ALBUM - THE TELEGRAPH LINE.

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DescriptionSixty three years ago when I was five, there were no supermarkets. Chicken for dinner was had by holding the torch while nana grabbed the chook from the henhouse perch then cut the head off. That’s the way it was in the 1960s. If you were lucky enough to travel to Christchurch, the journey was by steam train. My family purchased a telephone when I was 12 and in the same year, 1967, we bought a black and white TV. Surely it could not get better than this but it did. Colour TV in the 70s, computers and cellphones in the 80s. Where will it end; every new decade has new items to marvel at.
The photos show the journey from the Telegraph line construction across the great divide in the 1860,s to the smart phone we have today.Map^[1]ContributorTony Kokshoorn

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Location (city or town)GreymouthOrganisation (eg business)THE TELEGRAPH LINE.EventTHE TELEGRAPH LINE.

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Category TagPost and Telegraph

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Date Created3rd April 2023CommentsPeter Spence
Bought our first B&W TV in 67' - from the electrical shop to the right of Truman's in Mackay St (can't remember the name?) - there were 2 x choices, a Majestic or a Philips (20"?) - both approx.199 pounds - a big outlay then - a freak signal from CHTV3 was picked up in Hokitika and relayed to Grey' - a transponder was set up on the top of Cobden Hill - parts of the shack to house the equipment was carried up the hill by us Jaycees for assembled - Friday night TV was my favourite, "The Wild Wild West"

Robert Skilton
Greymouth people were most annoyed that Hokitika had television n they didnt at that time. The people of Greymouth should have been more grateful that the good people of Hokitika allowed them to access their television signals at that time!!

Robert Skilton
It wasnt a freak signal. Several radio type people had worked it out including a now long gone guy by the name of Noel Roscoe who started Lincoln Radio and Television which then grew into Lincrad Aerials which was purchased by Matchmaster after Noels passing. Noel was an exceptionally clever man and liked nothing more than solving complex television and radio issues

Peter Spence
Just remembered that at certain times of the year, the signals from Ozzie channels bounced across the Tasman and disrupted the local reception - always wondered if we had a proper array, if we could have tuned in fully to these seasonal signals?

Paul Thomas
A reflective signal orina;ly from CHTV3 on the Cashmere Hills antenna and bounced (reflected) from Kelly Range near Otira. One hardworking initiator of the Cobden Hill receiver/transmitter was Mr. Farrell. Hard work carrying the cr? batteries. up the hill. he went eventually to Hamilton. The first B&W T.V. we saw was the Beatles via satellite attempt and it was astonishing for the age.

Pam Englefield-Absolum
Stephanie working the switchboard. Taught her at St Marys Hugh school

Richard Howe
And mentioning telephones, our first 'phone in 1949 was one of those tall daffodil type ones, and we were on a party line with four other people.. This was in Hawke's Bay.

Susan Johnstone Lord
Still used these switchboards into mid1980s
Bob Laing
Tony. I am 74. One of jobs at home was to chop the heads of the chocks, pluck and clean them. We used to sell dressed fowls to the local grocer at Easter and Christmas

Catherine Ayers
A treat for us at Christmas and birthdays was a pot roast chicken cooked in the pressure cooker.
Never had a roast chicken till I was an adult.

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