THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, NOV. 23, 1906. 2085
NOTICES.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S Department.
No. 983. It is hereby notified that FRANCISCO XAVIER FRANCO, Meter Reader in the Public Works Department, has been dismissed from the service of the Government for misconduct, with effect from the 20th instant.
22nd November, 1906.
T. SERCOMBE SMITH,
Colonial Secretary.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT.
No. 984.-The following Finding of the Marine Court of Enquiry into the stranding of the British Steam-ship Kinshan, is published.
19th November, 1906.
T. SERCOMBE SMITH, Colonial Secretary.
FINDING.
We find that the British Steamship Kinshan, Official No. 109,872 of Hongkong, of which JACOB JOHAN LOSSIUS was Master, the number of his Certificate of Competency being 06028 issued at Liverpool, left Hongkong on the 18th September, 1906, at 8.30 a.m. bound for Canton, with a General Cargo and Passengers: 427 Chinese and 8 Europeans and a full complement of Crew. The ship was well found and full powered. The Typhoon drum was hoisted at the appointed places, indicating that there was a Typhoon Eastward of the Colony, within 300 miles. That on reaching the Cap-sui-mun Pass the wind backed to W.N.W. The Master's intention was to anchor S.E. of East Brother, but he proceeded to Pillar Point. This in the opinion of the Court was an error of judgment on his part, who, most certainly, ought to have taken no risk and anchored S.E. of the East.Brother.
That from the evidence, carefully gone into, when the Master found his ship dragging with 30 fathoms of chain out and the ship nearly stranding on the N. part of East Brother, we consider it was clearly his duty then to have let go both anchors and all his cable, working his engines as requisite. This in the opinion of the Court would have held the ship and prevented her stranding.
That owing to the abnormal conditions under which the Master was navigating, with regard to the hurricane force of the wind and blinding rain squalls, the Court consider that a severe censure on the Master for allowing his ship to strand, with an anchor at bow and another on a short scope of cable, sufficient.
Given under our hands at Victoria, Hongkong, this the 16th day of November, 1906.
CHARLES WILLIAM BECKWITH, Lieut., R.N.,
Stipendiary Magistrate and President of the Court.
H. C. R. BOUCHER, Lieut., R.N.,
H.M.S. King Alfred.
E. BEETHAM, Lieut., R.N.R.,
Commanding Empress of India.
JOHN H. PARK,
Master, S.S. Adano,