THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, NOVEMBER 26, 1909.
FINDING.
959
We find that the British S.S. Tak Hing Official No. 109374 of ongkong, WILLIAM BISHOP, who holds a certificate of competency as Master No. 017537 London, was Master, sailed from Hongkong at 6 p.m. on 18th October, 1909, on a voyage to Kongmun, West River, with a general cargo of about 40 tons, and about 60 passengers. That at the time she left Hongkong a signal was flying in the Harbour denoting that a typhoon was in the vicinity, within 300 miles of the Colony, and that the indications showed that it was proba- bly approaching the Colony.
That she arrived at Kongmun safely at about 4 a.m. on the 19th and anchored in her usual position, the weather then being clear, with a fresh to strong breeze from N.N.W. At 4 p.m. the wind shifted to N. and freshened and continued to freshen during the evening, the weather becoming very dirty, with hard squalls and rain.
At about 6 p.m. the Tak Hing shifted berth to centre of river, anchoring with the starboard (heaviest) anchor and veering to 60 fathoms of chain. At 11.45 p.m. the port anchor was let go under foot to steady the ship, and another 15 fathoms of chain veered to starboard anchor.
At 12.40 a very hard squall struck the ship, sending her on her beam ends and driving her ashore on the river bank, where she still remains.
We consider that the Master and Mate took all necessary precautions, and behaved in a seamanlike manner. According to the evidence the Chinese crew failed to render any
assistance.
The certificated officers are acquitted from all blame.
Given under our hands at Victoria in the Colony of Hongkong this twenty-six day of November, 1909.
BASIL TAYLOR, Commander, R N.,
Stipendiary Magistrate and P· ́sident.
HENRY BUTTERWORT!!, Lieut., R.N.,
H.M.S. Tamar.
EDWARD BEETHAM, Lieut., R.N.,
Master of S.S. Empress of India,
GRAHAM SELWYN WEIGALL.
Master of S.S. Mau Sang.
HENRY WALTER WALKER,
Master of S.S. Kwong Tung.
MAGISTRACY.
No. 757.-It is hereby notified that a meeting of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the Colony will be held at the Magistracy, at 2.15 p.m., on Friday, the 3rd day of December, 1909, for the purpose of considering the following application under the Liquor Licences Ordinances, 8 of 1898 and 8 of 1908, viz.:
From one ALEXANDRE KOTAS for an adjunct licence to sell by retail intoxi-
cating liquors on premises numbered 37, Queen's Road Central.
21th November, 1909.
E. R. HALLIFAX,
Police Magistrate.
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