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F.—B

No. 30. [Translation.] The Director of Posts and Telegraphs, Noumea, to the Hon. the Minister of Telegraphs, Wellington. Sir,— Noumea, 7th April, 1909. Having been intrusted with the duty of inquiring into a scheme of wireless telegraphy in New Caledonia, I have the honour to ask you if you will kindly inform me whether the New Zealand Government intends to, or has already, installed a similar station on Norfolk Island. It is quite evident that direct communication between these two points by this new system would allow of our sending telegrams not only on Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, but also on Fiji. America, and even Europe, with greater despatch and under more favourable conditions than those at present in operation. In the event of our programme being realised, could you also tell me, first of all, what would be— The nature of the apparatus adopted by your Government, the wave-length, and the name of your constructing engineer. Then the rates charged by New Zealand for the exchange of wireless telegrams between the Norfolk station — i.e., what would be the rate fixed per " wireless " word between Noumea. Norfolk, Auckland, and beyond. I should be very glad if you could favour me with a reply as soon as possible, since the Governor of New Caledonia is personally interesting himself in the question. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Telegraphs, Wellington. Director of Posts and Telegraphs. [Tel. 09/344(12).] No. 81. The Hon. the Minister of Telegraphs, Wellington, to the Director of Posts and Telegraphs, Noumea. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington. 11th May. 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th ultimo, asking whether the New Zealand Government has installed, or intends to install, a wireless-telegraph station on Norfolk Island. In reply, I beg to inform you that there are at present no wireless-telegraph stations in this Dominion. This Department has had various systems submitted for consideration, but has not yet entertained any of the proposals, pending further satisfactory developments in the other colonies. A representative conference on the whole question would probably be required as a preliminary method of settling what system, if any, should be established. In view of future requirements, the Department is in the meantime keeping itself informed of all wireless-telegraph systems and their advancement. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, Minister of Telegraphs. The Director of Posts and Telegraphs, Noumea, New Caledonia. No. 32. The Chairman, Pacific Radiotelegraph Company, London, to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister (in London). Sir,— 32 Old Jewry, London, E.C., 24th June, 1909. I am requested by my co-directors to submit for your consideration the following proposal for the co-operation of the Government of New Zealand in establishing and maintaining a radiotelegraph service to communicate between New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea, and the chief islands of the South Pacific. 2. The Pacific Radiotelegraph Company of London has been formed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining reliable radiotelegraph communication between the chief Pacific islands, marked in red, green, and brown on the accompanying chart [not printed], and also with the proposed Government radiotelegraph stations in New Zealand, Australia, and New Guinea, marked in blue (when such stations are erected). 3. Pi'ovidcd sufficient support is forthcoming in the nature of subsidies and guarantees from the different Governments and trading companies interested in the development and administration of these islands, it is proposed to establish and maintain communication between Fiji and the following places : (1) Ocean Island, (2) Samarai, New Guinea, (3) the New Hebrides, (4) Solomon Islands, (5) Tonga, (6) Rarotonga, (7) Tahiti, (8) Makatea. 4. The station proposed to be erected at Suva will have a working radius of 1,250 miles, and will be able to communicate direct with the station proposed for Doubtless Bay. The station proposed to be erected at Rarotonga will have a working radius of 900 miles, and will be able to communicate direct with Tonga, Samoa, and Tahiti, and on to New Zealand through the Fijian station. 5. The total capital outlay required is estimated at £56,000, the Rarotonga station costing £8,000. The total cost of maintenance and operating the service is estimated at about £25,000 per annum.

3-F. 8.