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Procurator had paid £12,200 into Court in respect of the proportion of the purchase It was understood that a money payable to the Greek part-owner and interest. claim would eventually be made on the Committee by the Foreign Office for the refund of this amount.
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6. 5.3. Rufidji." The Secretary reported that he had written Admiralty on three occasions with regard to the valuation of this ship, which had been taken over by the Transport Department. He had been informed over the telephone that the ship was on Admiralty service in South Africa, and that there was no opportunity at present of having her inspected with a view to valuation. The Committee considered that, as it would be possible at any time to obtain a book valuation of the ship as at the date of transfer, there was no special object in having her valued at the present time, and that the matter could wait until His Majesty's Government had reached a decision on the general questions relative to the use of prize ships.
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7. Steamships “Hamm and Apolda."-Mr. Tennyson reported that, in view of the difficulties which had been encountered by the Admiralty in arranging for the supply of sailing tonnage for the use of the South African Government, the Admiralty had agreed to return the s.s. Apolda" to the South African Government for the purpose of carrying sleepers. The Federal Steam Navigation Company had therefore been informed that the charter with Messrs. Millars' Timber and Trading Company should be regarded as having continued without interrup- tion. As regards the coal voyage for the "Hamm from South Africa to Australia, Mr. Tennyson understood that the Admiralty considered it would be better to adopt a scheme of payment on the basis of payment of expenses plus hire calculated on Blue Book rates, rather than payment of the cost of the voyage plus ten per cent. as suggested by the Committee. The Committee decided that the Admiralty should be asked to state the actual rate on which hire of the ship would be calculated if she were treated as being under requisition at the Blue Book rates, and that the Federal Steam Navigation Company should then be asked to work out the difference between this proposal and the cost of the voyage plus ten per cent.
As regards the wheat charter for the s.s. "Hamm," the Committee agreed that the settlement of the rate of freight should be deferred until the position as to the supply of sailing tonnage had been settled.
8. C.T. 22" Blonde," C.T. 51" Lonada," and C.T. 53" Lonclara.”—The Secre- tary reported that the s.s. Blonde" had stranded and become a total wreck, that the "Lonada” had been sunk by a mine or torpedo, it was not certain which, and that the "Lonclara" had been mined and sunk. The last two of these ships. were two of the Port of London Authority hopper barges which had been converted into colliers for employment by the Coasting Trade Office.
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5.8. "Concadoro."-The Secretary reported that this ship had become a total loss off East London. He had spoken to Messrs. Lachlan and Company, who held the insurance policies, and he understood that there would be no difficulty in obtaining the payment of the balance of the purchase money still due on this ship out of the sum payable by the underwriters in respect of the insurance policies.
10. Locomotive Wheels ex the s.s. "Senegambia."-The Secretary stated that the Governor of Hong Kong had reported that these wheels could not be sold in the Colony. Particulars regarding them had been communicated to the Ministry of Munitions, who had asked that a drawing and the name of the makers might be obtained. These particulars had not yet arrived, and in the meantime a letter had been received from the Commission Internationale de Ravitaillement stating that the wheels in question were originally ordered in 1914 from Germany for the Imperial Government Board, Tokio, and asking that the material might be placed at the disposal of the Japanese Government. The Committee considered that a telegram should be sent to Hong Kong asking when the drawing might be expected.
11. Steamships “Damao” and “Pangim.”—The Secretary reported the position of the agreement with the representatives of the cargo owners which was being prepared on behalf of the Board of Trade. He added that difficulties were being ncountered at Bombay, as the Bombay Port Trust had refused to accept any responsibility for the cargo. The India Office had, however, agreed to send a telegram explaining the matter, with a view to a reconsideration of its attitude by the Port Trust.
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German Ships seized in Greek Ports and taken to Malta.-The Secretary reported that it was now understood from the Foreign Office that these ships would be adjudicated by the French Prize Court. The Committee agreed that it was unnecessary for them to take any action with regard to these ships.
13. Railway Material ex the s.s. Erymanthos."-The Committee approved the action of the Secretary in proposing to the War Office that the value of the two locomotives withdrawn from the sale should be fixed at £3,500.
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The Committee considered a letter from Messrs. Churchill and Sim, giving Messrs. Fuller, Horsey, Sons, and Cassell's recommendation as to the value which the War Office should be asked to pay the Committee for the three locomotives whose boilers had been commandeered by the military authorities at Malta. was decided that the War Office should be asked to credit the Committee with £8,250 for the three locomotives, less £300 in respect of the expenses which the brokers estimated would have been incurred if it had been possible to erect one of the locomotives for the inspection of the purchasers. In return for this credit of £7,950 the War Office would receive a credit for the sum which had been realized at the sale for the various parts of these locomotives, amounting to £1,800 less expenses.
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s.s. "Edna."-The Secretary reported that the Receiver of Wreck at Dublin was willing to arrange for the sale of the barrels, drums, etc., ex this ship, and that an offer had been received of £3 5s. for the goods, which the Collector The of Customs considered reasonable, as the casks were not in good condition. Committee agreed that the Receiver of Wreck should be authorized to dispose of the articles at this price.
15. Cargo at Malta. The Secretary reported that despatches had been received from the Governor of Malta asking whether certain resin and sodium carbonate from the Prize Court of the Colony might be shipped to the United Kingdom for sale. The Committee considered that Messrs. Churchill and Sim should be asked whether there was any market for the articles in question in England, France, or Italy, and that particulars as to the sodium carbonate should be forwarded to the Ministry of Munitions. Particulars as to the resin had already been forwarded to that Department.
16. s.s. "Hocking."-The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Paymaster-General with regard to the accounts of this ship. It was agreed that no question should be raised as to the amount of cargo carried in the ship, and it was also agreed that the charges referred to in paragraphs 3, 4, 5, and 8 of the Assistant Paymaster-General's letter could not be questioned. As regards the discrepancies between the original and final inventories, the Committee recom- mend that Messrs. Pickford and Black should be asked to ascertain whether the Captain had any explanations to offer, and that the Coasting Trade Office should be asked what attempt was made to check the stores on the arrival of the ships in this country. As regards the question of demurrage, the Committee considered the further report from the Assistant Paymaster-General, and agreed that any possible claim might be waived without further inquiry. As it appeared to be doubtful whether the Committee could in any case claim demurrage at all, it was thought that it was unnecessary to write off any of the claim as a loss.
17. Balances. The Secretary reported that the balance to the credit of the Committee on the 30th of November amounted to £728,099 14s. He added that he understood that the Treasury had asked the War Office to pay to the Committee's account an amount equivalent to the sum which was being advanced to the Military Paymaster in Egypt out of the balances to the credit of the Prize Court in that country.
18. s.s." George R."-The Secretary reported that the Chairman had approved the payment to the Admiralty of certain expenses incurred by that Department on this ship in April, 1915, amounting to £3 88. 9d.
19. Insurance of Cargoes at Gibraltar.-The Secretary explained that the Marshal at Gibraltar had been unable to collect the insurance premium, amounting to 58., due on certain cargo, ex the s.s. "Italia," which had been released on the 1st of April, 1915. The Committee agreed that this small sum might be paid out of their commission.