No. 66.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 6тп APRIL, 1872.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
197
The following Decision of the Marine Court of Inquiry into the loss of the British Barque Doon, Official Number 43,624, on the South side of the Bombay Shoal in Lat. 16 North, Long. 113.30 East, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 4th April, 1872.
FINDING OF THE COURT.
CECIL C. SMITH, Acting Colonial Secretary.
1st. That the British Barque Doon, of the Port of Ayr, Official Number 43,624, Two hundred and eighty-four tons measurement, sailed from Saigon on the afternoon of the 24th February, 1872, having a cargo of Rice, and a crew of nine Europeans and two Chinese. 2nd.—The last land sighted was the North Danger, Lat. 11.25 North, Long. 114.17 East. On the 9th March, the Doon signalled the British Barque Lady Turner in Lat. 13.31 North, Long. 113.23 East.
3rd. At about half past 10. P. M. on the 10th March, in fair weather, the Doon struck on a coral reef on the South side of the Bombay Shoal, in Lat. 16 North, Lọng. 113.30 East, no surf or other indication of the reef being visible. 4th.-At about 3 P. M. of the 11th March, the Doon being a wreck was abandoned by the Master, Officers and Crew. On the 15th March, the Master and five men (in one boat) were commend- ably received on board the Swedish Barque Veritas, and brought to Hongkong, arriving on the 17th March. The Chief Mate with the remainder of the Crew arrived at Hongkong, in the other ship's boat, the same day.
5th. The Court considers that the loss of the Doon is attributable to a strong current having set the vessel to the westward, for which no allowance was made by the Master, no current having been experienced on the two previous days, the vessel's position being supposed to be more than twenty miles from the Bombay Shoal at the time of striking.
6th.--The ship's Log having been kept in a most careless and irregular manner by the Chief Officer, and the Journal of the Master having been lost with the ship, the Court found it impossible to work the course taken, but the incidental production of the Log and Chart of the Lady Turner and the Chart of the Doon, enables the Court to decide that up to noon of the 9th, the Master of the Doon kept a correct reckoning of his position.
7th. The Court reprimands the Master of the Doon for non-performance of his duty in not seeing that the ship's Log was properly kept, and considers that the Chief Mate's conduct also deserves a similar mark of reprehension.
Confirmed,
Given under our hands at Hongkong, this 27th day of March, 1872.
RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL,
Governor. 30th March, 1872.
C. MAY,
R. H. CAIRNS,
S. G. GOWER,
C. F. DAVIES,
...First Police Magistrate.
....Acting Harbor Master.
Un-official Justice of the Peace.
W. C. ANGOVE,...Masters, Mercantile Marine.
No. 67.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The subjoined Post Office Notice is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 4th April, 1872.
POST OFFICE NOTICE.
CECIL C. SMITH, Acting Colonial Secretary.
It is hereby notified that Letters addressed to France may be sent either paid or unpaid at the option of the sender; but the postage on Prices Current, Newspapers and Books cannot be prepaid.
The rate of postage chargeable on Letters addressed to France 12 cents for each ounce.
per French Packet is.
Per British Packet when marked viâ Brindisi
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18
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F. W. MITCHELL,
Per British Packet when marked viâ Alexandria and Marseilles...12
General Post Office, Hongkong, 2nd April, 1872.
Postmaster General.