For Pacific Radio Amateurs

Conducted by Ex ZK-1-AC/YR-2-AK

There were several letters from the out posts this month, the first from Phil, on Fanning, back from six months md six days exile on Washington Island. ‘Bleating a bit on 20 m. now and again, >ut a lot of the old enthusiasm has de »arted,” he says. “Spent a million bucks n a posh Hallicrafter the other day. but ven IT won’t sort cooyable speech out of he mess left by Kilowatt Row in W md!”

Phil says that Otto, KP6AK, over on almyra appears on 3.8 mc/s and 14.218 ic/s at times, but is having a lot of rouble with his power supplies in the 90-inch climate. Incidentally, QSL’s for :P6AK go via KH6OR, 1449 Meyers St., Honolulu. Phil expects to come to Sydney about the end of the year” for attention > his eyes.

Next was a note from Ray, KS6AB, at ago Pago. Pressure of work administering ic Government Communications Depart icnt there has kept him off the air in scent months—but if and when the work ises there is a KW on tap. Meanwhile S 6 is going to be a rare call.

Allan, VR2AP, reporting from Suva, ys that he, 2AM, and 2CZ, are all very stive on 20 m., with VR2CT from his sw QTH also appearing on 20 m. at mes. though mainly on 80 m. He has squashed rhombic and a revamped ceiver, both of which are performing sll.

Allan says that the 2AM/CZ shack, ared, is the only one in Fiji with a rinkler system installed. “It’s located a shower recess—and if you ever work e of them, ask about the mike; you’ll surprised!”

The new Suva Radio Club is off to a od start with a keen membership. lan reports.

Fhough the Tokelaus with their ZM6 eflx are probably no longer of DX erest, we gathered from Allan’s letter at VR2AB was expecting to be in the ;w of the RNZAF Sunderland on its rly June flight from Suva to the kelans, and would probably have been the air briefly, fhough Barri Hogg, VR2BZ, has quit ‘ RNZAF he is now attached to Nadi radio staff and should soon appear on Ham bands again from the new QTH oss the island. lay “QST”. just to hand in Sydney, es an interesting report on W6MHB, n R. Beck’s February Cocos Island sedition. The means of getting there > provided by a treasure-seeking party, > accepted John on account of his use a means of communication with home, he party cleared Los Angeles January n the ex-sub-chaser “Isle of Capri”, iving at Puntarenas, Costa Rica, final mits were arranged with the Costa in authorities, owners of Cocos, through good offices of TI-2-DLM of the Radio b of Costa Rica. The voyage out was ventful and the station—Tl-9-MHB set ud and ready to operate by sunset February 9, with a 900 ft. wire extend across a narrow bay about 10 ft. ve the water. call on 7003 kc/s CW raised W-l-DDF

—first of the many. The Chatham Bay location was open only to the north-east, and all Pacific sigs were very weak. Later, a 40 m. ground-plane was erected, and also a 20 m. one later still. These were right on the stony beach, only open ground, and were in water at high tide.

Another 80 m. antenna, 40 ft. off the ground, was also erected and gave good results.

First man contacted on 160 m. was W-O-NWX of last year’s Clipperton Expedition. A great deal of personal traffic was handled from expedition mem bers to folks at home. TI-9-MHB closed down and sailed on the evening of February 22—with a score of 2,024 stations worked. For John it had clearly been a busy fortnight. From time of leaving

Puntarenas to re turning there he lost 50 lb in weight!

Gear used was a Viking NC-183 trans mitter, HQ-120 re ceiver, and sundry other items. Northern California DX Club, Elmar Electronics Corp. (owned by

W6Tt And W6Dbb),

W6Dip, W6Kek, And

original target had been for CW/phone operation on all bands from 10 m. to 160 m. and a grand total of 10,000 QSO’s, but more time was required.

Needless to say, the only treasure that resulted from this expedition was the hoard of QSL’s which went out to the lucky stations worked.

According to “QST”, VR6AC was ex pected to have shown up on 14,353 kc/s

a few others aided r on . e half , °* the in the project in Fa "T?- ,s,and Ham various ways. Thr pXIeVvW

phone around 0100 Z in March-April. We’ve seen no reports of it happening.

Doug Cunnold, ZK-l-AB. HI in the Cook Islands, left Rarotonga late May by air for hospital treatment in New Zealand.

We regret to report the HC2JR, formerly active from the Galapagos, died earlier this year.

“Amateur Radio” for July reports an English Ham, call unknown, named Danny Weil, now on a yacht cruise round the world, and planning to operate ashore for brief periods from ZC3, ZC3, VUS, CR-10, VQ9, VQ7, Commoro Island, VR6, ZM6, Phoenix, and Nauru, assuming licences are granted. The yacht is “Yasme”, 37 ft. x lOV2 ft. x 4 ft., home port Poole.

There is no indication of where the yacht now is, but we assume she has probably only recently left England.

Other items: VKSWO says that VR6AC on Pitcairn was indeed active on 14,140 kc/s in May. In New Guinea plans are afoot for the first New Guinea Ham Con vention, probably to be held at Lae, with some southern Ham visitors already ex pected to attend. In the New Hebrides YJ-l-DL (ex-ZC3AB) reports that he and two FUS’s are reasonably active. Another, FUBAC, is currently on vacation In France. t Heaviest rainfall for years was recorded at Norfolk Island in May and early June. Creeks and wells were full, household tanks were

overflowing and vegetables and

other garden crops were flourishing.

t Cases of a swift, severe en cephalitis among Europeans and natives have been treated in New Guinea in recent years, all of them occurring among people who had been in or near the recently opened up Kuku-Kuku area. Blood speci mens sent to the Elija Hall Insti tute. Melbourne, for testing, have proved the discovery of an entirely new virus, according to Australian Press reports.

II As a result of the death of Mrs.

Devenish in England in May, Mr.

Frederick Devenish, British Consul in Papeete, departed for Marseilles hurriedly aboard the British freighter Garvel Park, having obtained permission from the own ers to sign on as a supernumerary for the voyage. He is expected back in November. The Consulate is meanwhile in charge of Vice-Consul J. W. Asmus.