F.—B

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of a high exercise of inventive ability. No prior existing system was complete, or had been shown or conceived to be commercially operative. A sufficient answer to the attempts to belittle Marconi's great invention is that, with the whole scientific world awakened by the disclosures of Hertz in 1887 to the new and undeveloped possibilities of electric waves, nine years elapsed without a single practical or commercially successful result, and that Marconi was the first to describe and the first to achieve the transmission of defined intelligible signals." Yours, &c, E. Kilburn Scott. The Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General, New Zealand. [Tel. 05/567(3).]

No. 61. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to Mr. E. Kilburn Scott, Sydney. Sl R> — General Post Office, Wellington, 30th August, 1905. I have the honour to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your letter of the 17th ultimo, on matters connected with wireless telegraphy, and, in reply, to inform you that your representations will have due consideration when the time comes for discussing the question of connecting Australia with New Zealand by means of the wireless telegraph system. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General. E. Kilburn Scott, Esq., M.1.E.E., &c, Electrical Engineering Laboratory, The University, Sydney. Tel. 05/567(3).]

No. 62. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st September, 1905. With reference to my circular despatch of the 20th of June last respecting the form of licenses for the establishment of wireless telegraphy stations, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the General Post Office with regard to certain statements which have recently been observed in the Press as to the contemplated establishment of wireless communication between Australia and New Zealand. I shall be glad if you will invite your Ministers to be good enough to comply with the requests of the Postmaster-General. I have, &c, Alfred Lyttelton. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. X'el. 05/567.]

Enclosure in No. 62. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 12th September, 1905. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to say, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that he has recently observed statements in the Press to the effect that arrangements have been made for the establishment of wireless telegraph communication between Australia and New Zealand at a cost of £28,000; and also that negotiations have been taking place between the Government of Natal and the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company for the establishment of a wireless station at Durban, but that as these negotiations have been unsuccessful other arrangements are now contemplated. In view of the interest of this Department in wireless telegraphy, the Postmaster-General would be much obliged if Mr. Secretary Lyttelton would be so good as to cause him to be informed, after communication with the Colonial Governments if necessary, whether these statements are correct. He should also be glad to be put in possession of any further particulars which can be furnished on the subject, and more especially to learn what system of wireless telegraphy it is proposed to adopt in each case. He understands that Mr. Lyttelton has recently requested, in circular letters to the selfgoverning colonies, that His Majesty's Government may be given an opportunity of offering their observations on any application for the installation of a wireless telegraph system which may possibly communicate with similar systems in foreign countries, and that the Governors of the oilier colonies have been asked not to grant or promise any license for wireless telegraphy without previous reference to the Secretary of State. Lord Stanley ventures to assume that applications referred to the Colonial Office in accordance with these requests will be communicated to him, either directly or through the medium of the Cables (Landing Rights) Committee. He thinks it desirable, however, if Mr. Lyttelton sees no objection, that these arrangements should be carried a step further, and that the Governments of the self-governing colonies should be asked to inform the Colonial Office from time to time of any new stations which may be established, or of any important development in connection with wireless telegraphy which may arise within their jurisdiction. I am to add that His Majesty's representatives in foreign countries have already been instructed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to report from time to time on these points in respect of the countries to which they are accredited, and that their reports are communicated in due course to this Department. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. A. F. Kino.