Life Saved By Radio
pp. 65-66 · Read in the full issue
A RADIO amateur in Wellington, N.Z., recently heard an American wireless operator on Canton Island (in the Phoenix Group, north of Fiji) trying to communicate with Honolulu, and asking for assistance for a man on Canton Is land who was seriously ill with appen dicitis.
There are two parties on Canton Is land—British and American. Both na tions claim Canton Island as a suitable station in the contemplated trans-Paci fic aeroplane services and, as no agree ment has been reached, it apparently has been settled that so long as each coun try maintains an official party there, each country has an equal right to use the island as an aeroplane base.
As the Canton Is. operator was unable to contact Honolulu, the New Zealand amateur communicated with the Ameri can Consul-General at Wellington, who immediately sent a cablegram to the re sponsible officials in Honolulu.
As a result a vessel left immediately for Canton Island (a distance of 1,500
miles) and the sick man was taken to Honolulu and has since recovered. Radio and the prompt action taken by the N.Z. amateur probably savfed his life.
Hon. G. H. Murray, Director of Agri culture in New Guinea, left Rabaul by the last “Nankin” on a visit to Japan He has been suffering from ill health for some time and the trip is in the form of sick leave.
Mr. Isaac Simpson, a planter of the Waihunu district, Vanua Levu, Fiji, died recently at the, age of 80. He was the last of the three original pioneer Simp son brothers —namely, Mathew, Isaac, and Walter Simpson.