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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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284

We have referred to the terms of their engagement, as evidenced by the corre- spondence, and have otherwise satisfied ourselves that this account is correct, and we recommend payment thereof.

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SIR,

We have, &c.,

SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL.

No. 306.

ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received January 23, 1906.)

[Copy to Governor, February 2, 1906. Confidential. L.F.] (Confidential.)

Admiralty, January 22, 1906.

WITH reference to your letter of 30th November last, No. 41919,* I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to forward herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, copy of instructions which have been sent to the Commander-in-Chief, China, regarding the measures to be taken in connection with the storage of Admiralty coal and patent fuel at Singapore.

With regard to Sir J. Anderson's despatch of the 2nd November last,† I am to state that in arranging terms for the storage and handling of coal it was not suggested that the Admiralty should receive exceptionally low terms or preferential rates. It is desired that any negotiations with the Dock Board should be conducted on an ordinary business footing, and it is solely with this end in view that the Com- mander-in-Chief has been instructed to refer the proposed rates home for their Lordships' concurrence before the contract is finally concluded.

Their Lordships' views on the matter are clearly expressed in paragraph 2 of Mr. Lyttelton's letter of the 26th Septembert to the Governor of the Straits Settle- ments, but Sir J. Anderson appears to have been under some misapprehension as to their purport.

Lord Elgin will note that in consequence of difficulties attending the appoint- ment of a Naval Representative on the Dock Board their Lordships are willing, for the present, to waive their proposal on this subject.

Their Lordships also accept Sir J Anderson's view that the Governor should be responsible for taking the necessary steps to meet Naval requirements for wharfage and labour on an emergency occurring, and that no previous stipulation need be made.

&c.,

I am,

C. I. THOMAS.

285

It remains, therefore, for you in due course to arrive at an agreement with the Colonial Authorities as to the precise site to be available for ordinary peace require- ments and as to the terms on which it could be obtained, Their Lordships desire you to take the necessary steps accordingly.

In the meantime, and without prejudice to the ultimate arrangement with the Colonial Government, approval was given by Admiralty Letter C.P. 16559, of the 3rd November, to your proposal to arrange a contract for storage and handling of coal and patent fuel shipped by the Admiralty, the Governor having stated that the land now used for Admiralty coal will be kept available for this purpose.

As the transfer of the Dock Company to the Government took place in July last, my Lords presume that the interim arrangement will necessarily be with the newly- constituted Dock Board.

It was proposed in Admiralty Letter M. 4982, of the 28th July last, to stipulate that in case of emergency the whole of the wharfage, or such portion of it as may be considered necessary by the Naval Authorities, should be at the disposal of the Naval Service, and that the Naval Authorities should determine when such case of emergency has arisen. Sir J. Anderson, however, states that full powers are vested in the Governor for dealing with an emergency, and that no Governor would hesitate to use them so far as might be required to ensure the speediest possible coaling of His Majesty's ships.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies having concurred in Sir J. Anderson's views, their Lordships consider that it may be left to the Governor to take the necessary steps when the emergency arises, and that no special stipulation is required beforehand.

Their Lordships have also decided for the present to waive their proposal that a Naval Representative should be appointed on the Singapore Dock Board, in view of the difficulties which have been shown to attend this course.

The Commander-in-Chief,

2674

His Majesty's Ships and Vessels, China.

No. 307.

I am, &c.,

C. I. THOMAS.

Reference :-

C.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

SIR,

(Confidential.)

Enclosure in No. 306.

Admiralty, January 22, 1906. WITH reference to Admiralty telegrams, Nos. 182 and 196, of the 22nd August and 1st December last, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform you that correspondence has taken place with the Colonial Office with regard to the action which you were directed to take with the Colonial Government at Singapore in consequence of their acquisition of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company.

As regards coaling arrangements, the Admiralty requirements are that storage for coal and patent fuel up to 30,000 tons shall be at their disposal at Singapore.

You were informed on the 21st March last by Sir J. Anderson that if suitable terms could be arranged he would be prepared to allot for Admiralty purposes certain land which is to be reclaimed, and which he subsequently stated would be available in about two years' time. Permanency of tenure would be an essential feature of these arrangements.

• No. 291.

↑ No. 287.

+ No. 273.

MESSRS. SUTTON, OMMANNEY, AND RENDALL to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received January 24, 1908.)

SIR,

[Answered by No. 309.]

3 and 4, Great Winchester Street, London, E.C., January 23, 1906.

Straits Settlements.

Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, Limited.

WгTH reference to our letter of the 10th instant, as the points raised by the Governor's despatch, No. 450, of 31st October last, which will be referred to the Court of Arbitration for decision, relate to the manner in which the balance sheet of the Company for the 30th of June, 1905, should be made up, it is necessary that we should place ourselves in communication with Messrs. Deloitte, Plender, Griffiths, and Company, with a view to their assisting Counsel and ourselves, and, should the Court decide to hear evidence, to give evidence as to the manner in which that balance sheet has been prepared, having regard to the practice of this Company in the past, with respect to their method of dealing with the items of depreciation, reserve, and the amount carried forward as shown in their previous balance sheets.

We shall be glad to receive your authority to employ Messrs. Deloitte, Plender, Griffiths, and Company for this purpose and to arrange for Mr. Maltby of that firm to place his services at the disposal of the Government. In this instance we do not

• No. 303.

† No. 286.

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