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A.—2

No. 64. New Zealand, No. 319. Sir, — Downing Street, 27th August, 1913. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the General Post Office furnishing particulars of a system of " ocean letters " which the Marconi International Marine Communication Company (Limited) were authorized by the Postmaster-General in January last to introduce. 2. As regards the extension of the system to British ships whose wireless installations are controlled by companies other than the Marconi International Marine Communication Company, the Postmaster-General has pointed out that as the charges to be made by that company are less than those authorized by the international regulations, any proposals for the extension of the system should originate with the shipowners or wireless companies concerned. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 20th August, 1913. With reference to your letter of the Bth ultimo, No. 22830/1913, enclosing a copy of a letter from the High Commissioner for New Zealand asking for information as to the system of " ocean letters " introduced by the Marconi International Marine Communication Company (Limited), I am directed by the Postmaster-General to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the Postmaster-General authorized the company in January last to introduce the " ocean letter " system under the following conditions : — (i.) That the messages should not be transmitted when either of the ships concerned was within range of a coast station. (ii.) That they should only be exchanged between ships proceeding in opposite directions. (iii.) That only one ship-to-ship transmission should be allowed. (iv.) That radio-telegrams accepted under the provisions of the International Convention should not be delayed. The rates which the company were authorized to charge for " ocean letters " were ss. 6d. for the first thirty words, including postage and registration fee, and Id. for each word over thirty up to a maximum of 100 words. A similar arrangement was already in operation on certain German ships when the Marconi Company applied to the Postmaster-General for his authority to introduce the system ; and the Postmaster—General would have no objection to its adoption on British ships whose wireless installations are controlled by other companies. As the Secretary of State is aware, provision is made in the regulations of the new Radio-telegraph Convention, which have just come into force, for the exchange between ships of radio-telegrams to be posted at a port of call of the receiving ship ; and, in the absence of any special arrangement such as that referred to above, the ship charges for radio-telegrams exchanged under the new regulations will, in practically every case, be Bd. a word (4d. a word for each of the two ships)—a rate of charge which, with the addition of the charge for postage (2|d.), will be higher for every message containing more than seven words than under the " ocean letter " system introduced by the Marconi Company. I am, &c, The Secretary, Colonial Office. E. Cbabb.

No. 65. New Zealand, No. 320. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th August, 1913. With reference to my despatch, No. 230, of the 20th June, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of the Revised Regulations for the entry of naval cadets. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &o.