F.—B.

tions passing in one direction, until the ships trading in those waters were equipped with installations of such power as to enable them to communicate with one shore or the other during the whole of their voyage. Such installations are most unusual at the present time even on the largest of the Atlantic liners. Any contribution by the shipping companies towards the cost of establishing and working the shore stations would, it is assumed, be by payment at a rate per message or per word, but such rate or method of charging has not yet been considered. 4. Communications from Australia to New Zealand or from either shore to ships of the Imperial Navy may be obtained by the installation of stations by the Governments, but it does not yet appear to have been shown that the various shipping companies are prepared to second the action of the Government by installing wireless systems on their ships, or that the expenditure of the amounts necessary for the long-distance stations is likely to be justified by any considerations of the advantages for purposes of defence or the utility to the general merchant-shipping service. 5. In view of the foregoing considerations, and also of the reports that have appeared in the Press with respect to recent improvements in connection with wireless telegraphy, T may state that it is not the intention of this Department to invite tenders for such installations at the present lime, and it would therefore not appear to be necessary to consider closely the adequacy of the draft specification submitted by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. 6. With reference to the request for advice as to the experience with the experimental installations between Queenscliff and Devonport, I may state that this pair of stations was installed in July, 1906, since which date they have been utilised for occasional transmissions of messages for purposes of demonstration. No official tests have, however, been made to show the performance of these stations tinder normal working-conditions, and no general report on this point can therefore be given. I have, &c, Robert T. Scott, Secretary. The Secretary, Department of External Affairs, Melbourne.

No. 37. The SECRETARY, General Post Office, Wellington, to the DIRECTOR, International Bureau of Telegraphic Administrations, Berne. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 18th February, 1907. 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Ist ultimo, forwarding two copies of the International Wireless-telegraph Convention of Berlin, and notifying that, subject 10 the approval of the Telegraphic Administrations of the Union, your Bureau had been entrusted with the duty of acting as International Bureau as laid down in Article XIIT of the said Convention. I have, &c, ... W. Gray, Secretary. The Director, International Bureau of Telegraphic Administration, Berne. .... [Tel. 07/156(2).] :

MISCELLANEOUS.

EMPIRE CABLES, ETC.

No. 38. The Secretary, the Board of Trade of the City of Ottawa, Canada, to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. SIR _ Ottawa, Ontario, 27th December, 1906. I have the honour to forward, for your information, a copy of an address to the " Eighty Club" by Sir Sandford Fleming, and other documents on the subject of an Imperial Intelligence Service in connection with a system of Empire cables. It is understood that the Canadian Government takes a favourable view of the proposal advocated, and regards it as a proper subject for consideration at the Conference to assemble in London next April. I have, &c, Cecil Bethune, Secretary. •'" V The Hon. Sir Joseph Ward. K.C.M.G., Premier of New Zealand, Wellington. fTel. 07/327.] "

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