the Post Master General, and there seems to have been some fatality about the Staff in Hong Kong as you will see from the following reply:-
letter
"In reply to your letter No. 95/B 6600 of 11th September
"I have the honour to inform you that registered letter No. 627 addressed to Why Shing, Hong Kong, was duly received at this office, and as it contained Coin, was handed for safe keeping to the Compradore.
"According to the entries in the Books then kept it appears to have been delivered and Mr. Why Shing himself denies receipt of it. The Compradore died in July 1894, I myself was away on leave of absence in England at the time. The Senior Clerk retired on Pension in November 1894, and is now living at Macao. I have written to him on the subject, but he has no recollection of the matter.
"Finally the gentleman who was acting as Post Master General left for England on the same day that I returned to the Colony 3rd October 1894. It is just possible that the latter gentleman (will be back here in April) may have some recollection of the disposal of the letter, but I regret that at present I am unable to afford you any information."
The whole thing hinges on the fact that we were instructed in the first instance that the Sovereigns were for shipment, and to pay Insurance and Account of charges were to be forwarded to the Shipper; in place of which we put them through Registered Post and are now liable for them.
As you will see from the correspondence from the Hong Kong Authorities who acknowledge receipt of the Sovereigns, but cannot trace the receipt of the person to whom they were handed to get at the bottom of this we got Messrs. Gibb Livingston & Co. to take up this matter on our behalf and we now attach their correspondence from which you will see that their attempts have been futile and suggesting our taking it up with the Head Office in London, and we will be thankful if you will interview the proper person and lay the whole matter before him, and see if it is not possible to recover the money.
Any further details you wish to know please advise us and we will answer by return mail.
Thanking you in anticipation for your attention to this matter.
We are, Dear Sirs,
Yours faithfully,
(Sd.) Burns Philp & Co. Ltd.