593
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TRICO.
885/25
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
38
MINUTES.
Diyatalawa.” 7. 3.8.
-A claim for £240 18s. 8d. has been made by the Marshal of the Prize Court in Alexandria in respect of the short delivery of certain goods carried in this vessel in February, 1916. Inquiry showed that a credit of £20 16s. 4d, was available against this claim in respect of the sale of a quantity of sweepings, and Messrs. Grahams and Company, owing to their failure to keep the vessel insured against protection and indemnity risks, have accepted liability for the balance of the claim subject to their being allowed a credit of £200 in respect of the saving in premium which resulted from non-insurance. Inquiry is being made of the Marshal at Alexandria on one or two points before the claim is definitely settled.
8. S.S. "Montana,”—A claim from Malta, amounting to £144 4s, 7d, in respect of the expenditure incurred as a result of the inquiry in February, 1916, into the condition of this vessel has been met from the funds of the Admiralty Coasting Trade Office, in whose interests the inquiry was made.
9.
8.3.
42
Koerber." The balance of £11,795 138. 6d., mentioned in para- graph 3 of the Sub-Committee's report dated the 17th October last, has been reduced by an item of 19s, representing the cost of certain cables which were included in the steamer's disbursements. The resulting balance of £11,794 14s. 6d. has been remitted to the account of the Alexandria Prize Court with the Anglo- Egyptian Bank.
14
10. B.S. Erymanthos." The Accountant's report upon the managers' accounts for the second voyage of this vessel has been received and considered. Inquiry is being made of the Governor of Jamaica with regard to the charges for wharfage amounting to £302 128. 5d., and the managers are to be asked for an explanation of an apparent freight discrepancy and one or two other matters.
"
Lucia,"
Erymanthos."--Correspondence 11. Steamships
"Rooke," and between the Accountant and Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company upon a number of points arising out of the accounts rendered by the latter for the West African voyages of these vessels has been considered. The explanations by the managers not being considered fully satisfactory, the Accountant has been advised as to the terms in which certain of the points should be resubmitted to the managers.
12. Steamships “Barenfels" and "Gutenfels"; Bank Enemy Cargo.-In consequence of representations by the Procurator of the Prize Court in Alexandria, the banks have been pressed to complete and forward their accounts in this matter, in fulfilment of their undertakings. Messrs. Grahams and Company have reiterated their claim to a commission of two-and-a-half per cent. on the value of this cargo, but have asked that the decision of this point may remain in abeyance for the present.
13. 8.8. "Pfalz" (renamed "Boorara ").—This vessel was torpedoed on the lost. The incident has 20th March and beached at Netley; five lives were been brought to the notice of the Foreign Office, and the Commonwealth shipping representative has been asked to notify the Committee of the result of the salvage operations.
14. 8.8. "Altona" (renamed “Conargo").-This vessel has been lost as the result of an explosion (believed to be due to a mine) off Chickens Rocks on the 31st March, followed by a torpedo attack; ten men are missing, presumed killed. The Foreign Office has been informed.
Spetzai."-(See paragraph 20 15. Resin ex Steamships “Byzantion" and " of the Sub-Committee's report dated 30th March last). The Director of Stores, Admiralty, has now agreed to settle for the consignments transferred to the Admiralty at the price of 30s. per cwt., as originally arranged.
44
Messrs. Fairclough, Dodd, and Jones have now disposed of the balance of the "Spetzai" resin which was not required by the Admiralty. Apart from the sweepings, prices ranging between 59s. 6d. and 64s. 6d. per cwt. have been obtained. “Kroonland," and Regina 16. Rubber ex Steamships "San Giorgio,"
Wandby" has been disposed of by d'Italia."-The rubber shipped in the s.s.
The balance of some Messrs. Lewis and Peat, and realized £8,894 6s. 8d. gross. thirty to forty small cases has not yet been shipped from Gibraltar.
MINUTES.
37
'Kalymnos." 17. Hoop Iron ex s.s. Erymanthos" and Steel Joists ex 8.8. Upon the recommendation of Messrs. Fuller. Horsey, Sons, and Cassell, the dis- posal of this cargo was eventually placed in the hands of Messrs. J. M. Leeder and Son, of Swansea. The hoop-iron has realized a sum of £95 gross (about £10 per ton). The steel joists sold publicly have realized a price of about £8 per ton, but the completion of the accounts for this consignment is delayed pending an agreement with the Admiralty as to the price to be paid for the part of the The brokers were asked for an consignment which was taken over by them. explanation of the low prices obtained for this cargo, and have replied that the joists were of such short lengths (which are no good for structural work) that they could find no one to whom they appealed except at very low prices; in normal times some of them might have been used by builders for lintels, but building operations are practically at a standstill. The brokers had hoped for a better price for the hoop-iron, and, in fact, managed by negotiation to secure a price beyond the highest original tender.
18. Ploughs ex s.s. "Kalymnos."-This cargo has been sold by Messrs. J. M. The brokers reported that these Leeder and Son for a sum of £58 10s gross. ploughs were considered much too light, and only three offers were received.
19. Caustic Soda ex 8.8. "Erymanthos."--This cargo has been sold by Messrs. D. W. Greenhough and Son at a price of £27 per ton.
""
"
20. Dyestuffs ex 8.8. ‘Kalymnos.”—A claim by the Ministry of Shipping for freight on this cargo at the rate of £7 per ton has been reduced to £4 10s. per ton.
Roker in July, 1917. The cargo was shipped home from Malta in the 8.8.
Turnbridge." 21. Sulphate of Potash shipped from Malta in the s.5. The Food Production Department have rendered their account in connexion with the disposal of this cargo, which includes a charge of a commission of one per cent. for the services of the Department, in addition to a commission of one-half per cent. allowed to the brokers employed. In view of the fact that the Committee could probably have placed this business in the hands of the same firm of brokers at a commission of one per cent. only---this being the rate allowed to the firm by the Admiralty Marshal for this class of material--the Food Production Department has been asked to reduce their own commission to one not exceeding "one-half per cent.
The Department has further been asked whether, in their opinion, the price of £51 per ton obtained for this material is a fair one, seeing that at the time of the shipment of the cargo from Malta a firm of chemical manufacturers in this country advised that a price of £65 per ton might be expected.
22. Lead Piping ex 8.8. Kalymnos."—At the request of the Board of Trade, communicated by the Colonial Office, this cargo has been brought home from Malta with a view to sale to dye manufacturers in this country, who are stated to be experiencing very great difficulty in obtaining supplies to meet their requirements. The arrangements for the sale are being conducted by Messrs. Fairclough, Dodd, and Jones, the brokers suggested by the Board of Trade. The cargo is on its way home in the s.s. "Harden."
14
23. Copper Sheeting and Discs from Malta. This cargo is on its way home in the 8.8. Campus," and has been brought to the notice of the Departments likely to be interested. If this cargo is not required by a Department of His Majesty's Government, arrangements will be made for its sale in the ordinary. market.
24. Sales of Cargo. It is learnt that the Admiralty Marshal requires a bond or undertaking to be given by buyers of prize cargo sold in this country for his account, to the effect that no part of the goods purchased shall, during the con- tinuance of the present War, be exported from the United Kingdom to any destination other than the British dominions or to the order of an Allied Govern- ment. A bond is taken where the amount at stake exceeds £50, and below this amount an undertaking is accepted. This procedure is now being followed in connexion with cargo sold in this country for the account of the Committee.