PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
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C.O. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRES NOT TO
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and the "Apolda" The arrangements to be made for moving these ships were dis- cussed, and it was decided that the cargo should be insured by Messrs. Glanvill Enthoven & Company, with the usual provision as to cancellation if insurances had been effected elsewhere.
14. A letter from Messrs. Findlay, Durham & Brodie, applying for the use of German sailing vessels interned in Australia for conveying lumber from British The Committee thought that the firm shoulÈ Columbia to South Africa, was read. be referred to the High Commissioner for Australia.
15. &.s. "Signal.”—The Governor-General of Australia having reported that an order had been made for the condemnation and sale of this vessel, the Committee recommended that a reply should be sent stating that His Majesty's Government had no objection to the sale of this ship locally.
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Sonegambia.”—The Committee did not 16. 3.3. "C. Ferd Larim” and sa. think they could usefully discuss the situation of these ships until the Admiralty had investigated the reports from the Commanding Officer of H.M.S. “ Triumph.”
'Heinz."--The Committee recommended that the Prize Court should be asked to rescind the order for the sale of this ship and make an order for delivery to the Crown.
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17. $.8.
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They were unable to reconsider their decision not to accept the offer of Mosers. Mitchell, Cotts & Company, to purchase the ship for £6,150.
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THE THIRTY-EIGHTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, the 25th March, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.
The following members were present :-
VICE-ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman).
MR. W. J. EVANS, Admiralty.
MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.
MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.
MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.
MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.
MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).
1. Steamships" Adolphus,” “ George R.," "Kalymnos.”—Mr. Holt stated that the "Adolphus" had arrived at Gravesend, and that the owners and captain were asking for definite instructions as to the persons to whom the copper should be delivered. The Chairman stated that he had no information on the subject, but that inquiries would be made at the Admiralty. In the meanwhile the ship must wait.
The delays involved in loading the other two ships were also discussed.
2. s.s." Josephina.”—Mr. Holt informed the Committee that he had learnt from Messrs. Antony Gibbs & Company that the 50,000 tons of nitrates which they had Mr. Evans arranged to sold to the Admiralty were only to be delivered f.o.b. inquire further as to the terms of the purchase. The Committee thought, that, as there was no special urgency to bring the nitrates to the United Kingdom, Messrs. Farrar, Groves & Company should be instructed to fix the "Josephina" with cargo from some Brazilian port, as had been previously arranged.
3. 8.8. Gracia.”—The Committee decided to send this ship in ballast to Halifax to await orders, as she would be conveniently placed there for proceeding either to St. John's, New Brunswick, or to an American port. Mr. Holt informed the Committee that he understood that Messrs. Mertons wished to send about 2,500 tons of cargo home from an American port, and that they would pay 40s. per ton. Mr. Evans undertook to find out what other cargo the Contract Department of the Admiralty wished to ship home from America In the meantime Mr. Holt could arrange provisionally with Messrs. Mertons to bring home their cargo.
4. 8,8. "Erymanthos."-The Committee agreed that this ship might take coal to a Mediterranean port and return home with ore.
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5. 8.8. Rooke."-Mr. Holt informed the Committee that this ship had been fixed to go from Hall to Genos. She would probably return with ore from Cartagena to London.
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Mr. Holt informed the Committee that the freight on the 422 bags of maize, ex "Emir," which had been brought from Gibraltar to Middlesbrough on this steamer, amounted to £41 178., and that the cost of loading the cargo at Gibraltar was 20. a ton. The Committee agreed that when Mr. Holt had received a cheque for the above amount, and also for any other charges against the ship, the Secretary should write to the Customs authorities asking for the release of the cargo to Besson & Company against the charges incurred at Middlesbrough.
6. 8.8. "Emir.”—Mr. Holt laid before the Committee a report which he had received from the captain of the ship as to pilferage and other losses sustained by the ship while lying at Gibraltar. The Chairman undertook that the Admiralty should make inquiries of the Senior Naval Officer as to this.
7. Large Sailing Ships.-The Committee discussed the remuneration which should be given to Messrs. John Stewart & Company for the management of the "Schwarzenbek." They thought that the most suitable arrangements would be to allow the firm a fixed sum for management expenses, together with 11 per cent. commission on the gross freight Mr. Holt stated that he proposed to "R. C. Rickmers to Messrs. John Joyce & Company, and the "Chile T. A. Shute.
give the
to Mr.
Mr. Evans undertook to make the necessary arrangements for the Admiralty to requisition the "Carl," and also to consult with the Admiralty Marshal as to the value of the ship for insurance purposes. He also undertook to make arrangements for the ship to be registered.
8. Alexandria Ships. Mr. Holt informed the Committee that the crews for the "Altair," "Pindos," and "Helgoland" were going out almost immediately. He had asked the Foreign Office to telegraph instructions to expedite the discharge of the cargo of these ships.
9 Requisitioned Ships.-A letter from the War Office to the Admiralty, The Committee relative to the charges incurred by the Committee, was read. thought that all the expenses incurred, including those of sending out the crews, should be met by the War Office, until such date as the ships were again delivered to them for general use. Mr. Evans undertook to submit a draft reply to the War Office at the next meeting of the Committee.
10. Report on position of Ships. Mr. Holt reported to the Committee on
the position of the ships "Gibraltar," "Frisia,” and “ Thor.”
11. s.s. "Heinz.”—A further letter from Messrs. Mitchell, Cotts & Company was read to the Committee, but they were not prepared to modify their previous decision to put the ship up to public auction.
In connexion with a telegram which had been received from South Africa by the Colonial Office, the Committee decided that the "Heinz” should be sent back to Simonstown, and that she should be sold by public auction on the 21st of April. The Union Government should be asked to advertise the sale, and to inform intending purchasers that they should instruct their agents to bid at the sale in the United Kingdom.
12.
Marina."-The Committee decided to accept the offer of Messrs. Mitchell, Cotts & Company to charter the ship for six months at a rate of £250
a month.
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18. 8.8. Helgoland."-The Committee instructed the Secretary as to the reply to be sent to Alfred Holt & Company in regard to this ship.
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14. 8.8. · Paklat."—The Committee recommended that the Governor of Hong Kong should be informed of the new rules under which this ship could be requisi- tioned before being adjudicated by the local Prize Court.
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15. 8.8, Fürth."-The Anglo-Persian Oil Company were to be informed, in reply to a letter from them, that any banker's guarantee given by them for the pay- ment of the balance of the purchase money must be approved by the Committee.
Apolda."-A letter from Mr. Hughes was cón- 16. Steamships "Hamm," sidered relative to a telegram which had been received from Australia, asking that
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