No 342.
507
C
O
45156
REC
[REG 17 NO 14)
ין
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG. 14th October, 1914.
Sir,
Evo 27967
With reference to your despatches of the numbers and dates noted in the margin, I have the honour to inform you that only two claims have been made
0.207 of 14th August, 1914. 1.228 of the 3rd Sept.,1914.
4. 32 346
since the date of my despatch lo.240 of the 9th
27969
July by Chinese members of the crew of the "Tai On". Neither was made till the end of July in spite of the fact that enquiries were made at the time with the assistance of the Company to which the ateamer belonged, to find claimants for compensation for loss of effects. One was made by the Compradore, or Chinese Head Steward, of the vessel. The other by the Second Engineer also a Chinese. The first claim was most exorbitant and as no good reason was given for not putting forward the claims earlier I declined to entertain them. I should mention that Captain Wetherell had reported that he could not recommend consideration to any of the crew except the Carpenter who appears to have been the only one to render the least assistance to the officers on the occasion when the vessel was lost.
2.
As regards the case of Mr. McCartney, I did not consider that the grant of a passage to England was called for in his case because he is a young man who could, had he wished, have obtained employment bere, and can easily obtain it in England. In addition to the liberal allowance of 911 for his losses made to him by this Government he received 500 out of the fund raised by the Chamber of Commerce. He is moreover reported to have had THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,
&C..
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