PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
C.O. 885
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s.s. "Koerber."-The Secretary reported that he had heard that the Trans- port Department were quite willing to take over this ship at Alexandria, but that he understood that they proposed merely to bring her home empty to the United Kingdom. It was decided that it would be better to load her with as much cargo as she would take, and to hand her over to the Transport Department on her arrival in the United Kingdom. Mr. Holt was asked to make the best arrangements he could for obtaining a cargo.
The Committee recommended that the Foreign Office should at the same time telegraph to Cairo, stating that it was proposed to bring the ship home, and that any condemned cargo which it was wished to send to the United Kingdom should be put on board.
The Committee decided that Dr. C. Schneider's collection should be brought home in the ship; and that the Kew and British Museum authorities should be informed that the collection would be brought home and that it could be inspected on arrival.
10. Steamships "C. Ferd Laeisz” and “Senegambia."-The Committee con- sidered a memorandum by Dr. Pearce Higgins which had been received from the Admiralty, relative to the capture of these ships. It was thought that the best course would be to discuss verbally with the French authorities whether the French or the British Prize Court should adjudicate upon the ships, and it was understood that an opportunity would shortly arise for such a discussion to take place. The Secretary was asked to bring up the papers in three weeks' time.
11. 8.3. Istria."-The Secretary stated that he had received a letter from the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation asking what arrangements were to be made for the redelivery of this ship to the Admiralty, and for taking over the stores under Clause V. of the Agreement. He was asked to write to the Transport Department requesting them to hasten their inspection of the ship and to send an interim answer to the Corporation.
12. 8.8. "Gibraltar."-The Committee considered a report which had been sub- mitted by their Accounting Officer upon Messrs. Houlder, Middleton's accounts for this ship. The Committee thought that Messrs. Houlder, Middleton's accountant should be asked to see Mr. Bebb and discuss outstanding points with him. The Com- mittee decided, however, as follows, on the points mentioned below:-
13.
Paragraph 1. No action need be taken with regard to the galvanized cargo oil lamp.
Paragraph 2. They approved the date of 9th March for the termina- tion of the first Agreement with the managers.
Paragraph 3. They agreed that the expenses in respect of the four days' delay at Gibraltar were properly chargeable.
Paragraph 6. The method of calculating the crew's wages for broken periods was understood to be the one usually adopted by the trade, and might therefore be accepted.
Paragraph 12. The figure taken for the disbursements was approved. 3.8. “Emir."―The Secretary reported the receipt of a further letter from Messrs. Hindley and Company relative to the sale of the hemp and sisal on this ship. The Committee thought that it would be sufficient to acknowledge the receipt of the letter.
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14. $.8. Thor."-The accounts which had been received from Messrs. Farrar, Groves and Company were approved, subject to the report of the Accounting Officer. "Australia."—The Committee approved the payment of a sum of Rs. 258.75, which had been reported by the Governor of Ceylon to be due on account of the increase in the price of water used for testing the bottom of the ship.
15. 8.8.
16. s.s. “Fürth.”—A despatch from the Governor of Ceylon was considered, stating that no reason was seen for giving a gratuity to the captain of the ship in respect of the first voyage which had been arranged by the Ceylon Government. Mr. Wakely was asked to find out what rates were usually paid by the Indian Marine, and whether any bonus was being allowed by them to captains of enemy vessels under their management.
17. Inventories of Detained Ships taken over from the Admiralty Marshal.—- It was agreed that the cost of making these inventories was a charge against the earning account of the ships.
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18. Steamships "Moltkefels" and 'Rappenfels."—Mr. Holt raised the point as to whether the freights for the first voyage of these ships should be paid direct to the Committee's account or to the India Office. It was thought better to let the accounts be dealt with in their entirety by the India Office in the first instance.
19. 8.8. "Marina."-The Secretary explained the position with regard to the stores on this ship between the date when the ship was put into Messrs. Elder Stores Dempster's hands and the date from which she was chartered by the firm. consumed during this period were to be debited to the Committee. It was agreed that the matter must be left to Messrs. Elder Dempster, and that no inventory need be taken by the local Government.
20. 8.8. "Rajaburi."-
."-The_Secretary reported that a telegram had been received from the Governor of Hong Kong asking what arrangements were to be made for the payment of bills, amounting to $11,109, incurred in making the ship seaworthy for handing over to Mr. William Roberts. It was agreed that the Governor should be asked to pay the bills locally and that the Crown Agents would be reimbursed from the Committee's account.
21. Steamships "Haidar Pasha" and "Annaberg."-The Committee agreed that certain accounts which had been received for these two ships should be sent to the War Office to deal with.
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THE SIXTY-SECOND MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, 28th June, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.
The following members were present:-
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VICE-ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman)
MR. W. J. EVANS, Admiralty.
MR. C. HIPWOOD, Board of Trade.
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).
The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed, with three alterations.
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2 8.8. 'Gracia."The Secretary read a letter from the Transport Depart- ment stating that this ship was required to carry oleum. The Committee decided to hand her over to the Transport Department, subject to her being valued in the usual way. Mr. Holt informed the Committee that he had fixed the ship for a voyage to Calais. The Committee thought that it would not be worth while to cancel the charter, but that she should be handed over at the conclusion of her voyage.
3. 8.8. "Emil." The Secretary read a letter from the Director of Transports asking if this ship could be handed over for use as a collier. It was decided to await a decision upon the Fourth Interim Report before deciding upon this applica- tion. In the meantime, Mr. Holt was asked to arrange for a short voyage to keep the ship employed.
4. 8.8. Grahamland.”—Mr. Holt reported that he had made inquiries after the previous meeting and had discovered that it would be impossible to bring nome pit-props as they could not stand the freight. The proposal to carry sleepers had also fallen through. Messrs. Farrar, Groves and Company were now telegraphing to Monte Video to find out whether they could obtain a cargo from there, and they were also asking the captain to report what his reasons were for thinking that the ship was not fit for a voyage to British Columbia.
5. 8.8. "Helgoland."-Mr. Holt reported that it was probable that this ship would be unable to reach Karachi before the cancelling date of the charter which had been arranged. He had written to the Wheat Committee to ask what extension
of time could be allowed.
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MINUTES.