NEW COMMERCIAL CODE OF SIGNALS.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 686, 10 January 1865, Page 3

NEW COMMERCIAL CODE OF SIGNALS.

Colonial Secretary's office, Auckland, December 5, 1864. j The following despatch from her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies is published for general information. j Fbbd. A. Weld. ! Downing street, September 13,1864. Sir, —I transmit to you herewith, for your information and guidance, the copy of a correspondence with the Board of Trade, respecting the use of the " New Commercial Code of Signals," which has been adopted by the French Government by the accompanying decree. I am confident that your advisers will see the importance of co-operating cordially with her Majesty's Government in this matter. I have, kc, Edwabd Cabdwell. Governor Sir George Grey, K;C.B., I &c., &c.. kc. I Downing street, April 30,1864. I Sir, —With reference to your letter of the 21st instant, containing a recommendation from the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for trade, that the "New Commercial the code of Signals" should be used at a new signal station in Mauritius, in preference to Marryat's Elags, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Cardwell to ask whether their Lordships would think it advisable to recommend the Colonial Governments generally to use the code of signals? and, if so, m what terms the instructions or recommendations should be sent to them ? I am, &c., F. Rooebs. James Booth, Esq., 1 kc, kc, kc. Board of Trade, Whitehall, July 18,1864. Sir, —Referring to your letter of the 30th April last, in which you request to be informed whether my Lords think it advisable that the Colonial Governments generally should be recommended to promote the use of the New Commercial Code of Signals, and if so, in what terms the instructions or recommendations should he sent to them ; I am to request you to call the attention of Mr. Secretary Cardwell to the accompanying translation of a French Imperial Decree published in the Moniteur of the 7th instant, whereby the adoption of the Commercial Code of Signals is notified, and its exclusive use ordered for the French Merchant Navy, after a date to be hereafter affixed. The Signal Book and the Mercantile Navy List is also to be furnished to all French vessels of war for communicating with merchant vessels. Under these circumstances, and as it is probable that the Commercial Code will, in time, become the universal code for merchant vessels of all countries, my Lords are of opinion that her Majesty's Government to make every endeavor to facilitate the interchange" of communications with French and other vessels employing the Commercial Code, by promoting the use of the Code in our Colonies and Dependencies; and my Lords would suggest that in drawing the attention of the Governors of Her Majesty's possessions abroad to the Decree in question, Mr. Cardwell should impress upon the several Governments that it has now become a matter of importance that all master and attendants and harbor masters, and all signal stations within their respective jurisdictions, should be provided with sets of the flags and balls for communicating by the Code, and that they should also be furnished annually with the Signal Book and Mercantile Navy List, which are now combined in one volume. I am to add, that if in any colony or possession there should be any port, place, or signal station of any importance, the name of which does not at present appear in the geographical table of the Signal Book, a representation of the fact should be made to the Home Government, in order that the name may he added in tlie next edition, if the necessity is shown. I have, Ac., James Booth. The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Decree of the Emperor of the French for the exclusive use of the Commercial Code of Signals for all nations. Napoleon, kc, hays decreed, and do decree, as follows: — Art. 1. The Commercial Code of Signals for all nations, such as has been adopted by the AngloFrench Commission, shall be the only one employed for the interchange of communication by French Teasels, either amongst themselves, and with the semaphores, or with _he vessels of other nations. Art 2. Every vessel J[of our Imperial Navy, and every semaphore on the coast of France, should be provided with the vocabulary of flags, and other objects necessary for the exchange of communications with vessels belonging to the French Mercantile Marine and foreigners, according to the system determined by the said Code. Art. 3. Our ships of war will continue to communicate with each other, and with the French semaphores, by means of signals at present in use in the Imperial Marine. Art 4. Specimens of the work will be sent, under the directions of our Secretary of State of the Marine i and Colonies, to the Ca__mber of Commerce at the different ports:— Ist The Vocabulary of the CV>_unercial Code of Signals, as well as the list of French and Foreign vessels, and their official numbers in the Commercial Code of Signals; 2nd. lost of French Semaphores. Specimens will also be sent* to the Chambers of Commerce: — ... Ist Of the Universal Series of Flags contained m the Commercial Code of Signals ; * 2nd. Of the Black Balls used in signalling at a great distance. Art. 5. The details of the telegraphic transmission of commercial despatches received from vessels, or

transmitted by the semaphores, will be regulated by ulterior arrangements concerted by our Ministers, Secretaries of the State of tho Interior, and of the Marine. Art. 6. An order of our Minister, the Secretary of State, shall determine the day from the date of which the Commercial Code of signals shall be exclusively employed. Art. 7. All rules contrary to the present decree are and remain abrogated. Tuileries, June 25th, 1864.