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Mr. Holt reported that he had now received the account for the expenses at Alexandria, showing £2,277 to be due to the charterers. The Committee agreed that Mr. Bebb should be asked to examine these accounts as soon as possible.

The Secretary reported that the ship was already advertised for sale, and that it was hoped that it might be possible to sell her before the end of November. The Committee agreed that no alterations were required in the ordinary conditions of sale for prize ships.

3. Steamships “Brisbane” and “ Numantia."-Mr. Tennyson reported that a letter had been received from the London Chamber of Commerce setting out the con- ditions on which the cargo owners were prepared to take over the ships at Mormagao. This letter had been discussed between Mr. Leak, of the Board of Trade, Mr. Malkin, and himself and the Secretary, and, after the discussion, he had drafted a memo- randum showing the conditions which should be put before the Portuguese Govern- ment. This memorandum was now considered by the Committee, and various alterations were made.

Mr. Barstow stated that there would be no objection on the part of the Treasury to the Committee assisting the Board of Trade with this matter, and it was agreed that the Secretary might write to Messrs. Waltons and Company with reference to the drafting of an agreement with the representatives of the cargo owners as soon as the negotiations were sufficiently advanced for this to be done.

4. 8.S. "Prinz Adalbert."-The Committee considered a memorandum by Mr. Evans discussing the question of the employment of this ship by the Govern- ment, instead of her being put up for sale as proposed by the Admiralty Marshal. Mr. Evans stated that the ship was considered to be unsuitable for further use in the transport service, and he had been informed by Mr. Hipwood that the Board of Trade did not desire to employ her. Mr. Holt reported that he had consulted Messrs. Kellock and Company with regard to the proposed employment of the ship.

After some discussion the Committee adopted the following resolution Having considered the various alternative courses proposed with regard to this ship, and in view of the fact that she is entirely unsuitable for the cargo-carrying trade, and in view also of the time and expense required for her reconstruction and the necessary repairs, the Committee are of opinion that by far the most economical course to adopt is to sell her.

5. 8.0. "Carl."--Mr. Holt reported that this ship had gone ashore at Fresh- water Bay, the hawser having parted while she was being towed. The Committee decided that a letter should be sent to the Admiralty asking for their assistance in getting the ship off, and asking also that all the necessary arrangements might be made by the naval authorities direct.

The Committee also discussed the value to be assigned for the insurance of the ship in connexion with the estimate to be supplied to the Admiralty for the cost of the voyage to British Honduras to load mahogany. It was decided that Messrs. Law and Company should be asked to suggest a value for the ship, and that Messrs. Glanvill should be asked to quote a rate for the voyage to cover all risks.

It was also thought desirable that the values assigned to the sailing ships in the Committee's insurance fund should be increased.

6. "Neath." The Committee decided to pay Messrs. Elder Smith and Company, Limited, and Messrs. Antony Gibbs and Sons the sum of £1,464 0s. 8d., due to them under the charter party dated 22nd December, 1915.

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7. 8.8. Edna."-The Committee considered a note from Mr. Medd, of the Accountant-General's Department, with regard to the payment of the light dues at Liverpool claimed by Trinity House. It was agreed that the Committee should pay the dues in full.

The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Paymaster-General with regard to the accounts from Messrs. Serutton, Sons, and Company, for the voyage from Barbados. It was agreed that the passage money to Barbados, and the charges made on the stores sent out by the s.s. "Spheroid" must be paid by the Committee. The Transport Department were to be asked to report what had happened to the casks, drums, barrels, etc., presumably left on board after the dis- charge of the ship. The charge for hotel expenses, amounting to £49 13s. 6d., was accepted. The sum of £160 48. for allowance for lighterage in Jamaica was to be noted for the schedule of losses. The Committee also decided to accept one-and-a-

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quarter per cent. commission on the Jamaica freight instead of on the Barbados freight as previously suggested. Finally the Committee approved the payment to Messrs. Scrutton, Sons, and Company of the balance of £1,322 188. shown to be due to them on these accounts.

The Committee decided that the allowance for uninsured risks must be made in respect of this ship from the date on which she was taken over in Barbados by Messrs. Scrutton, Sons, and Company,

8. s.v. "Tilly,"--The Committee considered a letter from the Admiralty Coasting Trade Office with regard to the loss of this ship, and also setting out a statement of the capital value of the other ships which had been lost by the Coast- ing Trade Office. Mr. Barstow stated that he did not consider that the Committee were concerned with writing off the losses of these ships, but he asked the Secretary to bring up the matter at a later date, as it was being considered at the time by the Treasury.

9. Railway Material ex "Erymanthos."-The Secretary reported that the sale of this material had been fixed for the 12th of December. The Committee agreed to the proposals made by Messrs. Churchill and Sim for fixing the reserve, which the Secretary was authorized to approve.

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10. s.v.

Yawry."-The Committee considered an account from Messrs. Lachlan and Company for their expenses in connexion with the sale of this ship. The Secretary was instructed to inquire on what grounds a charge had been made for a survey fee.

11. S.S. Frisia."-The Committee considered a draft of a reply to the letter from the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company with regard to the accounts of this ship. Subject to certain alterations, and to Mr. Bebb being asked to consider certain points raised, the Committee approved the proposed reply to the company.

12.

s.s. "Adolphus."-The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Paymaster-General with regard to voyage 8 of this ship It was agreed that the credit by Messrs. Sharp and Company for coal and stores might be accepted. Messrs. Tyzack and Branfoot should be asked to report upon the charge of £11, being the difference between the amount paid by the London stevedores for the damage caused by the use of heavy grabs and the actual cost to the Committee.

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13. 5.8. Marina."-The Committee agreed that the period of the service of this ship with the Cameroons expedition should properly be taken to continue until the return of the ship to Accra in October, 1914, as suggested by Assistant Paymaster Colles, R.N. They recommended that the Transport Department should be asked whether they could ascertain from her log the date on which the ship returned to Accra.

14. Claim from St. Lucia Government for a refund of the cost of telegrams in connexion with the cargo of the s.s. "Genesee.”—The Committee were of opinion that the claim for this expense should be recovered from the charterers, for whose benefit the telegrams had been sent.

15.

** 8.0. Clevedon."-The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Paymaster-General on the accounts for the voyage from Bristol to Gulfport and home to Birkenhead with sleepers. It was agreed that the charges of £28 15s. on mooring bitts and £37 10s. for sending up the topgallant masts which came down by reason of the broken bitts, should be charged to the idle account. It was also thought that, in view of the correspondence with the managers, the fee for securing the crew at Gulfport and the expenses of Mr. W. P. Honeyman must be accepted.

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