History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/John Graeme Balsillie/Notes

1884 08
First mention in Trove of our Balsillie family, Balsillie's father James Pearson Balsillie departs Brisbane for Cooktown on the steamer Elamang "SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. . . . DEPARTURES. . . . August 9.— ELAMANG, s., Captain T. A. Lake, for Cooktown, via ports. Passengers: For Rockhampton — Messrs. Wm. Spier, S. K. Hawkey, A. Archer; for Mackay — Mrs. Dyer, Messrs. A. Campbell, H. Wren, Baker, W. J. Munce, T. Matthews, H. Dwyer, H. Kidd, Geo. Birdsville, Bosanquet; for Townsville — Mrs. Pierce, Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Kaye, Mrs. Eaton and 2 children, Miss Gordon, Messrs. J. E. Longden, Exton, Jas. Overend, M. Golk, A. Longden, F. Haig, F. Wells, K. Harvey, R. C. O'Flaherty, J. F. Henderson, S. Kave, M. Lough; for Johnstone River — Mr. and Mrs. P. R. Shipton; for Cairns — Messrs. J. McKnight, W. Ferguson, W. Quinn; for Port Douglas — Miss Wylie; for Cooktown — Captain Foulis, E. Lee, J. P. Balsillie, E. L. Holland, and 22 in the steerage. W. Williams, agent."

1884 10
Balsillie's father fails to claim a letter at Rockhampton post office "UNCLAIMED LETTERS. LIST of Unclaimed Letters at the Post Office, Rockhampton; if not claimed on or before November 17, 1884, will be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office, Brisbane. EDWIN DA COSTA, P.O., Rockhampton, October 24, 1884. Postmaster. . . . Balsillie, J. P.; . .."

Balsillie's father departs Brisbane for Cooktown on the SS Katoomba "SHIPPING. . . . DEPARTURES. . . . October 25.— KATOOMBA, A.S.N. Company's s., 489 tons, Captain R. Armstrong, for Cooktown, via intermediate ports. Passengers: Mrs. W. H. Wright, Mrs. O'Dwyer, Mrs. Nested, Mrs. Bray, Mrs. Randall, Miss Judge, Messrs. W. H. Wright, R. Kean, James Moore, T. Hopkins, A. Gray, Osbourne, Balsillie, E. R. Lee, W. S. Benton, C. E. Roe, G. T. Brodie, C. H. Gruetzskey, F. Watson, J. Manning, F. C. Hodel, and 9 in the steerage. W. Williams, agent."

1884 12
Balsillie's father returns to Brisbane from Port Douglas on the SS Quiraing "SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVALS. December 14.— Quiraing, s., from Port Douglas, via ports. Passengers: Mrs. Fraser and two children, Mrs. Gough, Mrs. Stockman, Mrs. Bennett and child, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Flemming, Miss M. Flemming, Miss S. Allan, Miss Walters, Miss Anderson, Dr. Thomatis, Messrs. D. Desmond, J. Fraser, W. Voss, J. Stockman, W. Erdis, J. Overend, E. Brown, A. H. Prince, J. P. Balsillie, R. Morsworth, J. C. Smith, W. Frost, C. Grant; 33 steerage."

1885 08
Balsillie's father departs Brisbane for Cooktown "Shipping Intelligence. . . . Departures. . . . August 15 — RANELAGH, s., Captain Beel, for Cooktown, via ports. Passengers: Mrs. Harrison, Mrs. Barrett, Miss G. Pope, Dr. Howlett, Messrs. P. Knox, E. Mitton, W. Hans, H. Henderson, A. Seymour, S. Wolff, J. Bayne, A. Bayne, J. M. Smart, Cr. M. Yorex, Creswell, J. Stansfield, J. P. Balsillie, J?? Bell, P. J. Martin, L. E. Magon, W. K. Salton, ?? Wrill, W. E. Dean, W. Bennett, and 7 in the steerage."

1885 09
Birth notice for Balsillie "Birth. BALSILLIE.— At Fernlea, Toowong, on the 11th September, the wife of Mr. J. P. Balsillie, of a son."

1887 07
Balsillie's father departs Brisbane on the SS Katoomba for Cooktown "SHIPPING. . . . DEPARTURES. . . . July 26.— KATOOMBA, A.U.S.N. Company's s., 1100 tons, Captain F. G. Lee, for Cooktown, via intermediate ports. Passengers: Mesdames Cardno, J. Hooper, Cameron and 2 children, Misses Dunsford, R. A. Colles, F. Colles, Hooper, Cameron, Cameron, Rev. W. H. Rogers, Chinese Commissioner (General Wong Yung Ho), Consul-General (U. Tsing), secretary (Yuen Lim Seng), Messrs. John Hooper, Anderson, E. N. Grant, John Smith, J. P. Balsillie, McMicking, J. W. Daly, Cameron, E. Firth, Dunsford, W. J. Hurst, Carr, A. Robson, R. M. Flower, T. Pattison, Montague Carr, A. Spooner, R. Keating, and 12 in the steerage. The B.I. and Q.A. Company, Limited, managing agents."

1887 08
Balsillie's father resigns his postion on the committee of the Commercial Travellers' Association, as relocating to Townsville "Commercial Travellers. A meeting of the Commercial Travellers' Association was held last night at the Australian Hotel. Mr. Kebble occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance. Correspondence and business of a routine nature were gone through. Mr. Balsillie resigned his position as committeeman on account of his removing to Townsville, and Mr. G. Street was elected in his place. Mr. Russell resigned his position as vice-president, and Mr. Willett was elected to the vacant office, Mr Budd being elected to Mr. Willett's place on the committee. Mr. L. M. Bond was elected a member of the association. This concluded the business and the meeting terminated."

1888 06
Balsillie's father and heavily pregnant mother return to Brisbane from Townsville, father goes back to Townsville two days later "Shipping Intelligence. ARRIVALS. . . . June 17.— QUIRAING, A.U.S.N. Company's s., 1200 tons, Captain F. G. Lee, from Cooktown, via inter-mediate ports. Passengers: Mesdames Harris, maid and child, Balsillie and child, Walters and child, Webster and child, and Holland, Dr. Hogg, Inspector Stafford, Messrs. Harris, J. P. Balsillie, Alney, W. Davidson, A. Helmrich, H. V. Bath, E. O. Holkirk, Murray-Prior, Decastrus, Alexander, W. Robertson, Webster, Barry, and 30 in the steerage. . . . DEPARTURES. . . . June 19.— ELAMANG, A.U.S.N. Company's s., 1000 tons, Captain J. E. Butcher, for Cooktown, via intermediate ports. Passengers: Mesdames C. J. Cory. Scougall, Meaghers, Jones, McGrath, Looker and maid, Merrissey, Sheehy, Ettlinger, G. Aitken and 2 children, Misses Daly, Newton, Binger, Macrossan, and Jones, Hon. J. M. Macrossan, M.L.A., J. Seaver, M.P., Revs. Dr. Hutchinson, W. Barrie, N. Sandy, W. Flanchion, G. Aitken, Messrs. R. J. Sayers, M.L.A., J. R. Bolam, J. H. Rogers, A. Loder, T. W. Daly, Reid, Dalrymple, R. Gilchrist. D. Gilchrist, J. E. Wren, Callaghan, W. E. Yaldwyn, C. J. Cory, J. P. Balsillie, Looker, Marshall, John Ramsay, R. C. Meiklejohn, K. M. Black, A. M. Bowman, and 29 in the steerage."

1888 08
Birth notice for Balsillie's brother Kenneth Johnston Balsillie "BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. . . . BIRTHS. BALSILLIE.— On the 28th September, at the residence of her mother, Fernlea, Toowong, the wife of J. Pearson Balsillie, of Townsville, of a son."

1888 11
Balsillie's father returns to Townsville after brief stay in Brisbane "DEPARTURES. . . . November 17.— MARANOA, A.U.S.N. Company's s., 1505 tons, Captain R. Armstrong, for Cooktown, via intermediate ports. Passengers: Mesdames Green and child, McLennan, Lynett, Ford, and Wright, Misses Thomas, Eva Thomas, Maggie Thomas, M. McCarthy, Plulo, and Lynett, Hon. J. F. McDougall, 'Major' Wright (Salvation Army), Messrs. A. Brooks, C. E. Brown, Longwell, Alexander, J. P. Balsillie, Ford, J. Corbett, W. Keating, H. O. Paton, W. O. Hodgkinson, J. V. S. Barnett, T. Mclean, K. Fraser, Pictet, T. Rauft, T. H. Lanfer, H. L. Green, F. J. Parry, W. Nicholas, F. W. Blakey, Plulo, A. G. Frazer, H. Donald, T. H. Smith, H. L. Black, S. Wolff, T. Lukin, H. Fischer, W. Helton, Quilinan, William White, McIvernay, C. A. Pollard, R. M. Hall, G. F. Marsh, D. P. Thomas, T. Thomas, Fergus Thomas, Wholohan, B. E. Ninde, J. J. Killalea, and 27 in the steerage. The B.I. and Q.A. Company, Limited, managing agents."

1889 04
Death notice for Balsillie's father James Pearson Balsillie "BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. . . . DEATH. BALSILLIE.— On the 28th April, at Fernlea, Toowong, James Pearson Balsillie, of Townsville, third son of John Balsillie, St. Andrew's, Scotland, aged 34 years."

Funeral notice for Balsillie's father James Pearson Balsillie "FUNERAL NOTICE.— The Friends of JAMES PEARSON BALSILLIE, deceased, are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which is appointed to move from the residence of Mrs. Johnston, Fernlea, Emma street, Toowong, THIS (Monday) AFTERNOON, at 4 o'clock, to the Brisbane General Cemetery. JOHN HISLOP, Undertaker."

1901 02
Article by Barton (Balsillie's mentor) on rain making, likely generated Balsillie's subsequent interest in the topic "RAINMAKING. By E. C. Barton, M.I.E.E. The art of rainmaking is very ancient, but has remained undeveloped since the time when civilisation was confined to hot climates. Modern science has been developed on the Western side of the Old World in countries blessed with an even rainfall, and droughts are there so rare that the energy of the inventor has never been drawn towards rainmaking. There is no doubt that among the Chaldeans and other nations of the Babylonian era of civilisation the question of rainmaking offered a very tempting field of investigation. Their methods of investigation were very different from ours, but they were very successful in some directions, and they may have had more success in rainmaking than we imagine. The Biblical accounts of their doings throw a sidelight on the question, and the modern investigator cannot help being struck with the importance attached to the motion of the smoke ascending from their priests' sacrifices as bearing on our conception of rain-production by upward disturbance of the atmosphere. The Hon. A. C. Gregory told in a recent address to the Royal Society how, in his exploring days, he had produced rain by making a large fire on the Western plains of Queensland. When we come to study the matter with the aid of our twentieth century knowledge we find the matter of rain production to be very interesting. Primarily it depends on the power which air possesses of absorbing a quantity of water and carrying it thousands of miles, in an absolutely invisible form. Tropical air at 80deg. will hold 2lb. of water in every 1000 cubic feet, and will carry the water any distance if it is not cooled. If the heat is decreased then the air cannot hold the water, and clouds are formed; if the heat further decreases, the clouds become so dense that drops are formed, and fall as rain, until at a temperature of 60deg. the air has shed three-quarters of its holding of water. Air may appear very dry and clear, and yet contain a large amount of moisture, air at 100deg. feeling dry, though it may contain 2lb. per 1000 cubic feet, while at 80deg. the same air would be uncomfortably moist. Thus in the driest summers there is always plenty of moisture in the air, but it can only be squeezed out of the air by a loss of heat, and to bring about that cooling there is only one rapid method, and that is to drive the air upwards to a height of a few thousand feet. Mountains do it for us in most countries, but in Australia we have a dearth of mountains, and must look for mechanical means of a more modern type. It can easily be proved that Mr. Gregory's method of producing rain depended for its success on the upward current of air produced, and we have only to extend the principle and apply it by means of powerful engines and blowing fans to produce rainfall at any time when the moisture in the air exceeds a certain percentage. A study of the exact conditions prevailing in the interior of Australia, together with kite and balloon experiments to determine the temperature and humidity of the air at different altitudes would soon enable us to evolve a definite and well matured plan of rain-making such as would make Queensland the home of ten million people. Such experiments are now being conducted by the American Weather Bureau."

1903 12
Balsillie (17yo), mother (Eliza Balsillie nee Johnston, 47yo) and brother (Kenneth Johnston Balsillie, 14yo) migrate to England "SHIPPING. DEPARTURES. . . . SUEVIC'S PASSENGERS. Messrs. Dalgety and Co. advise that the following is a list of Brisbane passengers booked by them for the steamer Suevic, sailing from Sydney today: Mrs. Balsillie, Misses Jefferies, V. Jefferies, Hamilton, G. Hamilton, A. Stewart, Messrs. W. W. Smith, J. Balsillie, K. Balsillie, T. A. Goodman, W. Howard."

1906 07
Funeral notice for Balsillie's maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Johnston nee Ure "FUNERAL NOTICES. . . . FUNERAL NOTICE.— The Funeral of the late Mrs. ELIZABETH URE JOHNSTON, mother of Mrs. Balsillie, Mrs. BERNARD, GEORGE, JOHN URE, and WILLIAM URE JOHNSTON will move from her residence, 'Clairmont,' Clayfield, THIS (Tuesday) AFTERNOON, at 2.30 o'clock, for the Toowong Cemetery. JOHN HISLOP, Funeral Director."

Belated death notice for Balsillie's maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Johnston nee Ure "Deaths. JOHNSTON.— On 9th July, at her residence, Clairmont, Adelaide street, Clayfield, Elizabeth Ure Johnston, widow of the late Peter Johnston, Glasgow, Scotland, aged 78 years."

1909 11
Quick already aware of Balsillie system and requests an expert report on it "Wireless Telegraphy. Sir John Quick has authorised Captain Collins to secure an expert report on the value of the Balsillie system of wireless telegraphy. In so doing the Postmaster-General has acted wisely. A revolution in telegraphy is coming, or, should it be said, has come? Mr Marconi informed the delegates who attended the Imperial Press Conference that 'all the ships in the North Atlantic service are fitted with wireless telegraphy apparatus.' He explained that the Mediterranean, the coasts of Great Britain, of Ireland, of the United States, and of Canada are so well supplied with stations that the ships find the apparatus invaluable. He expressed the opinion that the route to the East could and should be as fully supplied. At the date of his utterance, July last, Mr Marconi said that, when possessed of the necessary stations, his company would be prepared to forward press messages from England to Canada at twopence a word. The cost of the stations he put down at L50,000 each, and the capacity of a single service at 25 words a minute. In reply to Mr Bruce Smith, Sir John Quick last week informed the House of Representatives that the Tasmanian cable cost L127 per nautical mile, and that from 15 to 20 words per minute is a fair speed for cable messages. Clearly, then, when long distances are in question, there is a splendid future for wireless telegraphy. That the system can be adopted for the transmission of messages, press and other, between England and Australia, Mr Marconi has no doubt. Indeed, he stated certain grounds for supposing that 'a message at the Antipodes might be received better than one half-way to the Antipodes.' It would seem that we are within measurable distance of realising Mr Henniker-Heaton's dream of penny messages throughout the Empire, New Zealand is alert. Sir Joseph Ward, in his Budget statement last night, declared that his Government would wait twelve mouths, as great improvements in 'wireless' are likely within that time, and then adopt a vigorous policy which will forge new links between the Dominion, Great Britain, and Australia."

1910 03
Tender of Australasian Wireless Co for VIS and VIP conditionally accepted "WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. ERECTION OF STATIONS. TENDER CONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED. BENDIGO, Tuesday.— The Postmaster-General (Sir John Quick), in consultation with Mr John Hesketh (chief electrical engineer of the Commonwealth), who visited Bendigo specially for the purpose, had under consideration today the five tenders which have been received by the department for the erection of two high power wireless telegraph stations in Australia, one in or near Fremantle, and the other in or near Sydney. Subsequently Sir John Quick made the following statement:— 'The tenders, with one exception, complied with all the requirements of the specification prescribed by the department after consultation with the defence authorities. The principal conditions insisted upon were in regard to range signalling, wave lengths, and tuning. The prices quoted by the respective tenderers included all the plant required, but not buildings or foundations, which will have to be provided by the department. The works to be provided are as follow:— (1) Prime motor giving power to drive dynamos; (2) internal electrical fittings in stations; and (3) masts and aerials. The successful tenderers will have to erect the plant on sites in or near Fremantle and Sydney to be determined by the Government and they will also have to provide for supervision in the working of the plants for three months after erection and maintenance for 12 months, during which time they will be required to keep the whole of the installations in working order. I perused the tenders together with the reports of the advisory tender board, of which Captain Creswell (representing the Commonwealth Defence department), Lieutenant Cheesman (in charge of the wireless work connected with the Australian squadron) and Mr. Hesketh (the chief electrical engineer for the Commonwealth) were members. The board recommended the acceptance of the lowest tender, subject to certain conditions. As the question is not finally but only conditionally settled I do not feel at liberty to give full particulars and details of any of the tenders. I have approved of the acceptance of the lowest tender subject to the following express conditions:— (1) Some stipulation with the tenderer as to the nature of the labour to be employed during the probationary period of supervision and maintenance; (2) that the Secretary of State for the Colonies should be informed through the Governor-General that it is the intention of the department to accept the lowest tender, giving brief particulars of the tenders received, and the system to be employed by the lowest tenderer, also informing him of the advice of the department tender board, and asking whether there is aby reason why the lowest tender should not be accepted. This action is necessary, because during previous discussions on the question of establishing wireless telegraph stations in Australia the British Government asked that the Commonwealth Government, before committing itself to any specific system or contract, should communicate with them on the subject. This message to the Imperial Government will not necessarily involve any material delay, as it will be done by cable. If no objections or difficulties be raised in the reply, the lowest tender will at once be accepted, and then full information respecting the details of the contract will be made public.'"

1910 11
Issues with both Marconi system and Telefunken system "QUESTIONS IN THE SENATE. ADMIRAL POORE'S ADVICE. Various questions regarding the contracts for wireless installations in Australia were asked in the Senate yesterday. Senator Findlay, replying to Senator Givens (Q.) said that the contracts for the erection of wireless telegraph stations at Sydney and Fremantle had not yet been signed by the contractors. The guarantors were Hugh Robert Denison and William Norman M'Leod. They had not yet signed the guarantee. It was not a fact that Admiral Poore had expressed a decided preference for the Marconi system as against the Telefunken. Before tenders for the Sydney and Fremantle stations had been received, Admiral Poore had advised that from a strategical point of view Marconi's installation should be fitted, as owing to the existing contract with the Marconi Company, H. M. vessels would not be able to communicate with the shore stations or carry out any trials with a view to testing the installations if any other system were adopted but in a subsequent communication Admiral Poore had advised that the Admiralty were released from the obligation against intercommunication with stations fitted with other than Marconi apparatus, and that the restrictions on H.M. vessels from communicating with or carrying out trials with any shore stations fitted with apparatus other than Marconi would therefore no longer apply. In another communication the Admiralty advised that, subject to the system selected being able readily to communicate with H.M. vessels, and to intercommunicate with any other system in use, the Commonwealth might adopt what system it pleased and need not confine itself to any one system exclusively. Replying to a further batch of questions asked by Senator Givens, Senator Findley said that it was not a fact that the Telefunken wireless system was essentially a short range system. The Postmaster-General had been informed that there were at least nine stations at which the Telefunken svstem was able to maintain wireless telegraphic communication over an ocean range of 1,250 miles — the distance specified for the Australian stations. There was believed to be no reason whatever why the contractors for the stations at Sydney and Fremantle should not carry out the conditions of the contract with the Telefunken system. Senator Keating (T.).— Is the Minister aware of the fact that there are Australians who have their own systems which are supposed to surpass both the Telefunken and the Marconi systems? Senator Findley said that he was aware that there were wireless systems, which were the invention of Australians in Australia at the present time. He was not in a position to say whether those systems were superior to any other systems. If notice of the question were given, he would make inquiries. Senator Millen (N.S.W.).— So far as the statement that there are nine installations of the Telefunken system with an ocean range of 1,250 miles, is concerned, I would like to know if the Minister's informants were the tenderers for the Telefunken installation? Senator Findley asked that notice of the question be given."

1911 02
Marconi Company wins its claim for patent infringement against Balsillie's Company "QUESTION OF PATENTS. MARCONI CLAIM UPHELD. LONDON, Feb. 21. An action has been heard in the Chancery Court, before Mr. Justice Parker, in which Mr. Guglielmo Marconi and Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co. (Limited) proceeded against the British Radio Telegraph and Telephone Company Limited, alleging infringements of the plaintiffs' three patents with reference to wireless telegraphy. The patents were taken out in the years 1900, 1902, and 1907 respectively. The claim made by the 1900 patent was for improvements in apparatus for wireless telegraphy, comprising — '(1) A transmitter for electric wave telegraphy, consisting of a spark producer, having its terminals connected through a condenser with one circuit of a transformer, the other circuit being connected in a conductor and to the earth, the time period of electrical oscillations in the two circuits being the same or harmonics of each other; (2) a system of electric wave telegraphy in which both the transmitter and the receiver contain a transformer, the time period of electrical oscillations in the four circuits of the two transformers being the same or harmonics of each other; (3) a system of electrical wave telegraphy in which both the transmitter and the receiver contain a transformer, one circuit of which is a persistent oscillator, and the other a good radiator or absorber of electrical oscillations, all four circuits having the same time period or being harmonics of each other; (4) apparatus for wireless telegraphy substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.' The defendants' system was called the 'Balsillie system of Radio-Telegraphy,' and it was complained that they offered for sale under this system apparatus constructed according to the plaintiffs' patents. Mr. Justice Parker has upheld the Marconi claim in respect of the 1900 patent."

1911 06
Prime Minister selects Balsillie for position of Wireless Expert "WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. AUSTRALIAN DIRECTOR. The Postmaster-General (Mr. Thomas) announced yesterday that the office of director of wireless telegraphy for the Commonwealth had been filled. He received a cable message from the High Commisioner (Sir George Reid) stating that the Prime Minister (Mr. Fisher) had selected for the post Mr. Balsillie out of the six applicants recommended to him. Mr. Balsillie is to be attached to the Postmaster-General's department, and will have control over the wireless installations of the Commonwealth. His salary will be £600 a year. The brief message received states that the gentleman selected was educated in Australia, and since 1905 he has closely followed up wireless telegraphy. Mr. Thomas added that the sooner he arrived in Australia the better as there were many things he wanted to consult him about in connection with the Commonwealth stations that were being erected. Mr. Balsillie is the inventor of the Balsillie system of wireless."

Courier Mail announcement of Balsillie's appointment includes brief biography "DISTINGUISHED QUEENSLANDER SELECTED. The news that Mr. Balsillie had been selected in London by the Prime Minister as wireless expert for the Common-wealth gave rise to a good deal of satisfaction in Brisbane yesterday. The selection brings yet another honour to the State of Queensland, where Mr. Balsillie was born. John Graeme Balsillie, who is now about 27 years of age, was born at Toowong, and was educated at the Normal School for boys, whence he passed on to the Brisbane Grammar School. He also attended classes at the Brisbane Technical College, where he was a pupil of Mr. E. C. Barton. The study of electricity led him to a keen interest in wireless telegraphy, and some five or six years ago his mother, a widow, left Brisbane for London, with her two boys, in search of that wider sphere for their abilities which the Old World promised. Mr. J. G. Balsillie, the elder of the two, was first employed by a wireless company, for whom he did work at Oxford, Cambridge, and other centres. He was then sent to Russia, where he spent two years, and afterwards he visited China, in connection with wireless operations. After his return to London he was asked to again visit China, but by this time he had patented wireless methods of his own, and a company was formed to work them."

1911 09
Sutton promotes the Balsillie breakin key "WIRELESS STATIONS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS. Sir.— The question has several times been asked in the House of Representatives — What rights will be left to the wireless companies at present operating land stations in the Commonwealth after the Government stations are taken over? Outside territorial waters, the Government has no rights between ship and ship, and as there are already somewhere nearly 100 ships, interstate and overseas, fitted with wireless, the revenue must eventually become considerable. The owners of the systems appear to have the best of it in their arrangements with the shipowners. It is stated, the operators and apparatus are hired to the shipowners, the latter bearing all the expenses and the wireless companies taking all the revenue. This is certainly a good thing. They can well afford to part with any land stations as these companies will still obtain part of the land station revenue by virtue of receiving the latter's messages. Rival companies have been known to hold each other up, and it is possible for a combination to hold Government land stations up, except on terms. While on this matter of wireless, I would suggest that an addition be made to the recently issued excellent new wireless regulations, and that is, it be compulsory for every land and ship station to use a 'break in key.' There is much loss of time, and considerable confusion round our coast, due to a number of ships not being so fitted. There are several successful keys that prevent the jamming that is going on — the Marconi key, the Balsillie key. My private station has a special automatic key of our own devising. These keys all enable the transmitting station to be stopped by the receiving station, instead of waiting for end of message. With such keys you can listen between every dot and dash of transmitter, and any other station can notify you (in the middle of your message) whether you are interfering.— Yours, &c., HENRY SUTTON."