Sir,
Enclosure 1.
274
41150 Mercantile, Marine Office,
Hongkong, 25th October, 1904.
About the end of February this year the Master, Chief Officer and Carpenter of S.S. "Scotie" presented at the Shipping Office. The Master wished to discharge the carpenter. I informed the former that I could not discharge the latter unless the man consented and could produce a guarantee that he would not become a burden to the Colony.
Murray would not sign off the ship and behaved in a most insolent manner. I told him to leave the office and as he refused to do so, I had to order the European Constable to put him out. His appearance and behaviour showed that he must have been under the influence of drink.
On the 1st March I gave evidence before the Marine Magistrate that the man was not quite sober on the date that he called at my office and that I had to put him out.
On the 3rd March I sent my assistant to the Victoria Gaol with Murray's account of wages duly examined by me for him to certify the correctness of same and sign the release. He refused to do either, but no coercion has been used to obtain his signature.
After his release from the gaol on the 9th May, he called at the Shipping Office and reported himself. I gave him a note to the Sailors' Home for his admission and advised him at the same time to behave better for the future.
Murray applied on the 8th for his effects. I replied that I had to refer to you and on receiving your permission, I handed them to him on the morning of the 10th. As he was not in on the afternoon of the 9th, Murray remarked that some of his effects were missing, but I told him to refer to the master of S.S. "Scotia".
His account of wages has also been handed to him.