406
consult Captain Murray Rumsey.
4. I regret to observe that, as the Acting Attorney General has pointed out, a slip occurred in paragraph 11 of Table M of the Schedule attached to the Ordinance. The figures "9 or 10" should be substituted for "10 or 11." This mistake will be rectified by an order in Council after Her Majesty shall have given her consent to the Ordinance.
5. Some months ago Vice Admiral Seymour, Commanding the squadron on the China station, addressed me on the subject of the desirability, in view of two recent collisions between Her Majesty's ships and Chinese junks caused, it is alleged, by the latter not having exhibited any lights until too late for collision to be avoided, of obliging Chinese junks licensed in this Colony to carry at night at the highest mast head a lighted lamp of a certain pattern. All vessels while within the waters of the Colony are obliged to carry proper lights, and I pointed out to Vice Admiral Seymour that no regulations made by this Government could be made binding on Chinese junks when outside the waters of the Colony, where, as a matter of fact, occurred the collisions which gave rise to the Admiral's representation.
3.8
6. Such collisions are not infrequent. The evidence as to whether or not the junk had exhibited a reasonable efficient light prior to the collision is always conflicting, and heavy damages are obtained against steamships in the Admiralty Court here although there are not wanting grounds for believing that had in fact an effective light been exhibited by the junk no collision would have taken place.
7.
2