PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
ILLICO. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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MINUTES.
Voucher 751.-The Committee recommended that the Governor's attention should be drawn to his despatch of the 8th of May; that it should be pointed out that the Marshal had been responsible for the ship at the time when the stores were pillaged; and that the Governor should be asked why the Marshal had required the master to pay for the remaining stores on the ship.
Voucher 428.-It was agreed that the Governor should be asked to claim from the railway company who discharged the coal the amount spent in patching the donkey boiler tube.
Voucher 421.-The Committee considered that the price paid for 1,500 tons of ballast was reasonable.
Voucher 186.-The Committee agreed that the bill for towing the "Yawry" to Dakar would be presented separately through the Admiralty.
The Committee agreed that, subject to the points mentioned above and to certain further comments by Messrs. Houlder, Middleton and Company about which inquiry should be made, the account furnished by the Governor might be paid, subject also to the report of the accounting officer.
3. s.s." Ranee."-Mr. Holt reported that he had now received a telegram from Mr. Somerville offering £300 a month for the renewal of the charter* of this ship to the Straits Steamship Company. In addition the charterer undertook to be liable The Committee for the cost of the approaching survey and consequent repairs. decided to accept this offer, the charter being renewed for another six months or the duration of war. Mr. Holt was to inform Mr. Somerville accordingly, and the Governor of the Straits Settlements was to be asked to complete the charter.
4. S.0. Bellas."--Mr. Holt reported that Messrs. Dobell and Company had agreed to sell the lumber originally on board this ship, receiving 4 per cent. brokerage (which included a guarantee from the firm). The Committee approved this pro- posal, and the Secretary was to authorize Messrs. Dobell to effect the sale.
Messrs. Dobell were to be asked whether they considered the value referred to in a telegram from the Governor-General of Canada to be reasonable. When a reply had been received a telegram should be sent to the Governor-General asking what order had been made by the Court with regard to this cargo.
The Committee approved of Messrs. Langridge and Company being appointed
to do the ship's business in London in return for a fee of ten guineas.
**
5. 8.9. Marquis Bacquehem."-The Secretary reported that a letter had been received from the Admiralty stating that they wished to make use of this ship. The Committee considered that the date of taking over should be the date on which the discharge had been completed.
6. 3.0. "Terpsichore."—Mr. Holt reported that this ship would arrive on the 8th of September at Sharpness. He stated that he was asking Messrs. Thomas and Company on what terms they would continue their management of the ship.
Grahamland."-Mr. Holt reported that this ship was due to sail on
3.8.
7. the 8th of September.
8. 8.0.
Pax."-The Committee agreed that the risk attaching to the ship's stores should not be insured, but would be carried by them, and that the captain must make his own arrangements for the insurance of his own personal kit. Messrs. Fisher, Alimonda and Company should be reminded of the Board of Trade's scheme, which enabled the captain to insure his own effects.
9. 8.8. Rooke." The Committee considered the Assistant Paymaster- General's report on the accounts for the first voyage of this ship:
(a) Account for various officers at Hotel Cecil, Gibraltar, £18 14s. 4d.-The Committee had no objection to this charge, but they recommended that further par- ticulars should be obtained from the managers, including details as to the dates.
(b) Account for pesetas 3100.90, entitled "Despatcho de buques."-It was ex- plained that this voucher was for the clearance of the ship, and the Committee considered that it might be accepted.
(c) London brokerage, 14 per cent.-Mr. Holt stated that this commission was payable to the London agents who arranged the charter party and that it was a proper charge to make. It was agreed that this might be accepted.
(d) Cargo of coal.-As a report had been received from the Attorney-General at Gibraltar stating that on the 18th of December there was no coal on board, the Committee did not consider it necessary to raise the point as to whether some portion of the coal should have been used for bunkers.
No. 2 in Appendix B.
MINUTES.
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(e) Freight on maize, Gibraltar to Cartagena.-The Secretary reported that the maize formed part of the original cargo on the 8.8. "Emir," which had been con- demned as prize and sold locally. The Committee thought that it would be sufficient to ask the managers for exact particulars of the maize shipped.
As to the remaining points raised by the Assistant Paymaster-General, the Committee considered that a report should be obtained from the managers.
steamer.
10. 8.8. Emil." The Secretary reported that Messrs. C. W. Kellock and Company had recommended that a reserve of £45,000 should be placed on this They The Committee considered that this figure was rather high. recommended that Messrs. Kellock and Company should be informed accordingly and that a reserve should be fixed at £35,000 and communicated to them in a sealed envelope, which should not be opened until the sale had been concluded. .
The Committee approved the further documents which had been submitted by their brokers-viz., bill of sale, form of mortgage, and form of bond.
The Committee also approved a draft which had been written by the Secretary as to the submarine signalling apparatus on this ship. They decided, however, that a sentence should be added to the effect that the Admiralty would not be liable for the cost of the removal of the apparatus.
11. Submarine signalling apparatus.-The Secretary read a letter from the Prize Claims Committee stating that they had decided to recommend that in.all cases where this apparatus had been installed on board a ship under a form of it should be released agreement similar to that in the case of the 8.8. "Schlesien
to the Company. The Committee instructed the Secretary to write to Waltons and Company asking for particulars of the agreements in respect of the "Helgoland and "Hanna Larsen," and to write to the Admiralty with regard to the apparatus on the s.s. "Lutzow," forwarding a copy of the correspondence on the subject,
12. Steamships “Chowtai ́” and “Sandakan."-The Secretary reported that a telegram had been received from the Governor of the Straits Settlements suggesting the renewal of the charter for 2,000 dollars a month, and stating that the restricted service contemplated by the charter was essential but that it was not so lucrative as other trades. He reported that a reply had been sent to the Governor suggesting that the Straits Steamship Company should act as agents for His Majesty's Government on the usual conditions.
13.
3.s. "Emir."-The Secretary reported that he had received the account sales for the wine from this ship and that they showed a loss to the Committee. The Committee recommended that the account should be sent to the Assistant Paymaster-General for a report, and that, subject to any observations which might be received from that Department, Messrs. Churchill and Sim should be asked why there had been so much delay in selling these goods.
14.
3.8.
EX
Concadoro."-The Secretary reported that the Obell Steamship Com- pany had asked for an interview to submit their claim for the refund of a portion of the purchase price. It was pointed out that this was a sale by auction, and that, even if the purchasers had any claim, which under the conditions of sale they had not, it would not be possible to remit any part of the purchase price. mittee considered, therefore, that no useful purpose would be served by granting their request.
The Com-
15. 3.8. Adolphus."-The Committee considered the reply from Messrs. Tyzack and Branfoot to the queries raised by the Assistant Paymaster-General on the accounts for the first four voyages of this ship. They agreed that a fee of four guineas per diem to Messrs. Thompson, Eyres, and Bryers was a reasonable one, Mr. Thompson having rendered valuable services. The remainder of the charges for travelling, hotel expenses, etc., from Sunderland to London, Gibraltar, and return were reasonable and should be accepted. They also considered that the voucher which had now been obtained from Gibraltar for marine police services to this and other ships was sufficient. It was considered that the remaining replies furnished by Messrs. Tyzack and Branfoot were satisfactory.
The Secretary reported that he had now received a letter from the Admiralty saying that this ship was required for the transport service. The Committee con- sidered that the date of transfer should be that on which the vessel had completed her discharge.
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