། ། ། '།
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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APPENDIX A.-REPORTS.
The electric light companies are those most affected this way, for they are, relatively, modern institutions, erected in congested, and consequently expensive, areas, where storage accommodation could not have been installed save at a prohibitive cost.
We have for some time been securing figures from a number of other corpora- tions, limited companies, and private firms, which are considerable users of coal, and whose manufactured products the Government, under the present war conditions, is interested in. Some of these undertakings should have gone on the original list, but it was difficult to mark them down earlier, and, even now, several of them have been so irregular in supplying the figures required weekly that I have not so far I expect, however, thought it desirable to issue a special report dealing with them. to be in a position to do so before long. In the meantime, our records are most useful to enable us to deal with difficulties as and when they arise.
For the most part, the parties on the new list have very poor storage accom- modation and trust to a hand-to-mouth policy for their requirements. This state of things is doubtless unavoidable in the great majority of instances, but it involves very considerable work and correspondence whenever, from any temporary block in the flow of supplies (as not infrequently happens), starvation point is almost
reached.
A good deal of additional work has been put on the Railway Executive Com- mittee to meet difficulties in this direction, and I am glad to record, once more, my appreciation of the willing and quick help which the officers concerned have always extended to representations made by my office.
In addition to minutes, reports, and other matters dealt with by myself and my staff, I find that at the end of the year we had 517 separate correspondents, and had written a total of 2,765 letters.
My staff consists of two shorthand writers and typists (Mrs. Metten and Miss Westrop) who have proved themselves most willing and active assistants.
A. LESLIE, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Organizing Secretary.
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APPENDIX B.—AGREEMENTS AND CHARTER PARTIES.
No. 1 (a).
AGREEMENT WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE NAVIGATION OF THE S.S. “SCHNEEFELS" TO BOSTON AND NEW YORK.
[6d. stamp.]
THIS AGREEMENT made the 15th day of January 1915 BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONERS for executing the Office of LORD HIGH ADMIRAL of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (hereinafter called "the Admiralty") of the one part and ALFRED ARTHUR HARGREAVES of Threadneedle Street London GEORGE E.C. FRANCIS HARWOOD CAREY of 7 Royal Exchange London EC. ASHTON HENDERSON of 1 Royal Exchange Buildings London E.C. and WILLIAM KING WEBSTER of 2 Lime Street Square London E.C. as well on their own behalf us on behalf of the owners of the cargo now laden on board the steamship "Schnee- fels of the other part (hereinafter called "the Representatives").
"
WHEREAS the "Schneefels" (hereinafter called the "vessel ") being then owned by the Hansa Line of Hamburg in Germany was on the 10th August 1914 captured AND WHEREAS the and brought as prize into Gibraltar by a British war-ship. vessel at the said date was on a voyage from India to Boston and New York with a general cargo. AND WHEREAS the vessel was condemned as prize of war in the Prize Court at Gibraltar and is now about to be registered as a British ship and the Representatives desire that the cargo should be carried on in the vessel to Boston and New York without transhipment or breaking bulk and with as little delay as possible. AND WHEREAS the said cargo is about to be released by an Order of the said Prize Court and the Admiralty at the request of the Representatives are willing to arrange for the navigation of the vessel from Gibraltar to Boston and New York (in that order) and the delivery of the said cargo at those ports on the terms hereinafter appearing.
APPENDIX B.-AGREEMENTS AND CHARTER PARTIES.
NOW IT 18 AGREED AS FOLLOWS:-
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1. The Admiralty shall forthwith employ a contractor (who may be the regis- tered owner of the vessel) on such terms as they shall deem fit to undertake the navigation of the vessel from Gibraltar to Boston and New York (in that order) and the delivery of the cargo there to the Representatives or as they may direct.
2. Neither the Admiralty nor the contractor nor the registered owner of the vessel (hereinafter called "the owner") shall be under any liability in respect of the conveyance or delivery of any part of the cargo but such conveyance and delivery shall be entirely at the risk of the owners of the cargo and the Representatives on behalf of such owners shall at their own expense and before the vessel leaves Gibral- tar effect and deliver to the Admiralty an approved policy or policies or other instrument or instruments indemnifying the Admiralty and the contractor and the owner and the proper Officer and Marshal of the said Prize Court to the extent of £100,000 against all claims of what kind soever which may be at any time made against them or any of them or against the vessel by the owners or receivers of the said cargo or any of them or by any other persons whomsoever in respect of the cargo or the conveyance or delivery thereof as aforesaid.
3. Neither the Admiralty nor the contractor nor the owner shall be deemed to warrant the seaworthiness of the vessel at the commencement or at any period of the voyage or to assume any liability for negligence default or error of judgment of themselves or of any other person whomsoever or to undertake to deliver any part of the cargo in good order and condition or at all or to convey or deliver any part thereof to or at any place or places beyond Boston or New York in the interior of the United States of America or elsewhere.
4.
Should the contemplated voyage be broken up or rendered impracticable by any cause whatsoever neither the Admiralty nor the contractor nor the owner shall be under any obligation to complete the same or to take any measures for the salvage or delivery of the cargo and the cargo shall then as always be at the expense and risk of the owners of the cargo and neither the Admiralty nor the contractor nor the owner shall be under any liability or obligation whatsoever in respect thereof or for the further performance of this Agreement.
5. Neither the Admiralty nor the contractor nor the owner shall be deemed to be carrying the said cargo or any part thereof under the bills of lading issued or any contract or contracts of affreightment entered into whether by the Hansa Line or otherwise on the original shipment thereof.
6. On the arrival of the vessel at Boston and New York respectively the con- tractor may without any previous notice to the Representatives or the owners or receivers of the cargo discharge the cargo or any part thereof on to any wharf or quay where it shall then as always be at the expense and risk of the owners of the cargo.
7. Subject as hereinafter mentioned the Representatives jointly and severally, agree to defray all expenses whatsoever which the Admiralty or the Governor of the Colony of Gibraltar may incur in connexion with the voyage and the preparation and arrangements for the same and with the delivery of the cargo and with bringing back the vessel in bailast to any one port in the United Kingdom (but not including any repairs or alterations or additions to the vessel her machinery or equipment or outfit) and a statement or account of such expenses shall be rendered by the Admiralty to the Representatives as soon as may be after the completion of the voyage. In particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing agreement) such expenses shall include (i) the sum of £7,470 or such other sum as may be payable by the Admiralty to the Contractor: (ii) all legal and other expenses incurred by the Admiralty or the Governor of the Colony of Gibraltar in the negotia- tion preparation approval printing and execution of this Agreement and of any Agreement with the contractor (iii) the cost of all telegrams sent by the Admiralty and the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Governor of the Colony of Gib- raltar (iv) all fees and charges payable to the proper officer of the said Prize Court or his agents or to the Marshal or any other officer of the said Prize Court in respect of the said cargo or any part thereof or for procuring the release thereof. Provided that if the Admiralty should arrange to have the vessel brought back from the United States of America or elsewhere to the United Kingdom or elsewhere with a cargo the Representatives shall nevertheless not be entitled to a refund of any part of the said sum of £7,470 or other sum payable by the Admiralty to the contractor as aforesaid. But any sum received under any policies of insurance effected by or on behalf of the Admiralty in respect of the expenses hereinbefore stipulated to be