1062
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14TH OCTOBER, 1893.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 362.
The following is published.
(in continuation.)
By Command,
G. T. M. O'BRIEN, Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 13th October, 1893.
SIR,
HONGKONG, 9th October, 1893.
Observing that a portion of the correspondence relative to the late Committee on Weather Reports, &c., (of which we the undersigned were appointed Members) has been published in the Official Gazette, and considering that the portion published scarcely gives the Public a fair idea of our reasons for resigning, we have the honour herewith to forward you a copy of the draft which Dr. DoBERCK sent for our approval and concurrence (presumably setting forth his own views), and in doing so would beg to state that the terms in which this draft was couched tended in a great measure to confirm us in the opinion that, as then constituted, the Committee could never arrive at any satisfactory conclusion.
The notations in red ink
on the
copy herewith were made by us on the original draft, before the final decision to withdraw from the Committee had been arrived at.
*
Certain statements in Dr. DOBERCK's letter to you dated the 30th ultimo, published in the Gazette, would seem to call for refutation on our part, but it does not appear desirable to enter on an acrimonious dispute in an official despatch. We would beg to state, however, that we take most emphatic exception to clauses 2, 3, 4, and 6 of that letter, especially the third named wherein Dr. DOBERCK states that he "was obliged to enter into rudimentary explanations, &c., &c."
That Dr. DOBERCK did so is undeniable, but it was not by our wish or desire, and he was frequently assured by us that it was unnecessary as not only we, but most shipmasters and nautical men, were well acquainted with these principles: assuming however his prerogative as Chairman of the Committee the rudiments were carefully expounded before Dr. DOBERCK could be induced to proceed to more weighty matters.
With regard to the Minutes of the Committee Meetings published, these are all given from memory, as scarcely even a note was taken during the proceedings; they are therefore, we assume, scarcely reliable, especially those of the last meeting: in some instances expressions distinctly recollected by us have been omitted, and others have been inserted which cannot be recalled to memory, these however in the absence of any minutes taken at the time, or shorthand report, it is impossible now to verify.
As the particulars set forth herein do not appear in the correspondence already published, in justice to ourselves and in the interests of the community at large we would beg that these may also be published in the Official Gazette.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servants,
A. W. MILLER,
Master Attendant, H. M. Dockyard, Hongkong.
A. TILLETT,
Marine Superintendent,
Canadian Pacific Railway Co.'s
Ships and Vessels.
G. C. ANDERSON,
Marine Surveyor and Superintendent,
Indo-China Steam Navigation Co., Limited.
F. D. GODDARD,
Captain, S.S. “Haitan.”
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
* Printed in italics.