PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TTERNC.O. 882
8
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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interview with you to-day, I think I cannot do better than send you a copy of my letter to the Crown Agents of the 18th ultimo, and inform you that Mr. Maltby left Cape Town on the 3rd instant, and is expected in London about the 23rd or 24th instant, and therefore will be able to be in London to acquaint himself with the details of the work he will have to undertake before he proceeds to Singapore to qualify himself to give evidence. I think that you will be satisfied, having regard to the information contained in the accompanying copy letter to the Crown Agents, that Mr. Maltby is fully qualified to undertake the examination of the Company's books, and to give evidence at the arbitration, my personal opinion being that having regard to the fact of Messrs. Price, Waterhouse and Company, being retained by the Company, you could not do better than retain Messrs. Deloitte, Dever, Griffiths and Company, on behalf of the Colonial Government, but I can, of course, if wish me to do, after negociations with Messrs. Deloitte, Dever, Griffiths and Company, are discontinued, communicate with Messrs. Ingram, Young and Com- pany, or any other firm of accountants.
you so
As a result of my further interviews with Messrs. Deloitte, Dever, Griffiths and Company, I have to inform you that their charges for Mr. Maltby's services (exclusive of travelling and hotel expenses) in connection with the visit to Singapore to investi- gate the Company's books with a view to qualifying himself to give evidence, and to appear as a witness in the arbitration proceedings would be £1,000 for an absence from London of three months, and that if it is necessary that he should be personally absent from London for a longer period, an additional charge at the rate of ten guineas per day would be made. In this respect I may add that if competent clerks are sent out to do the detailed work in connection with the examination of the Company's books prior to Mr. Maltby's leaving this country, it would appear to me that he need not be absent from London for a longer period at the most than four months. For such clerks who are required to go out before or at the time of Mr. Maltby's departure for the purpose of assisting him in the details of his investigation of the Company's books, the charge for each of their services (exclusive of travelling and hotel expenses) would be at the rate of three guineas per day. Any time which it may be found necessary for Mr. Maltby to devote to the business in London before he leaves for the Colony would be charged at the rate of ten guineas per day, and for any clerks that are employed in London the charge for their services would be at the rate of three guineas per day each. The senior member of the firm, Mr. William Plender, has stated his willingness to place his services at the disposal of the Colonial Government without making any additional charge therefor.
I shall be glad to know whether, providing Mr. Maltby will, if necessary, proceed to Singapore within, say, a week or ten days after his arrival in this country. I am to make an arrangement with his firm for their services on the terms indicated above.
G. V. Fiddes, Esquire, C.B.
Enclosure in No. 86.
Yours, &c.,
C. H. OMMANNEY.
3 and 4, Great Winchester Street, London, E.C.,
April 18, 1905. Straits Settlements.
Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, Limited. •
SIRS,
REFERRING to our recent interviews with you respecting the appointment of an accountant to examine and report upon the accounts of this Company, and to attend the anticipated arbitration proceedings in the Colony to give evidence on behalf of the Colonial Government as to the Company's accounts, we have, as suggested by you, conferred with Mr. Balfour Browne, K.C., the Counsel who has been retained by the Colonial Government, who recommends that you should employ the firm of Messrs. Deloitte, Dever, Griffiths and Company, of 4, Lothbury, E.Ç., and if possible to secure the personal services of Mr. William Plender, the senior member of that firm.
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From inquiries we have made, we have ascertained that Messrs. Deloitte, Dever, Griffiths and Company were retained by the Metropolitan Water Board in the arbi- tration under which that Board purchased compulsorily the undertakings of the several Metropolitan Water Works Companies, and were also employed on behalf of the authority who acquired compulsorily the Rand Water Works.
It would appear that Mr. Plender gave evidence in the case of the Metropolitan Water Board, and that his partner, Mr. Maltby, went to South Africa and gave evidence in the Rand Water Works Arbitration. We should, perhaps, also state that Mr. Balfour Browne, who was retained in the arbitration proceedings which arose out of the acquisition of the undertakings of the Metropolitan Water Com- panies and the Rand Water Works, expresses a definite opinion as to the desirability of the services of the firm of Messrs. Deloitte, Dever, Griffiths and Company being secured.
We have seen Mr. Plender and ascertained that his firm is prepared to accept our retainer, but it appears doubtful whether that gentleman will himself be able to leave England for Singapore in October next. If Mr. Plender's existing engage- ments prevent him from undertaking the journey to Singapore, he would be prepared to personally superintend any work which has to be done in this country in connec- tion with the Company's accounts and would arrange with Mr. Maltby to personally attend the arbitration proceedings in the Colony.
In these circumstances we await your further instructions before suggesting the employment of any other firm of accountants, and as to retaining Messrs. Deloitte, Dever, Griffiths and Company, subject to agreeing their fee.
We have, &c.,
The Crown Agents for the Colonies.
15133
No. 87.
SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL.
MESSRS. SUTTON, OMMANNEY & RENDALL to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received May 5, 1905.)
3 and 4, Great Winchester Street, London, E.C., May 5, 1905.
Straits Settlements.
Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, Limited.
SIR,
REFERRING to your letter of the 1st instant, and our interview yesterday with Mr. Fiddes, while we agree with the views expressed in the third paragraph of your letter, we are of opinion that in the circumstances it would be advisable to endeavour to agree with the Company the date on which the Government intends to take over the property of the Company pursuant to Section 3 of the Ordinance, and with this view we think it would be desirable that you should communicate with the Chairman of the London Committee that you are prepared to agree that "the appointed date" shall be the 1st July, provided an agreement is entered into between the Company and the Government, by which the Government is: (1) to have, as from the date of the agreement, all proper facilities for free access to the lands, works, stores and premises and all parts of the Company's property for the purpose of inspecting the same, and also to all books, accounts and documents in the possession of the Company either in London, Singapore or elsewhere for the purpose of inspecting, copying and making extracts from the same: (2) that failing an agreement being come to between the Government and the Company as to the appointment of a single arbitrator, the Com- pany should, within one week from the 1st July, appoint their arbitrator, and: (3) that the arbitration is to be commenced at as early a date as may be practicable and
may be agreed in October next and proceeded with continuously.
If this proposal is agreed to on behalf of the Company, we think it would be advis- able that we should prepare and submit to the Company's Solicitors for their approval a formal agreement evidencing these terms.
• No. 85.
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