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MINUTES.

12. S.V. "Clevedon."-The Committee approved the settlement of the Falmouth Towage Company's claim for £75 and five guineas for the claimant's costs.

13. s.s. "Altair."--(a) The Committee decided that the amount of the expenses incurred by the Board of Trade in connexion with the injured seaman Donovan should be recovered. from the Protection and Indemnity Insurance, and the managers informed accordingly.

(b) The Secretary was instructed to ask the Foreign Office to obtain for them a copy of the Suez Canal certificate.

14. Steamships "Koerber” and “Senegambia.”—The Committee considered the correspondence between the Secretary and the Admiralty Marshal concerning the dues on these steamers. They decided that the Marshal's practice must be followed and the 75 per cent, dues on both vessels should be paid.

15. 8.5. Hillerod."-The Committee approved the proposal of the Coasting Trade Office to claim from the owners a sum of £539 88. 5d. for money expended in repairs to this vessel. The Secretary was instructed to consult the Procurator- General as to the presentation of this claim.

16. s.s. "Rufidji."-The Committee decided that if this vessel has not been appraised in South Africa for the purpose of an undertaking by the Court the Transport Department should be asked to agree to a valuation being made by Messrs. Kellock or Messrs. Lachlan as from the date on which she was taken over by the Admiralty.

17. 8.8. "Australia."

a draft despatch to the -The Committee approved Governor of Ceylon which had been prepared by the Secretary, and also a draft minute for Mr. Barstow's signature in reply to the query raised by the Audit Office.

18.

The Sale of Prize Ships.--The Secretary read a letter from the Admiralty Heinz" and stating that concurring in the sale of the s.s. "Concadoro" and the s.v. the Admiralty had no objection to prize sailing vesels being sold without reference to them.

19. Legal work for the Admiralty Coasting Trade Office.-The Secretary read a letter from the Treasury Solicitor concurring in the arrangement come to at the One Hundred and First Meeting of the Committee. He was instructed to send to the Treasury a copy of the correspondence explaining that the employment of Messrs. Waltons and Company by the Committee had already been sanctioned by the Treasury.

20. S.5. Macedonia."-The Committee considered a letter from Messrs. Glanvill, Enthoven and Company on the subject of the premium to be paid on the goods carried by this vessel. They decided that an opinion should be obtained from some shipping company as to the amount of coal, stores, and provisions which would be carried by a vessel of this class for a voyage of, say, two months, and the amount of that valuation deducted from the total.

2217

THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, the 10th April, 1916, at 3.30 p.m.

The following members were 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. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office (who acted as Secretary in

the absence of Mr. Wiseman).

1. The minutes of the One Hundred and Sixth Meeting were confirmed,

subject to two alterations in paragraph 9.

•

EL

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MINUTES.

2. 5.8. Grahamland.' The Secretary reported that a writ had been served on the master by Messrs. Jones and Company for the balance of freight, and that £1,300 had been paid to Messrs. Jones on account. It was decided that the papers should be sent to Messrs. Waltons and Company to deal with.

3. 5.5.

"Edna." The Secretary reported that this ship had been fixed to load on the berth at Jamaica. The Committee approved the managing agreement with Mr. Evans undertook to make Messrs. Scrutton, Sons and Company, Limited. inquiries with regard to the delivery of the cargo and payment of freight at Barbados.

4. Steamships "Erymanthos" and "Thor."-Mr. Holt reported that the remuneration to Mr. Orrett calculated on freight at pre-war rates would amount in the case of the " Erymanthos" to £40 less than the amount claimed by Mr. Orrett. The Committee decided that Mr. Orrett's remuneration should be calculated on pre-war rates, as worked out by Mr. Holt.

5. Logwood ex Verdala."-The Committee decided that the Coasting Trade Office should receive 40s, a ton as their share of the freight, and should pay The Secretary was out of this the expenses at Cardiff, including stevedoring. instructed to inform the Transport Department and Colonel Leslie accordingly.

6. 5.S. Hakan."-The Secretary reported that this ship had been placed in the Prize Court in the United Kingdom. He was directed to inquire from the Procurator-General whether he thought it possible to apply for the requisition of this ship for use in the coasting trade. The Foreign Office were also to be consulted.

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7. s.s. "Chalkis."-The Committee decided that it was not desirable to take any steps to requisition this ship at present.

8.

8.8. "Hamm."--(a) The Committee considered claims which had been received through the Foreign Office from Messrs. Muller, Poignard and Company and Messrs. Frere in respect of the charges which had accrued on their goods ex this steamer. The Committee decided that this claim was covered by the guarantee of the Commonwealth Government, and recommended that the claims should be referred to the Commonwealth through the Colonial Office and the Foreign Office informed accordingly.

(b) The Secretary reported that Messrs. William Richards and Company proposed to divide the expenses in connexion with these ships as follows:-

All expenses up to 30th November to fall on the Crown, and all expenses after that date to fall on the cargo--enemy cargo hearing its share with released cargo. The Committee approved this proposal.

(c) The Committee considered a letter from the Millars' Trading Company, Limited, with regard to the length of notice to be given for cancelling the charter party on the cessation of hostilities. The Committee decided that they could not accept Messrs. Millars' proposal.

9. S.V. "Bellas." The Committee considered a letter from the Assistant Paymaster-General calling attention to the fact that Messrs. Dobell had charged a commission of 4 per cent. on the sale of the enemy timber ex this vessel, whereas the Admiralty Marshal stated that 2 per cent. was a usual and reasonable charge for timber. The Secretary was directed to refer the Assistant Paymaster-General to the minutes of the 6th of September, 1915, and to say that it was understood that 4 per cent, was a usual rate where a guarantee was given by the brokers.

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10. Ꭶ.. . Emir."-The Secretary reported that the Port of London Authority refused to make any allowance in respect of the rent on the cotton ex this steamer. The Committee decided that it was useless to pursue the matter further, but directed the Secretary to inform the Port of London Authority that they considered the arrangements made very unsatisfactory.

11. s.s. “Polkerris.”—The Secretary reported that the Port of London Authority refused to take any steps for the adjustment of the Committee's claim for a refund of the dock dues on this vessel pending the settlement of questions at issue between The Secretary was directed to the Authority and His Majesty's Government. inform the Admiralty of the questions which had arisen, and to ask to be informed as soon as a settlement of the general question had been arrived at.