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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5TH MAY, 1888.
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GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 189.
The following Finding of the Marine Court, held on the 1st instant, to enquire into the grounding of the British Steain-ship Ashington, Official No. 63,010, of South Shields, WALTER REYNELL, Master, whose Certificate of Competency is No. 19, of Hongkong, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 5th May, 1888.
FREDERICK STEWART, Colonial Secreturn.
FINDING.
We find that the British Steam-ship Ashington, official No. 63,010, of South Shields, of which WALTER REYNELL is Master, whose certificate of competency is No. 19, issued at Hongkong, while entering Hongkong Harbour on the night of the 20th April, grounded on the West Point of Hong- kong Island, in the channel named on the chart Sulphur Channel.”
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From the evidence before us. we are of opinion that the casualty was brought about through the helm being put to Port, instead of to Starboard, as had been ordered by the Master.
That, with the exception of the Master and Officers. all the crew of the ship consisted of Chinese and the Quartermasters at the helm at the time of the accident were Chinese. The casualty occurred soon after midnight, and just after the change of watches had been made.
We are of opinion that no blame attaches to the Master or Officers, though we consider that it would have been more prudent had the Master--having in view the fact that he had only Chinese also Quartermasters at the wheel-stationed an officer there to see that his orders were carried out; that it would have been better not to have allowed the change of men at the wheel to be made just as the ship was entering a narrow channel.
The Master's certificate is therefore returned to him.
Given under our hands at Hongkong this 1st day of May, 1888.
R. MURRAY RUMSEY, Rei. Comdr., R.N., President of Court. J. BUCKNER,
C. F. PRESTON,
Staff Commander, R.N.
W. H. JACKSON, Masters of Mercantile Marine.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 190.
The following Returns of the Average Amount of BANK NOTES in Circulation and of Specie in Reserve in Hongkong, during the Month ended 30th April, 1888, as certified by the Managers of the respective Banks, are published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 5th May, 1888.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Colonial Secretary.
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BANKS.
AVERAGE
A MOUNT.
SPECIE IN RESERVE.
Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London and China,
Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China,..
1,058,707
360,000
1,553,278
800,000
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
3,458,399
1,700,000,
TOTAL,...
6,070,384
2,860,000