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THE HONGKONG
Government Gazette.
Published by Authority.
No. 46.
VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 10TH NOVEMBER, 1866..
Vo.. XII.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
No. 165.
It is hereby notified, that Inspector WILLIAM JONES is dismissed from the Hongkong Police Force from this date.
By Order,
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 1st November, 1866.
No. 166.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
It is hereby notified, that H. LANGDON, Sergeant of Police, is appointed Inspector of Brothels from this date, vice JONES, dismissed.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 1st November, 1866.
No. 167.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
The following Decision of the Marine Court of Inquiry into the loss of the British Ship Westminster on the Pratas Reef in the China Sea, is published for general information.
By Order,
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 9th November, 1866.
FINDING.
The Court having deliberated and considered the evidence which has been adduced conclude: FIRST. That the Westminster (Official Number 6327) was lost at about 9.30 P.M. on the 30th September, 1866, on the North East extreme of the Pratas Reef in the China Sea.
SECOND. Owing to the loss of the Ship's Log Book and all papers connected with her navigation, we are unable to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion as to the cause of the wreck of the Westminster. The Master's statement, which is from memory only, shews that there had been no current between the hours of 8 A.M. and 4 P.M., but that from the latter hour to the time at which she struck, 9.30 P.M., she experienced one of 34 miles, due West.
THIRD.-Assuming that the position pointed out to us on the Chart of the Westminster was that of the Ship at noon of the 30th ultimo, we are of opinion that, considering the dangerous nature of the Pratas Reef, the hour at which the Master expected to pass it, the direction and lightness of the wind, and the currents to be expected at this season of the year, the course steered which would without any current have taken the ship about 34 miles East of the reef, was one which called for greater precautions than the Master appears to have deemed necessary.
FOURTH.After the ship struck, the Master adopted every means in his power to get her off, and