Side 1.
Episode 11, Part 2. Introduction to a programme covering the start of radio broadcasting into New Zealand. This programme marks the 22nd anniversary of the opening of 2YA Wellington. On July 16, 1927, a 5KW transmitter on Mt Victoria and studios at 124 Featherston Street were officially opened by the Right Honorable G.J. Coates, Prime Minister of New Zealand.
An early announcer on 2YA, Clive Drummond tells how morse code was used to relay a description of the World Heavyweight boxing fight between Tom Heeney and Gene Tunney at the Yankee Stadium, New York City in 1928. Drummond transcribed the Morse code and broadcast the results to a large listening audience. Morse code was also used to provide coverage of the flight by Kingsford-Smith across the Tasman.
A special broadcast was made every night for a week [in February 1928] on 2YA from 7.30 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. by a group of thirty Māori organised by Mr Metekingi, led by Hamiora Hakopa, and trained in Wanganui.
This performance was then re-broadcast on shortwave to Australia and then onto Europe.
Unfortunately, nothing of this performance was able to be recorded because of the lack of recording equipment during that era. A 1936 recording, "I've Lost my Heart in Maoriland' is played from a cardboard disc as an example of early recording.
A new 60KW transmitter was installed for 2YA at Titahi Bay in 1937.
Mr. Savage talks at the opening of this new transmitter.
Signor Truda, the conductor of the 2YA Orchestrina at the opening, talks about the formation of a ten piece orchestrina for the Radio Company in 1921. He list the members and mentions his involvement with the formation of a National Orchestra with sixty members.
The track ends with an introduction to a talk by Arch Curry, manager of 2YA in 1949. [His talk is unavailable as part 3 of the episode is missing.]
Side 2.
Episode 11, Part 4. Four hundred delegates of the Womens Division of Federated Farmers held a conference in Wellington's Town Hall and their own special song was recorded at the opening ceremony.
July 14 was Bastille Day, to mark the occasion the French Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to New Zealand, Monsieur Emmanuel Lannciel sends a broadcast message to New Zealanders.
A Wellington sports writer F.W. Boshier, previews the first Rugby Test NZ v South Africa at Capetown, due to start in a few hours time. The announcer ends the programme giving radio coverage details from 2YA for the match.