History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Frederick William Medhurst/Notes

1904 09
Pop and Hallam demonstrate wireless telegraphy at the Conversazione in Hobart "CLOCK AND CHIMES FUND. SCIENTIFIC CONVERSAZIONE. The committee of the Scientific Conversazione are to be congratulated on their strenuous efforts to supplement the Clock and Chimes Fund. The conversazione, which was opened by His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor last evening, showed that since the matter was taken in hand a few weeks ago, no time had been lost in getting together scientific instruments of all kinds, and especially such as embody the most recent inventions in the field of electrical science. Not only did the committee do this, but it secured the services of a number of gentlemen to deliver lecturettes on subjects of scientific interest, while it engaged the services of others to give practical demonstrations of the uses to which the various instruments may be put. When we are continually hearing of the use of wireless telegraphy at the seat of war, nothing can be of more interest than a practical demonstration of the methods by which these messages are transmitted. As a scheme for raising money, the Scientific Conversazione had the advantage of combining the quality of inherent interest and novelty. By dint of hard work the committee had almost everything in readiness, and the hall was well filled, when His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Dodds, K.C.M.G., accompanied by his Private Secretary and A.D.C., Mr. F. A. Dodds, arrived at 7.30. At the request of the Mayor, who is chairman of the committee, His Excellency opened the conversazione. He said that the object of the entertainment was to raise additional money for the Clock and Chimes Fund. Two purposes would be served by the entertainment. First, it would give them some idea of the practical use to which the marvellous developments of science, in these later years, had been put. The instruments they saw around them were the outcome of what science had been doing in years past, and brought them face to face with the problems of the future. They saw what had already been done, what the mind of man had been doing in the field of scientific research; and they wondered what in future years would be the outcome of these discoveries. Man, by the working of his mind, had overcome much that not long ago seemed impossible. The display before them then must have an educational value; it showed them what had been done, and what could be done, in scientific research. There was another purpose, namely, to augment the Clock and Chimes Fund. The subscriptions received so far amounted to £300, and there was besides that a sum of £300 from the Victoria Fund and the Centenary Fund, which made £1,200 in all. That sum would be almost sufficient, but as the committee judged that the citizens wanted a first class clock, it was decided to raise an additional £300 in order to provide not only a first-class clock, but chimes. In that way the entertainment had more than an educational value, for besides gaining knowledge, they would have the pleasure of knowing that they were helping to put a clock and the dulcet music of chimes into the Post Office tower, and thus add to the attractions of the city. (Applause.) The majority of those present then repaired to the Mayor's Courtroom, where Mr. H. C. Kingsmill, M.A. delivered an interesting lecture on 'The Moon,' while others preferred to examine the wireless telegraphy apparatus, which was operated by Messrs. W. P. Hallam, F. Medhurst, and C. Hamilton. On the eastern side of the main hall was arranged a fine collection of modern electric lamps, torches, and surgical apparatus, kindly lent by Mr. Wm. Bates, of 183 Elizabeth-street. On the western side of the hall, ranged on a long table, were a number of microscopes, in charge of the following gentlemen:— Rev. H. H. Anderson, Messrs. G. D'Emden, H. Yeates, R. Morris, John Mitchell, E. B. Moore, K. Dear, C. W. Tribe. Dr. Gerard Smith performed a series of interesting experiments with a Rontgen Rays apparatus, and also delivered a lecture on marine microscopic and insect life. In the committee-room, on the ground floor, a fine collection of photographs were exhibited by Messrs. C. Gruncell, Percy Ash, W. F. Paterson, J. W. Beattie, and Nat. Oldham. A bioscope entertainment in the Mayor's Courtroom brought the first evening of the conversazione to a successful close. During the evening Mr. T. Julian Haywood rendered a number of organ selections, and at intervals the audience were treated to some pieces by a Waldemar piano player, kindly lent by J. Walch and Sons. Tonight additional attractions will be afforded, and there should be a large attendance of citizens."