Phones ring in changes

As images of Elizabeth II’s funeral were available throughout the night few paused to consider the technological aspects of a live broadcast

from the other side of the world.

In earlier eras there was still novelty attached to international communication. When the first telephone call was enjoyed between Hamilton, New Zealand and London, England, the event made national headlines.

Mrs H. McHarry, of Peachgrove Road — then spelt Peach Grove Road — had attempted to phone her daughter, Mrs W.E. Faulkner, of Gordon Mansions, London, W.C. on Saturday August 14, 1931. Unfortunately, atmospheric conditions prevented her ‘‘hearing anything intelligible at the other end’’. The connection depended in part on a radio connection, one which was subject to potential interference.

The following Wednesday, success

was enjoyed. At 5.20pm Mrs McHarry placed her call through the Hamilton Telephone Exchange, which connected to Wellington.

The signal was amplified and sent via radio signal to Sydney, which in turn broadcast to London. Mrs Faulkner picked up her receiver around 6am. The conversation lasted three minutes.

Costing 6 pounds 15 shillings, international toll calls to London were clearly the preserve of the affluent and the indulgent. In 1931, the average weekly wage for a male worker was 4 pounds 7 shillings and 3 pence. A working woman averaged a mere 1 pound 15 shillings and and 11 pence a week.

Telephones had been a feature of Waikato life since at least the early

1880s. When Tawhiao symbolically laid down his arms at Pirongia in July 1881, the Maori King thereafter was ‘‘highly delighted’’ to use a telephone for the first time, enjoying communication with the Hamilton exchange some 40 miles away. ‘‘The conversation worked splendidly’’, reported theWaikato Times,‘‘the voices being clearly audible as in close proximity’’.

The telephone came to Hamilton East in July 1882, established in the local Post Office under the care of a certain Mr Le Quesne, affording direct communication with the western part of town, a wire having long since been laid for the purpose. The Hamilton East Post Office was thus established as place where telegrams could be both sent and received.