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answer it in a circumstantial way; it would appear however that, seeing the "Sumatra" remained at Hongkong for about two months after he wrote to the Board of Trade complaining of my conduct, he had ample time to have taken steps here to obtain redress, for we can, I think, assume, from his alleged familiarity with the Port Regulations, and the fact of his adopting the extreme measure of addressing the Board of Trade on the subject, that he was not wanting in knowledge as to the ordinary procedure to be observed in such a case.
Failing to get any attention from me, it might be supposed that he would make a representation to the consignees of the vessel. The attached copy of a letter from Messrs. Adamson Bell & Co. in answer to an enquiry of mine shows, however, that he did not even adopt this simple expedient.
(Signed) R. Murray Rumsey, Retd. Commr. R.N.
Harbour Master.
17th May, 1890.