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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
wwimminC.O.885/25
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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MINUTES.
The Committee had no observations to make on the detailed account prepared by the Assistant Paymaster-General showing the position of accounts up to the 31st March, 1916, but they recommended that when the next print was issued a similar statement should be obtained with regard to the transactions of the Admiralty Coasting Trade Office for inclusion in the next volume of the Committee's proceedings.
2418
THE ONE HUNDRED and Thirteenth MeeTING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, the 29th of May, 1916, at 3.30 p.m.
The following members were present :-
MR. W. J. EVANS, Admiralty (in the Chair).
MR. G. L. BARSTOW, C.B., Treasury.
MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.
MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.
MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.
MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).
1. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.
2.
(6
3.8. Edna."-The Secretary reported that a telegram had been received from the Governor of Barbados stating that this ship was leaving on the 28th of May, the master having reported that it was impracticable for her to leave earlier. The Committee decided that Messrs. Scrutton, Sons, and Company should be asked to ascertain the reason for the delay in sailing.
The Secretary also reported that the Transport Department had stated that asphalt was urgently required by the Munitions Department, and that it was imprac-
"1 Serrana which ticable to release the space that had been requisitioned in the s.8. Messrs. Scrutton had proposed to load in Jamaica with the cargo originally destined for the 8.8. Edna." It was agreed that no further action need be taken by the Committee in the matter.
The Secretary read a letter from the Admiralty stating that it was proposed that the cargo should be sold in the United Kingdom by the Board of Agriculture, that the freight to Barbados and Martinique would be paid to the Marshal to be held for whom it might concern, and that the excess in the price realized in the United Kingdom over that for which the cargo would have been sold in Barbados from and Martinique would be paid to the Committee, who would
pay the
expenses Barbados to the United Kingdom. The Committee understood that the difference between the selling price in the United Kingdom and in Barbados and Martinique would amount approximately to £4,800, so that it was likely that a balance would remain over after the payment of all expenses by the Committee, and in these circumstances they saw no objection to the proposal.
The Secretary read an extract from a letter from the Jamaica Society of Agri- culture with regard to the allocation of the freight space in the 8.8. "Edna.'
3. 8.8. "Grahamland."-Some further correspondence from the Agent-General for British Columbia was communicated to the Committee. It was agreed that the question should be discussed at the next meeting, when a report on the question had been received from Messrs. Farrar, Groves, and Company.
4.
s.v." Terpsichore."-Mr. Tennyson said that he had been in communication with the Board of Trade about the subsequent employment of this ship to bring either (a) deals from Halifax, (b) logwood from Belize, or (c) timber from the Gulf of Mexico. The Committee agreed that the ship should be fixed in accordance with the recommendation received from the Board of Trade.
Mr. Holt reported that he had received a letter from Messrs. R. Thomas and Company stating that the discharge of the cargo was being delayed owing to the shortage of labour at Runcorn. Mr. Evans undertook to see if the Admiralty could make any arrangements to expedite the discharge of this ship.
5.
8.8.
Hamborn."-The Committee agreed that the chronometer which had been hired at Halifax should be bought for $100, which included the cost of
MINUTES.
the hire up to date. Mr. Evans undertook to make inquiries as to whether the Admiralty would purchase the chronometer.
E
6. 5.3. Australia."-The Secretary reported that he had now received a cheque for £250 from Messrs. Gray, Dawes, and Company.
7. $.8.
"Lokken."-The Secretary reported that a letter had been received from the Procurator-General stating that no steps were being taken to requisition this ship, as she was alleged to have been captured in territorial waters.
4
8. 8.3. Lome." The Secretary reported that a letter had been received from the Admiralty stating that this ship would not be required for the transport service. The Committee decided that the Procurator-General should be asked to apply for her condemnation, and that he should be asked to apply to requisition her in the meantime for use in the coasting trade.
Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company were to be asked to report on a bill for £2,482 68. 8d. for the coal and water supplied to this ship at Dakar. The Company were also to be asked whether they could make any recommendations as to the appor- tionment of this charge between the Committee and the Admiralty.
9. 8.0. Yawry."-The Committee approved the payment of £1,825 11s. 3d. to Messrs. Houlder, Middleton, and Company on account of their further disbursements at San Francisco.
As regards a claim from the Foreign Office to be refunded £33 19s. 5d. for the cost of telegrams sent in connection with this ship while at Dakar, the Committee recommended that this claim should stand over until the general question of the incidence of such charges was settled.
10. 5.5.
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'Istria."-The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Paymaster-General with regard to the accounts rendered by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. The Committee approved (a) the expenses of £937 10s. Od. and £984 9s. 11d. for coal purchased at Alexandria and at Algiers; (b) the professional charges of Messrs. Gilbert Samuel and Company amounting to £58 0s. 2d.; (c) the cost of cables amounting to £1 28. Od. and £1 16s. Od.; (d) charges for the insurance, storage, etc., of the cargo amounting to £2,600 17s. 11d. regards the expenses of Messrs. Catzeflis and Booth at Alexandria the Committee recommended that the Court should be asked to deal with this item. The Committee agreed that the bank should be asked to state what had happened with regard to the fifty-seven bags of sweepings referred to in the Order of Court dated 23rd July,
1915.
As
11. 8.8. Schneefels." The Secretary reported the result of the arbitration with regard to (a) the amount of freight due to the Admiralty under the terms of the agreement; (b) the expenses chargeable to the Representatives under the agreement.
The Committee approved the payment to the Representatives of the sum of £728 168. 7d. due to them under the award, and of the payment to Messrs. Waltons and Company of the arbitrator's expenses of ten guineas.
12.
8.8.
Genesee." The Secretary read to the Committee a report which had been received from the Governor of the Windward Islands with regard to the action of the local Government in maintaining the whole of the crew on board this ship during practically the entire month of December, 1915. It was agreed that no further action was possible.
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13. 8.8, Lucia." The Committee approved the payment of £3 48. 10d. to Messrs. C. W. Kellock and Company for their expenses in connexion with the inspection of this ship in December, 1914.
14. 8.8.
C
Grahamland."-The Committee decided that Messrs. C. W. Kellock and Company's account for the valuation of this ship might be paid, but they should first be asked to state on what basis the account had been drawn up.
15. 8.8. "Pindos."--The Committee decided that Messrs. Kellock's account for the valuation of this ship might be paid, after inquiry had been made as in the case of the 8.8.
Grahamland."