To meet the immediate difficult. In the Second he have of been alle to meet the immediate demand
without pressing thing for extra
Vonnage were able
In the third we
to send
to relieve a
a prize ship demand which was
probell not very urgent.
In this Ceglan case
it seems persille
That the feverer may get his shapers
India & thing avoid any
from
Call for Vonnage,
be a
vers
which would
desirable result.
I may allow be mentioned
Committer are
that the Co
a
cargo of fuel
sendrag Trinidad
Zehem Cargo
+ will living
of esphatte.
a
Yo
on the where therefore (+ ispeciall
iz
The aday apre
to this proposal
& leglon fats its sleepers), there over not at present seem to be
L
stromy
the
case for pressing Shopping Contion committe.
as to this case,
I thith the pro-
-posal is that the admiralty
should requisition, not this HK fovernment of have altere
Wi Wiremam
accorduigh
proposal faction
16. 18/576.
Ale
18. 5.16
$18.5
C
No
142.
Sir,
HONGKONG.
REC
490
22814
REG 15 MAY 16
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
7th. April, 1916.
I have the honour to inform you that a serious shortage in the coal supplies of this port occurred recently owing to the vessels usually employed in this trade being attracted else- -where by the high freights obtainable for carrying rice, with the result that the contractors for supplying coal for the various Government departments were unable to carry out their contracts under which they have to supply the Government with conl at $11 a ton.
2.
The Colonial Government requirements are about 1,200 tons a month, exclusive of the coal for launches for which there is a seperate contract with the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha. The Military Authorities require about 300 tons a month, while I am informed by the Rear-Aduiral that the Naval Authorities require 3,000 tons of Japanese coal now and 250 tons a month afterwards.
3.
After consulting the Harbour Master I decided
to purchase at once 25,000 tons of Japanese coal through Messrs. Bradley and Corpony before the price could be raised against us, and I obtained it at the very reasonable price of 86 a ton f.o.b. Japan. After referring to the Rear-Admiral we agreed that the best course would be to charter two vessels that were available locally the S. S. "Tolmachus" and the S. S. "Moresby" with a total carrying
capacity
HE RICHT HO DURABLE
ANDRE BONAR LAV, M.P.,
Lo..
&C..
&c.