May 21, 1896.]
of the road rightly a man is often left to his own judgment. The Board of Trade tells you itself you can depart from the rules of the road at times, and if that is the case at sea how much more necessary must it be in narrow rivers ?
The Court I quite agree that your own judgment has a deal to do with it, when the dangers of navigation come in, but with regard to local recommendations and other people's judgment can you answer my questions?
Witness-I cannot answer for other people's judgment, but the local recommendations are good, and if people navigating abide by them all danger will be avoided.
The Court Are you aware the Harbour Master denies that the recommendations he has issned are laws?
Witness I am not aware that he denies it. but we as pilots on the river are supposed to... hold to them as if they were law.
The Court-Do you particularly recognise Article 21 of the international regulations.
Witness-Yes, I recognise it and it is used in the river.
The Court-Do you recommend that all coasting captains shall be exempt from pilotage, or forced to have a pilot?
Witness-I would recommend that all coast- ing captains not carrying pilots should pass a local examination.
The President announced that for the pur- pose of examining one more witness, a quarter- master of the Ouro, the Court would meet on Saturday, and then consider their finding.
据
FINDING OF THE COURT.
Shanghai. 11th May.
The finding of the Court is as follows:----- Finding and Order of a Naval Court, held at the British Consulate-General at Shangbai on the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th of May, 1896, to in- vestigate the circumstances attending a collision between the British steamship Outco of London. official No. 63,779, and the British steamship Newchwang of London, official No. 77,054. on the thirtieth day of April last whereby the wreck of the said British steamship Ono ensued. whereby loss of life ensued, whereby serious damage to the said British steamship Newchwang ensued, and to investigate the causes of such wreck, loss of life, and damage, and to inquire into the conduct of the masters, certificated officers, and crews of the said vessels,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
manned and seaworthy at the time of her departure from Shanghai, with the exception of the life-saving apparatus carried, which appears disgraceful and completely inadequate for the number of people generally carried on board, being insufficient for even the crew.
That she appears to have been properly loaded. That all records appear to have been lost. That with regard to the loss of life the Court considers that the master of the Onco did not realise the dangerous condition of the ship after the collision, as he does not appear to have attempted in any way to beach her. The Court. however, are rather of opinion that, as stated in the evidence, her forefoot being on the ground rendered the manoeuvring of the ship most diffi- cult if not impossible, particularly with the screw out of water.
That the number of lives lost cannot be ascertained, as the system of booking passengers on board prevents it, and there is no limit to the number the steamer may take. such being at the owner's pleasure.
With regard to the said British steamship Newchwang.
Having passed the Woosung spit red buoy and through the shipping, she collided with the Omro.
The Court considers the collision to have occurred between the Customs hulk Krushing and the Feima chaunel light vessel, some 2010 or 300 yards above the Kwashing, but the time evidences do not agree.
429
terested in shipping, to the fact that the local recommendations, which are not laws, not having a penalty attached for non-observance, are and will be the cause of great confusion in navigating the Woosung River and Bar and collisions must be of frequent occurrence.
The Court suggest that 1.--The river navigation be improved by making such recommendations compulsory laws, and further suggest that:-
-
2. A night signal might be used at night by vessels, for the Feima channel.
3.-Some further bright signal placed near Pheasant Point or the Customs hulk Kwashing. 4.-Captains of coasters should pass a local examination in river pilotage or carry pilots, this being the opinion of the Court and of expert evidence obtained during the hearing.
5. The Court would suggest that British vessels should, when carrying passengers, in such large numbers, be supplied with a sufficiency of rafts, belts, and other life-saving apparatus.
The expenses of this Court, fixed at £20 2s. 10d. are approved.
Dated at Shanghai this 11th day of May,
1896.
(Signed) VAUGHAN PRICE LEWES,
Lieut. R.N., H.M.S. Spartan, President of Naval Court.
H. BENCRAFT JOLY,
British Acting Vice-Consul at
Shanghai.
E. STREET,
Master of the British merchant .ship Ravenna, of Glasgow,
official number 82,300.
THE SUGAR İNDUSTRY IN
FORMOSA.
The Court, having regard to the cirenin- stances stated in evidence, considers that Mr. Thomas Hards, master of the said British steamship Newchwang of London, official num- her 77.054, was solely in error, in that he did not observe, at first. Rules 15 and 20 and afterwards Rule 16 of the Regulations for pre- venting collisions at sea: that he starboarded his helm in place of porting it when he could have done so without in any way endangering his ship; and that he improperly starboarded his districts in South Formosa, namely, Takow helm to the Onwo's red light and went half- speed ahead, attempting to eross the Onuro's bows.
The Court are of opinion that the local re. commendations as regards the vessel with the right of way did not apply in this case as the master appears to have thought, the more so as he could not have seen the Ouwo's green light With regard to the British steamship Ouro. when on the bar in the position the Court con- The Onico was a steam vessel, not rigged, of sidered the Newchwang to have been at the 797 tons registered tounage, official number time, which is confirmed by his own evi 63,779, built at Dumbarton in 1870, and belong.dence; nor can they accept the evidence of ing to the port of London. It appears from the evidence given before the Court that she sailed from Shanghai on or about the 30th April. 1896, bound for Hankow with a general cargo and a crew of 43 hands all told, as well as pus sengers, probably about 200,-
Mr. Samuel Wray, certificated first mate of the Newchwang, with regard to the position of the Onwo, as explained by him with the models. That the entry in the logbook as regards the sending of boats to the assistance of the Once is not satisfactory, as the boats were ou chocks turned in.
The Court consider the speed over the ground, six knots, a reasonable speed at that part of the
After proceeding down the Woosung river, and having crossed the bar through the Feima channel, she was rounding Pheasant Point when she was struck by the Newchwaug, shap-river. ing up the river, whilst between the lightship and the Customs hulk Kwashing, and finally sank in the position given in the notice to Mari- ner's No. 59 Special, Shanghai District, issued by the Coast Inspector.
The Court, taking into consideration the fact that at the present time there appears to be great confusion between the official rule of the road and in local recommendations, in pursuance of the powers vested in it by section 23 of 25 and The Court having regard to the circum-26 Vict. C. 63, therefore orders that Mr. Thomas. stances above stated find as follows:-
Hards, master of the British steamship New chang of London, official No. 77,054, should only be and he is hereby severely cousured for the grave error of judgment he committed. but do not deal with his certificate.
That the Onuo obeyed the Rule of the Road, particularly as regards Rule 21, and was keeping to the proper bank.
Her speed, which they consider six or seven knots over the ground, was not excessive for that part of the river.
That the master, Mr. Joseph Slessar, was not in any way in error, but appears to have navigated his vessel in a seamanlike and proper manner, and when a casualty, was inevitable, to have done everything in his power to avert it.
That the Court sees no ground for blaming the conduct of any of the survivors and con- siders the conduct of Mr. Andrew Small, certificated second engineer, deserving of great praise for going to the engine-room at once to assist, being asleep when the collision 0C- curred; also that Mr. Arthur Lewis Cooper, certificated second mate, did all in his power to carry out his duties.
That the Chinese crew appear to have rendered no assistance to the Europeans.
That upon the evidence given the vessel -appears to have been well found, sufficiently
|
That in accordance with the powers contained in section 263 of 17 and 18 Viet. C. 104, the costs of the proceedings before the said Court be paid by Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, of Shanghai, agents for the China Navigation Company, Limited. owners of the British steamship Newchwang, being one of the parties thereto, and they are hereby ordered to pay the said amount accordingly.
The Court consider that the master of the Newchwang did all in his power to save his oWL ship and crew and was justified in beaching her, owing to the damage sustained:
The Court cannot find that any signals of distress were shown from either ship.
The officers and crew appear to have been well disciplined and to have done their duty.
The Court desire to direct the attention of the Board of Trade, the Court of Consuls. the Chamber of Commerce, and other bodies in
|
[L. MARKET RELATIONS WITH THE FORMOSAN SUGAR TRADE,
As before stated, there are two sugar
and Taiwanfoo. Taiwanfoo is the name of the Southern Prefecture of Formosa as known to the trade, the new official designation of Tai- nan-foo not yet having come into general use.
The figures denoting, yield of sugar obtained in the best known years are only approximate.
sions raw sugar is manufactured, this being the Both in the Takow and Taiwanfoo divi- only description exported from Formosa.
Takow sugar is an ordinary brown variety, exported as it comes from the boiling pans. that is to say, it is the raw, undrained article, The only modifications in quality known to the trade are those either consequent on an excess of molasses (ie., inversion, owing to deficiencies of moisture, due to atmospheric conditions, in the mode of manufacture), or on a superfluity varying with the period of the year at which the sugar is exported.
Technically speaking, and in spite of the numerous drawbacks which its crude method of preparation presents, so rich is the quality of the cane and so suitable the soil that "Takow Brown at crystallisable sugar which compares most satis
any time contains a proportion of factorily with varieties produced elsewhere and under much more favourable conditions.
་་
Looking at this sugar merely as a saccharine material, Western refineries would be glad to get it, but by reason of its gross adulteration with coarse extraneons matter, it is said not to be well adapted to the machinery in ordinary use, and this to some extent modifies the advan- tages its composition would seem at first sight to offer. For this reason, and the fact that the average cost price in Formosa has been much above that which might tempt foreign buyers, an outlet through Western and American markets has been practically closed for several years.
derations, the only two markets open for South From the foregoing and certain local consi-
Formosa sugars are Japan and North China. The mass of the consumers do not care for, in fact will not have refined sugar, or, what is the same thing otherwise expressed, crystallizable molasses. The Chinese market in this respect, sugar, entirely deprived of its concomitant
however, calls for a higher grade than that of the Japanese, for although they both agree in reject- ing "refined sugar" still it cannot be doubted that in North China, at least, great numbers of the sugar containing some molasses, are not only consumers, while adhering to the preference for