449
"Will o' the Visp" to be run under the Hong Kong Scheme. These vesgels had been purchased by Hong Kong owners, but they regained on the Singapore registry. Negotiations were entered into regard- ing the S.S. "Sui Kai" under the Chinese flag which had for a long time been lying idle in the harbour, owing to a complicated lawsuit. An offer was made to repair and run the ship for the account of whoever might be concerned, until the question of ownership was settled; but the vessel was so deeply entangled in the meshes of the law that it was foundinpossible to extricate her. An offer was made to the Government that it should on certain terms salve a steamer which had been stranded on the coast of Siberia. The proposal was carefully considered, but it had to be abandoned as being impracticable.
14.
The accounts on the 1st February, when the financial control ended, showed the following figures:- Money Received.....)
War Risk Insur ance..........
Fee for valuation
of ships.
Management expenses...
Balance
15.
$44,001.50
700.00
Money due...
6,386.99
351,088.49
$2,556,273.01
32,607,361,50.
...82,046,27130
561,090,20
$2,607,361.50.
It remains to mention the services which have
been rendered to the Government by various persons.
Commodore V.G. Gurner, R.N., rendered all the assistance in his power, and his suggestions and advice were of the greatest use.
Mr. G.M. Young and Mr. R. Sutherland, Members of the Shipping Control Committee, did most valuable work. When the Government assumed the responsibility for local control it was entirely without experience of shipping management, and it owes very much to the loyal assistance and technical skill of these gentlemen who devoted a large part of their time to the work,
without