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MISCELLANEOUS. No. 132. The Secretary, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. , Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir,— Dunedin, 28th April, 1913. I am enclosing copy of a circular received from Marconi International Marine Communication Company, London, regarding a new class of radio-telegram which we are informed came into operation as from the Ist April last, and I shall be glad to know whether the intimation affects the ship stations licensed by your Department, including those engaged in the trans-Pacific service. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. C. Hughes, Secretaiy. [P. & T. 7.1/19.]

Enclosure in No. 132. The Marconi International Marine Communication Company (Limited). —Circular No. 229. On and after the Ist April, 1913, a new class of radio-telegram, which shall be known as the " ocean letter," will be introduced, and to which the following regulations shall be applicable : — The " ocean letter," which shall bear the prefix SSD, is a radio-telegram which may be sent from one ship to another ship going in an opposite direction, for delivery by registered post from the first port of call of the latter vessel. ■ Tariff. The rate for SSD messages will be ss. 6d. for the first thirty words, including postage and registration fee, and Id. per word thereafter up to a maximumjof 100 words, international counting. The conditions under which the newsservice is authorized are as follows : — (I.) That the message shall not be transmitted when either of the ships concerned is within range of a shore station. (2.) That they shall only be exchanged between ships/proceeding in opposite directions. (3.) That only one ship-to-ship fcransmissiontshall be allowed. (4.) That radio-telegrams accepted under the provisions of the International Convention shall not be delayed. (5.) SSD messages will rank in priority after fully paid and franked messages, and shall not interfere with the prompt despatch of all ordinary traffic. No franking authority will be applicable to this class of message. (6.) " Ocean letters " are until further notice to be transmitted only to ship stations controlled by the undermentioned, and under no conditions whatever may they be sent to a coast station for delivery by post: — The Marconi International Marine Communication Company (Limited), Marconi House, Strand, London W.C. La Compagnie Francaise Maritime et Coloniale de Telegraphie sans Fil, 35 Boulevard des Capucin.es, Paris. La Compagnie de Telegraphie sans Fil, Rue Bredcrode .13, Brussels. The Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of Canada (Limited); 86 Notre Dame Street, Montreal. The Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America, Lords Court Building, 27 William Street, New York. La Compagnia Internazionale Marconi per la Comunicazioni Marittime, Via del Collegio Romano No. 15, Rome. An operator receiving an SSD message for delivery will see that it is properly enveloped and addressed, and will arrange for it to be sent forward to its destination by registered post from the first port of call. In any case where registration cannot be effected the SSD message is to be despatched by ordinary letter-post, and a note of explanation is to be made on the back of the office copy of the received-form. For abstracting purposes SSD messages will be entered on Forms Nos. 7 and 9 in the usual manner. The sender of an " ocean letter " may not choose a ship to which the message shall be sent. Its disposal will depend solely on local conditions, and is to be effected in accordance with the above regulations. Special forms and envelopes in connection with this new class of traffic will be issued, and telegraphists should be careful to see that this stationery is put to the proper use. The Marconi International Marine Communication Company (Limited). Marconi House, Strand, London W.C, 19th February, 1913.