WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 34

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY

ALLEGED INFRINGEMENTS OF RIGHTS. MELBOURNE, January 16. The Australian agent of the Marconi Company has issued a writ against Messrs Huddart, Parker, and Co., claiming an infringement of the Marconi patents on the company’s ships in Victorian waters by using the Telefunken system. The agent stated that the instructions to issue the writ were received from Great Britain. Similar action will be taken in New Zealand against Messrs Huddart, Parker, and Co. and the New Zealand Government. Mr Fisk, the agent, referring to the statements that Mr Marconi’s action against Messrs Siemens Bros, had been withdrawn, said he had commenced an action for the infringement of only one patent. That had been withdrawn in order to institute a fresh action, which was now proceeding. DISPUTED PATENT RIGHTS. WELLINGTON, January 17. On the subject of the cablegram from Melbourne re wireless patents, it is ascertained that the case against Huddart, Parker, and Co. will probably come on for trial next month. The litigation is really between the Marconi Company and the Australian Wireless Company, and will ultimately decide, as far as New Zealand law 'is concerned, the validity of the respective patents. Litigation will extend over a considerable period, and will probably involve the taking of expert evidence in England, Germany, and elsewhere. Mr Bell, K.C., and Mr Skerrett, K.C., are appearing for the Marconi Company, and Sir John Findlay, K.G., for the Australian Wireless Company, owners of the Telefunken patent. It is also ascertained that proceedings have just been taken against the New Zealand Government in the same connection. The case against the Crown, which will really be fought out between the two companies, will, so far as the validity of the patent .is concerned, probably await decision in the action against the Huddart-Parker Company. AUCKLAND, January 19.

The wireless operator of the Mantua, which arrived from London this morning, was successful in maintaining fairly con slant communication with shore stations, and a record of the world’s happenings was secured. An interesting connection was made on New Year’s Eve, when the operator at Cocos Island was spoken, and greetings exchanged. Although the station on the island is a very small-powered one, the distance over which messages travelled was 1002 miles. On January 18 the operator got into touch with the Suva station, a distance of 1030 miles.

(From Ocr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 19. Yesterday, shortly after 10 p.m., the Wellington wireless station, which is at the General Poet Office, heard the radio telegraph elation recently erected at Maccpiarie Island calling various stations, but was unable to communicate with that station, as likewise were several ships and stations which at that time were in touch with the radio Wellington station. The distance to the Macquarie Island from Wellington is approximately 1100 miles. When the high-power station now in course of erection on the TLnakorl Hills, behind Wellington, Is completed, we shall be able to say “How-do-you-do!” to Dr Mawson’s merry men on the Macquaries.