For Pacific Radio Amateurs

Conducted By Ex Zk-1-Ac/Vr-2-Ak.

(Address notes to P.O. Box 5179, Wellesley Street, Auckland, N.Z.) ISLANDS HAMS: Let your Pacific

neighbours know you’re active by

checking in on your favourite band with a CQ at 0100/0700H900z. Use of a known time will help you—and them.

To Brian T'arlton-ZMSAP we are indebted this month for an up to date summary of the V.. Samoa situation. ZM6AA-Pat Senior, finally departed for ZL3 mid-March; ZM6AB-Des Fahey, QIC Apia Radio, not active at present: ZM6AC-Arnold Stan bury, returned to ZL—delete this call; ZM6AK-R, Guthrie, Faleolo, probably active soon; ZM6AP-Brian Tarlton, Box 33, Apia, active all bands with 25 W T .: ZM6AQ-I. M. Tarlton, same address, same activity—ex ZL2ACC; ZM6AR-Ron Berry, one-time ZK-l-BA, active 11 mc/s; ZM6AL-E. H. Betham, Vaimea, Apia, probably active soon. That’s the muster at present. Though Brian does not say so. we believe that ZM6AQ is his XYL.

“Break In” gives some inside news from Valparaiso. Jorge Bernain-CESDG, travelling aboard the supply-ship Pinto, went out to Easter Island to install equipment for CE-0-AC, which is being operated by Dr. Darfo Verdugo. who re mains at that outpost for a year. You’ll find him on 11,100 kc/s with 40 W., mainly phone. Jorge was also to install for the Chilian Air Force another station which, outside working hours, will operate as CE-0-AD, CW and phone. The trans mitter is a BC6IO and the operators are normally engaged in sending met. reports to Chile. Jorge operated as CE-0-AA during his couple of weeks at the Island.

All QSL’s for Easter go to Box 761, Santiago, Chile.

Through the grape vine, we hear news of ZL3JA’s rumoured Tokelau-ZM7 ex pedition. Sold the idea originally by KV4AA 3JA did not realise then just how difficult it is to get to that DX Shangrila.

Transport is only one of the minor difficulties—one must have a legitimate reason for going there, though doubtless a brief round-trip call with a few hours ashore at each of the three atolls would be possible. Only resident Europeans in the Tokelaus are two missionaries. “Un likely in the near future” is 3JA’s present feeling on the subject.

At Fanning, Ray Baty, after operating for a while as VR3A, has now been allotted VR3D and is keeping the 11 mc/s huntsmen queued up. VR3C has been heard with a good phone sig on that band also recently, and the two may soon be joined by another as VK3GT, G. E. Lewis of Melbourne, is reported on the way to join the Cable Co. staff, and will pre sumably do some hamming. Ray, in any case, is serving a two-year sentence there. He has been heard on 7 mc/s CW —as has VR-l-B after a lengthy silence.

Stan Silber-VR-I-B appears to be the only active Gilberts station at present.

Down on Pitcairn VR6AC and or VR6AY have apparently been stirred to life by Doug-ZK-l-AB—whose commercial

station works with them. The situation is not quite clear at the moment, but it appears that VR6AY—though not with Andrew Young or Floyd McCoy at the controls—has been heard on 80-metres, CW and phone, frequency 3970 kc/s.

Further news expected—meanwhile keep an eye on that channel. Incidentally VR3D is expected on 80 metres ere long, in addition to other bands already worked.

Doug-ZK-l-AB, though not on for long hours apparently works to good purpose —B3 countries, including 35 Pacific pre fixes, was his bag to mid-February.

Some New Guinea transfers alter our summary of last November. XK9AU shifts from Wewak to Lae. VK9BI. de parted some time ago, is now VK3AGW.

Others departed: VK9BJ/LW/RT.

Another VK9—to be heard briefly from Norfolk Island—will be ZL-l-AJU, on vacation there and licensed to operate as VK9AJU for a few weeks. VK9RH is active at times from that island—heard on 7 mc/s CW and 11 mc/s phone.

Licensed for a long time past, but only recently, active is VR3CS, now heard very frequently, using a TR-11 rig on 11 mc/s phone. Also active on that band recently is ZK-l-81.

Aitutaki may be heard again. Bill Jones, former ZK-l-BD, is back there again, so doubtless the bug will attack in due course.

Noted active from Micronesia: KX6NB a new one at Majuro. Marshalls, using 14 mc/s CW; KC6AA at Yap on 7.1 CW.

Canton is represented by active stations KB6AY/KB6BA. 7 mc/s CW—round 1000

Gmt.

Lord Howe has a new one—VK3AQU,.

OIC of DCA—formerly VKSHJ.

In January we mentioned mobile mari time SMBBZU—some say SMBAZU.

BERS-195, Australia’s most active listener, reports another on 14 mc/s CW on the trans-Pacific run—SMBLS. Eric, in mentioning this and other items, asks Island hams to give ZL3MY a call when hearing him on. At 73 years of age 2MY still derives plenty of pleasure from his hobby.

“Amateur Radio” reports that the Noumea boys staged a special welcome to VK3NJ there on a visit earlier this year.

No less than 11 FKB’s were present. From the same source we note that men seek ing QSL’s from FKBAB on V.fallis, should send theirs to FKBAB who is handling the QSL situation for Adrien.

Appearing in April is the long defunct Australian Radio Amateur Call Book, listing all VK stations. From Australian booksellers (not from PIM) at 4/6 per copy.

Pacific Ham photos published here in February appear to have been popular.

Similar head-and-shoulders snaps will be welcomed from Island Hams everywhere.

An idea of what Japan’s oceanic tuna-fishing activities mean as a dollar earner is indicated in figures of tuna exports from that country to the United States covering the first ten months of 1953: Tuna

frozen, 75 million pounds weight; in

brine, 24 million pounds weight; in

oil, million pounds weight.

The new road leading to the Bomana War Cemetery (near Port Moresby) from the Hubert Murray Highway, is to be known as the “Pilgrims’ Way.” A signpost to this effect will soon be erected at the turn-off from the Hubert Murray Highway. The new road gets its name from the fact that 22 visitors

from Northern Queensland made a special pilgrimage to the cemetery last November. On that occasion, each pilgrim planted a tree along the road. The Port Moresby RSL hopes that this tree planting will be carried on by other pilgrims and distinguished visitors to the cemetery. *