511
A... neglect to deliver mail at refusal to take a mail from Great Port.
2.
The specific instance which gave rise to the question was this. On the 5th October last, mails were made up at the Out office of this Colony for Saigon and Bangkok, and placed on board the British Steamer "Cheviot," advertised to sail for these Ports. It has now been ascertained that the Master duly delivered the Mail for Saigon, but neglected to deliver that for Bangkok, remained there some days with the mail on board, sailed elsewhere, returned to Hong Kong to refit (during which time several other steamers left for Bangkok), and finally cleared for that Port, where he delivered the mail, two months after his first arrival with it on board).
3.
The mail contained documents relating to Marine Insurance, Dividend Warrant of which duplicates were of course not sent, and other matters of considerable importance, so that the inconvenience caused by its delay was not small.
4.