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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 7TH OCTOBER, 1899.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 547.
The following Finding of the Marine Court of Enquiry into the loss of the British Steam-ship White Cloud, Official No. 64,124, of Hongkong, is published.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, longkong, 4th October, 1899.
FINDING.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary.
We find that the British Steamship White Cloud, 64,124, of Hongkong, of which ARTHUR RAYMOND was Master, the number of whose Certificate was 509, issued at New Zealand, left Hongkong on the 8th September, 1899, on a voyage to Manila.
She
The White Cloud was built in 1875 at Hongkong and since that time has been employed as a River Steamer between Hongkong and Macao and more recently between Macao and Canton. was unclassed and last underwent a Government survey as a River Steamer in Hongkong in September, 1893.
After leaving Hongkong on the voyage to Manila the ship encountered only fair weather and moderate swell. In about six hours the working of the ship had caused her to strain so much that there was eighteen inches of water in her, froin this time onwards she made water in quantities 'the planking opening and admitting the water in jets. Three pumps were employed in clearing the ship, but of these the donkey pump broke down and the bilge pump was inefficient. Later on a plank was burst in by the rolling of the ship, the water increased until it put the fires out and the engines stopped of themselves. All hands then took to the boats, the Master remaining behind with the Second Engineer to set fire to the ship in order, it is said, to avoid her being left as a danger to navigation.
The Court has not been assisted in its investigation by the evidence of the Master though he was served with a notice to attend. From the evidence it appears that he left Port on a voyage to Manila a few days ago.
The Court have no hesitation in forming the opinion on the evidence before it that the loss of the White Cloud was to be attributed to her not being in a seaworthy condition for the voyage to Manila. She was not prematurely abandoned and her loss was not caused by any wrongful act or default of the Master or Officers.
Given under our hands at Victoria, Hongkong, this 22nd day of September, 1899.
R. MURRAY RUMSEY, Retd. Com., r.N.,
President.
RICHARD J. ROGERS, Staff Commander, R.N.
G. D. BOWLES, Master, Br. S.S. Empress of Japan.
R. NELSON, Master, Br. S.S. Taiyuan.
F. W. HUESTIS, Master, Br. Ship Simla.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 548.
The following Notice is published.
By Command,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 4th October, 1899.
NOTICE.
In accordance with the terms of the Rating Ordinance, No. 15 of 1888, Owners and Occupiers of Tenements are reminded that Rates for the Fourth Quarter of 1899 are payable in advance on or before the 31st of October, 1899.
If any person shall fail to pay such Rates on or before the 30th of November, 1899, proceedings will be taken in the Supreme Court for their recovery without further notice.
No refund of Rates on vacant tenements will be granted unless such rates have been paid during and within the month of October.
Treasury, Hongkong, 2nd October, 1899.
A. M. THOMSON,
Treasurer.