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of these ships would not cease until the end of the year or even later. The Com- mittee agreed that any further charter should contain a clause to the effect that, in the event of the treaty of peace being signed before the end of the charter, the Government would have the right to cancel the charter.

7. 8,8.

48

Nicolaos." Mr. Evans reported that the Admiralty did not propose to acquire this ship. The Committee did not desire to do so either, and the Secre- tary was asked to inform the Foreign Office accordingly.

8.

8.8.

"Hamborn." The Secretary reported that it appeared, from a letter from the managers of the Admiralty Coasting Trade Office, Newcastle, that it was proposed to charter this ship to the Transport Department at the Blue Book rate of hire. The Chairman stated that other arrangements were, in fact, being

made.

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9. 8.8. Edna."-Mr. Evans stated that it was proposed to make arrange- ments for this ship to be sent, under convoy, to Martinique and Barbados, to dis- charge her cargo of nitrates in those places. As regards the 500 tons of cargo which had been removed from this ship to the collier "Manchester Port," it was hoped that an agreement could be made with the shippers to discharge the cargo at Bahia Blanca. It was agreed that the Governor could now be asked to institute proceedings against the ship.

10. Steamships "Erymanthos" and "Thor."-The Committee discussed a despatch which had been received from the Governor of Jamaica, relative to the commission payable to Mr. H. M. Orrett. It was decided that the Secretary should write to Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company, the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, and Messrs. Elders and Fyffes, to ask them to state the rates of freight payable before the war on cargo similar to that brought in these two ships.

The Committee agreed that the report made by the Assistant Paymaster- General on the accounts received from Jamaica on the "Erymanthos" must wait until the managers' accounts had been dealt with.

The Committee considered the Assistant Paymaster-General's report upon the third voyage of the “Thor." It was agreed that the discounting of the freight in connexion with the charter parties referred to should be accepted, as this was done before the Committee had decided not to allow such a transaction, and that the managers should be repaid the sum of £44 108. 4d. in respect of the stores taken over by the Transport Department when the ship was transferred.

11. Expenses of Crown Agents.-The Committee approved the payment of £4 13s. 3d. to the Crown Agents in respect of out-of-pocket expenses.

12.

8.8. "Werdenfels."-The Committee considered an account from Messrs. Grahams and Company for the first voyage of this ship from Alexandria to London. It was decided that Messrs. Grahams should be asked to send vouchers in support of the account; that they should be asked to state on what basis the proposed commissions to Messrs. Wackerbarth and Messrs. Grahams had been fixed; that some explanation should be given of the reason why the actual expenses incurred were rather more than double the original estimate; and that proof should be furnished as to the amount of freight received. It was agreed that there were no further claims to be made upon the representatives under clause 8 of the agree- ment. Messrs. Grahams should also be informed that the account should not be submitted to Messrs. William Elmslie and Sons, the average adjusters, until it had been approved by the Committee.

13.

S.S.

Kawak." The Committee considered a despatch from the Governor of Malta, enclosing a claim for £606 78. 1d., which had been received from the Senior Naval Officer, in respect of the expenses incurred on the voyage of the ship The Committee recom- to Egypt to discharge her original cargo of briquettes. mended that the Colonial Office should write to the Admiralty and suggest that inquiry should be made as to the freight for the voyage in question.

14. 8.8. "Macedonia.”"-The Secretary read to the Committee a minute from the Attorney-General discussing the question whether the original material on board The Committee agreed that could properly be considered as cargo or as stores. the brokers should be informed of the position, and should be asked for their views as regards the payment of the premium on the material in question.

15.

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MINUTES.

3.5. Emir,' -The Secretary informed the Committee that this ship had been valued by Messrs. Lachlan and Company for £181,542, which figure included the consumable stores. The Committee agreed that no question need be raised owing to the fact that the valuation related to the 21st of January, whereas it had been agreed that this ship should be regarded as transferred from the 6th of January. The gist of Messrs. Lachlan and Company's remarks as to the error in the nominal The horse power should be communicated to the Secretary of Lloyd's Register. Committee approved the payment of Messrs. Lachlan's account for £22 4s. 3d., but they did not consider that any further fee should be paid on of Mr. Thompson's detention in Liverpool for two days.

account

16. 8.8. "Polkerris."-The Committee approved the proposal of the Assistant Paymaster-General to delete the amount of the undertaking in respect of this ship from the Admiralty Transport Department. The Transport Department should be informed that the cancellation had been made.

17.

s.o. "Kelp." The Committee approved the payment of £500 to Messrs. Fisher, Alimonda and Company, in respect of their disbursements on this ship.

2180

THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, the 27th of March, 1916, at 3.30 p.m.

1.

2.

Present:

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman). MR. W. J. EVANS, Admiralty.

MR. G. L. BARSTOW, C.B., Treasury.

MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign 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.

3.0. "Chile." The Secretary reported that the stores ex this ship had been

sold for a total sum of £753 198. Ød.

3. Stores.-The Committee discussed the question of the check which had been exercised upon the equipment and stores on board prize ships when they were taken The Committee considered that they had no power to over by the Committee. institute any check at the beginning, except through their managers, since the Committee had no inspectors, and their only representatives in the ports at which the ships were taken over were the managers. If it were found, on examination of any account, that the amount of stores that had been used on any particular voyage had been excessive, a report would be called for from the managers of the ship. They recommended, however, that Mr. Holt should ask the managers for a report on the condition of the ships when they were first taken over, and that the managers should also be asked whether they could supply any lists of stores or any inventories when they took over the ships.

4. S.8. “Grahamland.”The Secretary reported that the Admiralty had decided that this ship should be handed over to the Transport Department. The Committee agreed that Messrs. C. W. Kellock and Company should be instructed to make the usual valuation.

Sir R. McBride, the Agent-General for British Columbia, and Mr. Woods, Timber Commissioner of the Province, attended the Committee with regard to the excess freight payable under the bills of lading. It was understood that Sir R. McBride was making inquiries as to the action which had been taken in recharter- ing the ship, and that he would report what had occurred as soon as he had obtained an explanation.

"

5. S.D. Yasary." Mr. Holt reported that this ship had arrived at San Francisco, and that she had to be dry docked. It was agreed that the question of her return to the United Kingdom via the Panama Canal should be left for the managers to decide when the ship arrived off the Canal on her homeward voyage.