rms "makura" (callsign: mku) was a ship of the union steam ship co of nz which had the mail contract between australia and canada. being fitted with wireless telegraphy equipment was a major marketing advantage. in december 1909 upon arrival in sydney it was reported: "since her last visit to sydney the r.m.s. makura, of the canadian-australian mail line, has been fitted with a powerful wireless telegraphic apparatus, and on the voyage from vancouver to sydney, completed yesterday, many experiments of a highly successful character were carried out. the installation was made at vancouver, and the apparatus extends from the mainmast to the foremast. the best record established in the daytime was 800 miles, while at night-time communication was carried on at much greater distances — up to nearly 2000 miles. it is claimed that under exceptionally favourable conditions it will be possible for the makura to despatch messages over a distance of nearly 3000 miles. the wireless system of the makura is said to be the most complete yet installed in any merchant vessel employed in the pacific ocean. the makura was never out of communication with land during the whole of the passage from vancouver to honolulu, and the "wireless" station at nome in alaska was spoken from a distance of 1100 miles. on an average about 20 messages were despatched for passengers nightly on the run from vancouver to honolulu, and "press" messages were received when 1500 miles from honolulu containing the news of the world. when two days out from vancouver the makura picked up the lurline, then lying to the westward of honolulu, 1900 miles away, and five days later the two vessels met at the entrance to honolulu. the makura after leaving honolulu remained in communication with that port for five days, and then the mail steamer was out of touch with land until tuesday night last. all the way from suva in fiji the makura made repeated attempts every night to pick up vessels on the australian coast, but it was not until tuesday evening, when steaming down this coast, that she received a reply, and that came from the p. and o. company's r.m.s. morea in neutral bay."