For Pacific Radio Amateurs

Conducted by Ex ZK-1-AC/VR-2-AK (Address notes to P.O. Box 179 W, Wellesley Street, Auckland, NZ.)

[SLAND HAMS, for your own benefit make use of the Pacific Islands Net iked times, 0100/0700/1900 GMT, on all lands.

Doug Cunnold, ZK-l-AB, the RI at larotonga, has kindly supplied the fol owing list of licensed Cook Islands tations “who are more or less active”.

IK-1-AA, Stuart Kingan, Tupapa, Raro tonga.

AB, C. D. Cunnold, Box 41, Raro tonga.

AZ, Thor Gunderson, MV Maui Pomare, c/o USS Co., Rarotonga.

BC, R. Hanley, Box 32, Rarotonga.

BD, W. Jones, Aeradio, Aitutaki Is.

BE, I. R. B. Sutherland, Box 41, Rarotonga.

BF, N. J. Mitchell, lonisphere Station, Rarotonga.

This list possibly includes only active lams, and not all ZK-1 stations, as it s noted that Tom Davis, ZK-l-AN, is rot included, and a recent QST reported i W station as having heard ZK-l-AC ictive about March.

Tom Davis, ZK-l-AN, is the mystery nan of the month.

At time of going to Press the Miru had contacted New Zealand only once—on fune 4—since sailing from Wellington for

Callao, Peru, on May 31. There was much discussion on the Ham bands in ZL as to who had contacted Tom. If the P & T Department knew, they were re maining mum. Behind the scenes there was believed to be some mild annoyance by the Department that the yacht had contacted a Ham but had yet failed to maintain the commercial sked on 8280 kc/s CW which, it was said, had been arranged before sailing.

On top of this was the suggestion that Tom had not obtained a portable Ham license for the voyage. Awarua Radio, near Bluff (NZ), continued to call the vacht unsuccessfully each day with traf fic, but that station —and the Hams — had heard nothing further to late June.

Despite heavy weather which had crippled a launch between New Zealand and the Chathams and sent out the Search and Rescue planes, no fears were felt for Mlru which was reported to be well found for the long run. (See Small Ships News elsewhere this issue for later news of the arrival of Miru and crew at Rapa).

Some Hams are expecting next news of the yacht to come from Roland D’Assig nies, FO-8-AD, the French Government operator down on Rapa. Roland is active on 20m CW using 6L6’s and 45 W.

Subject to suitable winds, the yacht

was expected to call there and perhaps at Easter Island on the 5,500 mile leg across the Pacific.

Every attempt was made by PIM to se cure details of the Miru’s radio plans be fore she sailed, but no replies were re ceived from Tom Davis, and it is still unknown what gear he Is carrying and on what frequencies he may decide to work.

In mid-June ZL Hams were advised

that, as from July 1, hf permit holders may use the band 26,960-27,230 kc/s, types Al/A3. Also A 3 transmissions may from that date be made on 21,101-21,450 kc/s portion of the new 21 mc/s band.

Doubtless the same conditions will apply in the New Zealand administered Islands.

It is noted that, under the new fre

quency arrangements effective last May 1, ZL stations have the advantage over VK in an additional 100 kc/s at the high end of 80 m. and 150 kc/s at the high end of 40 m.

Conditions generally have been ex tremely poor on all bands in ZL recently, only 40 m. showing some DX' at odd

times.

Stations heard active include a new VE station—Vß-2-CK—and VR’s 2-BZ and CG. From Samarai VK-9-XK is putting out a good 14 mc/s CW sig. We under stand that S. R. Coleston of that station is in the Lighthouse Service. George Meaton, VK-9-GM, on Norfolk is another active man on 7 mc/s CW.

ZM-6-AA at Apia, usually a phone man, was heard on 14 mc/s CW of late. Fat Spry, formerly VR-5-GA of Tongatabu, is heard active under his new call-sign ZL

1-Ajl.

New Caledonian boys heard active on Sunday mornings include FK-8-AH, R.

Garde, FK-8-AL, J. Garde, FK-8-AM, F.

Coursin, and FK-8-AN, G. Cortot, on 7 or 14 mc/s CW. Felix Franchette, FK-8- AC, holidaying in France, is expected back late in the year.