PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PIC.O. 885
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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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Agents wired that the mile posts were promised for delivery on the 13th January, 1900. On the 16th February we wrote asking them to wire when they would arrive. Not receiving any answer, we wired on 13th March, 1900. On the 15th March, 1900, we were informed by wire that mile posts, costing £72, were promised to be delivered for shipment that week-the balance in four to six weeks. Sixty-five bundles were shipped in March, 1900, and 120 bundles in May, 1900, thus transferring the greater part of the charge to another financial year.
Powder for Evcaf.
Aquisition was sent to the Crown Agents, on the 13th July, 1900, for 100 kegs of blag powder for the Evcaf Department, for firing salutes. Estimated cost, with freight, £55. On the 19th October, 1900, the Crown Agents wrote that the War Department would issue " Powder Blank L.G." for this requisition.
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The Bill of Lading was dated 14th January, 1901, and on arrival of the advice it was found that the cost was £137 18s. 6d., exclusive of freight and insurance, £35 7s. 11d., or £173 63. 5d. The Crown Agents wrote, on the 21st March, 1901, that blasting powder, in the ordinary sense, would injure the guns used, and they considered that they would meet our purpose by providing the powder described, but they added that they regretted that they had not referred the matter back before deciding upon it. The matter gave rise to adverse comment amongst the Turks on the Evcaf Administration.
Shipment of Silver.
On the 31st January, 1901, we informed the Crown Agents that the Messagerie Maritimes Company would carry the withdrawn silver to London for one-third per cent. on the face value, and that we could insure with the Imperial Ottoman Bank for 2s. per £100.
By telegram of 25th February, 1901, we were directed by the Crown Agents to ship by the Moss Line.
By telegram of sth March, 1901, we asked whether the Moss steamers were coming to Cyprus to take the silver.
The Crown Agents, by telegram of 11th March, 1901, directed us to ship by Bell's Line to Alexandria, and that the Moss Line had arranged for such conveyance, and that the whole freight and insurance was arranged for in England.
By letter of 4th April, 1901, we informed the Crown Agents that a Bell's steamer arrived, and refused to take £17,000 which was ready for shipment, and that we were losing £1 1-8, 7d, daily for interest, taking interest at four per cent. On the 11th April the Bell's steamer took £24,000 of withdrawn silver. On the 23rd April we wired to the Crown Agents stating that a Bell's steamer refused the second consignment of silver unless the freight was 12s 6d. per cent. nominal value.
By telegram of 27th April, 1901, the Crown Agents directed us to insist on its being taken, subject to settlement of the question in London, and on,the 1st May we wired that the Bell's agent refused to accept the silver under 12s. 6d. per cent. nominal value, and we asked whether we should make our own arrangements. On the same day the Crown Agents requested us to make the best arrangements for shipment, but to leave insurance to them. On the 2nd May we received a wire from the Crown Agents stating that Bell's Line had given way, and a later telegram, of same date, stating that they had not given way. On the 15th May we shipped, by the Messageries Maritimes Com- pany, £16,200, face value, of withdrawn silver, and further shipnients were made by the Messageries Company.
It is calculated that about £50 in interest was lost.
Cape Gata Lighthouse.
By Bill of Lading, dated the 16th November, 1900, we received 12 cases of glass, &c., for this lighthouse. On examination these cases it was found that in three cases, containing eight panes each of curved plate-glass, all of No. 1 case were smashed, two of No. 2 case, and one of No. 3 case, also one with a piece broken off.
On the 24th January, 1901, the Crown Agents were written to, with a request to recover the amount which the loss represented, and to have the articles replaced.
The Crown Agents, by letter of 27th February, 1901, forwarded a copy of corres- pondence they had with Messrs. Chance Brothers, who had supplied the glass. This firm disclaimed all responsibility, on the ground that the panes had been packed in the best manner, and their responsibility ceased when the glass was placed on board. They
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added that they presumed that the Crown Agents had insured the glass against break- 41
age on the voyage.
On the 7th May, 1901, we asked the Crown Agents whether they had claimed the loss. The Crown Agents, by letter of 5th June, 1901, stated that in case of fragile articles, such as glass, earthenware, &c., the underwriters will only insure against total loss, and that if they offered to accept the risk it would be at rates of premium which would be practically prohibitive.
It is understood that private firms obtain, without great difficulty, an arrangement by which fragile articles, supplied and packed by the merchant, but which are broken in transit, are replaced.
In this case the cost of replacing the glass amounted to £36 15s.
Road Rollers.
On the 15th July, 1898, we requisitioned for 23 road rollers, to weigh about one ton cach without ballast. Twelve were received by Bill of Lading dated 10th November, 1898, and eleven by Bill of Lading dated 29th November, 1×98; the cost, with freight and insurance, amounting to £484 19s. 4d.
On the 16th June, 1899, the Director of Public Works reported that ten of the 23 rollers were found to be fractured in various parts of the cylinders and spokes owing to the metal being too thin.
This was pointed out to the Crown Agents by letter of 28th September, 1899, and
a requisition for jackets for the rollers sent. Messrs. Blakemore stated that they had complied with the specification, but admitted that on account of their lightness they were liable to be injured if used for road work.
It is to be regretted that this was not pointed out before the rollers were sent. Eventually steel shells, at a cost of £185 14s. 7d., including freight and insurance, were obtained for these rollers.
Police Clothing and Equipment.
On the 8th January, 1900, a requisition for police clothing and equipment, includ- ing 100 waist-belts, 100 frogs, 100 pouches, and 100 great coat straps, was sent to the Crown Agents, with a request that the requisition might be paid for before the 31st March, 1900. The Crown Agents, by letter of 28th February, 1900, stated that the whole of the requisition could not be shipped and paid for before the 31st Marol, 1900. The goods mentioned above were despatched by Bill of Lading, dated 22nd November, 1900.
By despatch No. 50, of 5th March, 1900, the police requisition for 1900-1901 was forwarded through the Secretary of State, and this requisition included also a similar number of the above articles. The Bill of Lading for these articles is dated 22nd November, 1900.
The Crown Agents did not, however, pay the charges for both these requisitions, which amount to over £100, until May, 1901, or 16 months after the first order, in- stead, therefore, of about £50 appearing, as desired, in the 1899-1900 account, and £50 in the 1900-01 account, the whole cost will appear against the financial year
In the same requisition, sent by despatch No. 50, of the 5th March, 1900, there was some mohair braid, olivet buttons, and mohair buttons for uniforms, which were not received until February and April, 1901, or one year and two months after the date of the order.
1901-02.
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SIR,
No. 31.
FEDERATED MALAY STATES.
HIGH COMMISSIONER Sir F. A. SWETTENHAM to MR. CHAMBERLAIN, (Received March 17, 1902.) (No. 57.)
Government House, Singapore, February 20, 1902.
WITH reference to my despatch, No. 415, of the 31st December last, and in further continuation of my despatch, No. 510, of the 28th of November, 1901,† I have
• No. 29.
† No. 26.