfortunately Isays the report) the majority of the inhabitants of the group are not as yet aware of the ex cellent reception now possible from New Zealand. Australian and Ameri can broadcasting stations, with the present type of commercial broadcast receiver, which requires no technical knowledge to operate.