23

F.—B

No. 50. The linn, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, Melbourne, to the Uight Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. Sir, — Prime Minister's Office, Melbourne, sth January, 1910. With reference to your letter of the 29th November last on the subject of the establishment of wireless telegraphy in the Commonwealth and New Zealand. 1 have the honour to inform you that, in view of the opinions expressed by you and at the recent Conference, the firms to whom forms of tender had been issued from the Postmaster-General's Department have been asked to include in their offers quotations for ;i range of 1,250 nautical miles, so that continuous' communication with a wireless telegraph etation in New Zealand would be assured. I have, &c, The Rif.'lit Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. Alfred Deakin. I Acknowledged 14th January, 19J0.J [Tel. 09 '344(20).] No. 51. The Senior Naval Officer, New Zealand, to His Excellency the Governor and Commander-in- ( Ihtef, New Zealand. .My Lord, 11.M.5. " Challenger," ai Wellington, sth January, 1910. With reference to the attached reports from 11.M.5. " Pioneer," 1 have, been directed by the Naval Commander-in-Chief to draw the attention of youi Government to the wireless stations noted therein. I have the honour to request that I may be informed whether the stations have been licensed by your Government, and that the Naval Commander-in-Chief may b< l informed when any new station is licensed oi erected. It is further requested that enclosures to this letter may be returned. I have, &c, Herbert C. C. De Costa, Captain and Senior Naval Officer. New Zealand. 11 1> Excellency the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, New Zealand. [Tel. 10 191(1).] Enclosure in No. 51. Bub-Lieutenant W.T.0., 11.M.5. " Pioneer," to the Commanding Officer, 11..M.5. " Pioneer." Sir, 11..M.5. " Pioneer." George Sound, 2nd December, 1909. I have the honour to submit that on thej23rd November, 1909, when in Timaru Harbour and signalling to H.M.S. " Challenger," at Wellington, we were constantly receiving wireless signals oilier than service ones, and, as they were impeding us. I requested them to cease. On the 24th November I. sent Petty Officer. First (lass. R. \Y. Newman, telegraphist, Official Number 183585 Chatham, to inspect this installation, and I submit bis report [not printed]. 1 would suggest that the authorities be informed, and a tuned system used as found in the Post Office Handbook on Control of Wireless Signalling, as the system now employed would seriously affect any of His Majesty's ships on active service should this spread. I also hear that there are similar stations in Duiiedin. The operators mentioned in the report are endeavouring to obtain a more powerful and efficient outfit. I have, &c, The Commanding Officer, H.M.S. " Pioneer." Harold O. Joyce, Sub-Lieutenant W.T.I). . No. 52. [Translation.] The, Director, International Bureau of the Telegraph Union, Berne, to the SECRETARY, General Post Office, Wellington. Str,— Berne, Bth January. 1910. We beg to inform you that we propose to prepare and publish each year general statistics relating to radiotelegraphy, as is done in the case of international telegraphy and telephony, which this bureau publishes annually. This return'Jwill deal with stations, instruments, start', traffic, receipts, and expenditure. The International Radio Convention came into force on the Ist July, 1908, and the first return will therefore be for the second half-year, 1908. We think, however, it would be of real interest to begin with the position as on the Ist July. 1908. This return would serve as an initial starting-point, and it would be possible then to follow from the very beginning the successive development of the new method of communication. We forward herewith three copies [not printed] of each of the undermentioned forms, intended to contain information relative to your Administration. We should be glad it you would return one copy of each of these forms, duly completed, one correct as on the 30th June. 11)08 (Form A), the other correct as on the 31st December, 1908, and the state of business during the intervening period (Form B).