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182

No. 131.

MR. LYTTELTON to GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON.

(Sent 3.40 p.m., June 13, 1005.)

TELEGRAM.

Our solicitor will send out member of ùrm in

with expert company

witnesses in order to undertake general supervision of evidence to be given before arbitrators.

20323

No. 132.

MESSRS. SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received June 14, 1905.)

SIR,

[Acknowledged by No. 145.]

3 and 4, Great Winchester Street, London, E.C., June 14, 1905.

Straits Settlements.

Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, Limited.

REFERRING to our letter of the 30th ultimo* we have to inform you that in the course of an interview with Messrs. Druces and Attlee yesterday they again drew attention to the fact they had not received the promised communication as to whom the Government intended to appoint as their arbitrator, stating that they could not be responsible for their client's action if the appointment was not communicated to them at once. They moreover informed us that they had provisionally secured passages for their counsel and one of their partners per s.s. "China," leaving on the 14th of September, and that having to decide by the 15th instant whether or not they would avail themselves of the accommodation secured, they will in any event secure such passages for the 14th September, and in the event of the arbitration being postponed, will seek to charge the Government with the cost thereof. Enquiries we have made have satisfied us that it is necessary that these berths should be engaged, accommodation by all steamers leaving in the month of September being already somewhat limited, owing to the return of officials and their families from Europe to the East after the hot season; in fact the question as to securing berths for counsel and witnesses requires immediate attention. We have, therefore, provisionally engaged until the 24th of this month three berths on the vessel leaving on the 4th August, two for the 1st September and two for the 14th September.

We have, &c.,

20343

SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL.

183

prepare the case on behalf of the Company. Having regard to Sub-section C of Section 7 of the Ordinance we should be glad to know that you concur in a payment on account of such fees and expenses being made to the Company,

We would point out to you that the "Undertaking" to be taken over by the Government on the 1st July includes (see Section 2 of the Ordinance) the cash balances, reserve funds, investments, in fact all the property of the Company, and that there is no obligation on the Company to apply any of the moneys which they will receive pursuant to Section 6 of the Ordinance towards payment of their expenses in connection with the arbitration proceedings.

Similar provisions to those referred to above we find were inserted in the Metropolis Water Act, 1902, under which the Metropolitan Water Board acquired the undertakings of the several Metropolitan Water Companies, and we have ascer- tained that in that case payment was made by the purchasing authority to the Com- panies generally on account of their expenses of conducting the arbitration proceedings which determined the compensation to be paid for the taking over of those under- takings.

We have, &c.,

13414

SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL.

No. 134.

COLONIAL OFFICE to CROWN AGENTS. [Answered by No. 143.]

GENTLEMEN,

Downing Street, June 14, 1905. WITH reference to previous correspondence I am directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit to you a copy of a despatch* from the Governor of the Straits Settlements respecting the arrangements for the future management of the Tanjong Pagar Dock.

Mr. Lyttelton will be glad to know whether you can arrange to take over from the Company the London business, on and from the 1st July next, provisionally, and pending a decision as to the permanent arrangements. Messrs. Deloitte, Dever, Griffiths and Company, who are now examining the London books of the Company, have been asked to furnish this office, within the next few days, with a brief report on the nature of the business, which will doubtless be of use to you.

You will note what is said on the subject in paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Governor's despatch. The Chairman of the London Committee has suggested that one of the Crown Agents and a member of this Department should call at the London Offices, and it might be convenient if they were accompanied by Mr. F. G. Penney, Colonial, Secretary of the Straits Settlements, who is now in this country. It would be neces- sary to give him previous notice as he is understood to be at present in Edinburgh.

I am, &c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

No. 133.

MESSRS. SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received June 15, 1905.)

19718

No. 135.

SIR,

[Acknowledged by No. 145.]

3 and 4, Great Winchester Street, London, E.C., June 14, 1905.

Straits Settlements.

Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, Limited.

REFERRING to Section 7 of Ordinance No. 7 of 1905, we have now to inform you that the Company have applied to us for an advance from the Government on account of fees payable to their Counsel and expert witnesses, and also on account of the Company's general expenses incidental to this arbitration, alleging that a pay- ment to them on account of such fees and expenses is necessary to enable them to

• No. 115.

GENTLEMEN,

COLONIAL OFFICE to CROWN AGENTS. [Copy to Governor, June 15, 1905. Confidential. L.F.] [Answered by 22589: not printed.]

Downing Street, June 14, 1905.

I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to inform you that it has been arranged that Mr. W. Matthews of Coode, Son and Matthews, should shortly proceed to Singapore to advise on the scheme for a Government Harbour and on that for the improvement of the Tanjong Pagar Dock. If the arbitration proceedings in respect of the acquisition of the latter by the Colonial Government should take place during Mr. Matthews' stay there, he will be asked to give evidence on behalf of the Govern-

• No. 78.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O. 882

8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO.