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received from the auditor appointed by the Government of the Straits Settlements to examine the accounts of these ships. It was decided that the questions raised as regards the charter arranged by the Straits Government previously to the ship being taken over by the Committee must remain in abeyance for the present. The Straits Government should be told that the Committee assumed that the boats and rafts supplied to the "Chowtai and Sandakan were to replace others which had become worn out; and they should be asked to report as to the bonus to the captain and as to whether the charge of 123-50 dollars for hospital expenses could be recovered subject to the usual deduction of £10.
11. Steamships Gutenfels" and "Werdenfels."--The Secretary reported that he had received from Messrs. Grahams and Company a summary of the voyage accounts of these two ships as finally submitted to the average adjusters.
12. 8.0. Ernst."-The Secretary reported that it appeared from a notice in Lloyd's List that this ship was a total loss off Chiloé Island.
13. s.o. "Terpsichore."-The Committee discussed the question whether, in view of the salvage claim which had been received at the Admiralty, a general average should be taken with a view to the recovery of a portion of the cost of the salvage from the cargo owners. It was decided that Mr. Holt should consult Messrs. William Richards and Son as to whether they thought that it was worth while proceeding with the matter.
2821
THE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, the 23rd of October, 1916, at 3.15 p.m.
The following members were present :-
VICE-ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLACE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman). 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.
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2. 8.0. 'Carl."-The Committee considered a letter from the Admiralty, and decided that this ship should be sent to Belize to load a cargo of mahogany which was required by the Admiralty and War Office for aeroplanes. The Committee agreed that the cargo should be carried at cost price, the latter to include the allowance made in the Committee's books for uninsured risks.
Mr. Holt was authorized to arrange the details and to consult with the managers as to whether the side decks should be removed in order to increase the room for stowage.
3. 8.3. "Nicolaos." The Committee considered an application from the shippers for a reduction of the freight payable in connexion with the voyage from Alexandria. It was agreed that the shippers had no claim and should be informed accordingly, and that the Committee would reconsider the matter when the cargo had been unloaded.
The Secretary was instructed to explain the position of this ship to the Transport Department.
4. s.s. "Edna."-Mr. Holt reported that Messrs. Scruttons had represented that they were entitled to be paid their commission on the freight which would have been earned if the cargo had been loaded in Jamaica and not on the freight payable in respect of the original voyage to Barbados. Mr. Holt was asked to discuss the matter further with this firm, and to settle it on the basis of paying them a reasonable sum for the work which they had actually done.
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It was agreed that the Admiralty should be asked officially what sum should be paid by the Committee in respect of the claim for dock dues from the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.
MINUTES.
5. Hemp and Tow ex the s.8. "Emir."-The Committee interviewed Mr. Douglas Hindley and Mr. Agar, of the firm of Messrs. Hindley and Company, and the Chairman informed them that the Committee had made a full investigation into the matter and come to the conclusion that the charges made had not been substantiated.
6. 3.8. “Grahamland."-The Committee considered and approved a draft to the Agent-General for British Columbia, subject to one alteration.
7. 8.0. "Clevedon."―The Secretary reported that information had now been received from the managers of this ship which showed that, after some narrow escapes, she had proceeded on her voyage satisfactorily.
8. s.o. "Yawry."-The Secretary reported that this ship had been sold to Mr. James Bell for £27,500. It was understood that Messrs. Lachlan and Com- pany were negotiating a settlement with regard to the consumable stores on board.
9. Steamships "Hamm” and “A polda.”- The Committee considered a letter from the Director of Transports, and directed the Secretary to reply pointing out what was the actual situation with regard to these ships. Mr. Holt suggested that the Colonial Office should consider whether it would be possible to send one or both of the ships to carry coal to Mauritius after discharging in South Africa.
10. Railway Material ex the s.s. Erymanthos.”—The Secretary reported the position of this matter to the Committee.
11.
8.5. "Malta." The Secretary reported that this ship had been taken into Malta for adjudication. It was decided that no action need be taken by the Com- mittee for the present, as the position of these and other German ships seized in Greek ports was still under discussion between the Foreign Office and the Admiralty.
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12. 5.3. Kawak."-The Committee considered the report from the Assistant Paymaster-General with regard to the accounts of the voyage to the Persian Gulf-Karachi-home. It was agreed that Messrs. Knott should be asked to make an allowance for uninsured risks before reckoning their commission on the profits, and that the allowance should be made at the figure in the Committee's books for uninsured risks.
13. s.s." Gutenfels."-The Secretary reported that he had received from Messrs. Grahams and Company the accounts for the sale of the enemy cargo ex this ship, together with a statement that papers as to the enemy cargo taken over by the banks would follow at a later date. The Committee decided that Messrs. Grahams and Company should be asked to furnish particulars of the sums paid over by the banks in respect of the enemy cargo taken over by them.
14. Accounts. The Secretary reported that the Committee's balance on the 30th September amounted to £649,687 4s. 1d.
15. Sixth Interim Report and Fee 49.-The Committee considered a further minute from the Admiralty Registrar on this subject, and agreed that the question of the payment of the fee was one to be settled by the Judge in each case.
16. 5.5.
Herlo." The Secretary reported that a Norwegian steamship of this name, of 102 tons gross, had been placed in the Prize Court. The Committee agreed that the Foreign Office and the Procurator-General should be asked whether an application could be made to requisition her for use in the coasting trade.