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all British subjects resident in Trinidad, and my investigation as Custodian confirms the letter of Mr. de Verteuil.*

3. It would appear that the Collector of Customs obtained his information from Mr. William Gordon Gordon. In this connexion I might mention that, on numerous occasions since I became Chairman of the Liquidating Committee, now nearly two years ago, Mr. Gordon Gordon complained verbally to me that we were too indulgent to defaulting mortgagors of cocoa estates that formed part of the assets of enemy businesses, and about a year ago, immediately after Mr. Carl de Verteuil transferred the banking business of the estates of Messrs. Neubauer & Company from Messrs. Gordon, Grant, & Company to the Royal Bank of Canada, Mr. Gordon Gordon, in conversation, told me substantially what, in relation to Neubaner & Company, he told the Collector of Customs.

4. In paragraph 9 of my minute of 10th April, 1916, I said that "Messrs. Neubauer & Company have been known to exercise their influence for the purpose This I learnt from Mr. Huttenheim, partner of diverting cocoa to Hamburg."

of Mr. Neubauer, in 1912. He was then calling in mortgages from a large number of people who I had reason to know were solvent, but were being embar- rassed by his action. To the public the reason he assigned was that his firm had suffered such heavy financial losses by advances to fraudulent mortgagors (just then at the Appeal Court here they had lost an action which eventually they won at the Privy Council) that they were determined to retire from the Colony as rapidly as they could. To me, however, he admitted that his firm apprehended war between Great Britain and Germany, and that before its declaration they would hardly be able to realize their investments in Trinidad. On that occasion also Mr. Huttenheim told me that when his firm came to Trinidad in 1897 they had hoped to find in Hamburg a market for the produce of cocoa estates, but that their financial transactions in the Colony were not prosperous.

5. Between the time of the conversation in 1912 and the outbreak of war the procedure of Messrs. Neubauer & Company accorded with what Mr. Huttenheim told me they contemplated. Under threat of foreclosure every good mortgage they held was redeemed. The cocoa estates they took over and which [they] managed under licence by Mr. Carl de Verteuil were subject to first mortgages, in every instance but two, of almost their market value.

6. At the interview with the Governor on the 24th instant the managers of the two local banks informed His Excellency that, in their opinion, the financial operations in Trinidad of Messrs. Neubauer & Company were not successful, and that, whatever their original intention might be, for the two years preceding the War they had been making strenuous efforts to withdraw from the Colony.

D. SLYNE,

Receiver-General, Chairman, Liquidating Committee.

2.

On the 21st ultimo* I replied by cable to the following effect :—

"In reply to your telegram of 19th October, encumbered estates referred to belong to Neubauer, but some of thein taken over in respect of second Sale of Hoffman's shares not mortgages are now mortgaged to others. required for payment of non-enemy creditors."

3. I have now the honour to forward herewith a statement drawn up by the Chairman of the Liquidating Committee, giving, as full as are available,_ the particulars asked for concerning all the cocoa estates belonging to Neubauer & Com- pany, the Trinidad Properties, Limited, Max Reimer, F. W. Meyer, and P. F. Collignon, and of the mortgages on them, as requested in your telegram of the 24th of October.t

4. In connexion with the estates of Mr. F. W. Meyer, I would invite your attention to the enclosed extract from Mr. C. W. Meyer's letter of the 11th of August, claiming on his own behalf £1.341 13s. 4d. as accumulated profits due to him from "Springhill" estate, and about £100 from "Valley Vale" estate for his brother, Dr. Meyer, which claims will presumably have to be considered in the Your attention is drawn to these claims in view event of a sale of these estates.

of the statement made in your telegram of the 19th October that it may be decided to approach possible purchasers in England.

5. As regards Mr. Reimer's estate, offers for its purchase have been invited by the Liquidating Committee up to the 31st ultimo. The highest offer, if reason- able, will be submitted to me for approval before it is accepted.

6. Mr. Collignon's estate is included in the statement referred to in the third paragraph of this despatch, although it is in possession of the mortgagees who, it is understood, are about to exercise their power of sale.

have, &c., J. R. CHANCELLOR,

* 50623.

+ 45982.

Governor.

28th August, 1916.

56796

SIR,

No. 180.

TRINIDAD.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Confidential.)

(Received 27th November, 1916.)

Government House, 1st November, 1916. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 19th of October,t which read as follows:-

"With reference to your Confidential despatch of the 2nd September, report by telegram whether encumbered estates, see paragraph 3, are owned by Neubauer & Company or mortgaged by them; also whether sale of Hoffman's shares in Trinidad Shipping and Trading Company required for payment of non-enemy creditors. Report by post full particulars of value, extent, etc., of all the cocoa estates and mortgages of cocoa estates belonging to Neubauer and other enemies, including Meyer, as it may be decided to approach possible purchasers here:"

*This letter forms an enclosure to Trinidad Confidential despatch of 9th August, 1916 (41430). + 45932. ‡ No. 179.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

سلسليسا

Co

Reference :-

885/25

| PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Enclosure 1 in No. 180.

Particulars oF ENEMY COCOA ESTATES OF MESSRS, NEUBAUER & COMPANY, THE TRINIDAD PROPERTIES, LIMITED, MAX REIMER, F. W. MEYER, AND P. F. COLLIGNON, IN TRINIDAD.

200

*39,583 6 8

5,625

4,989

4,198

£194,666 13

4

£49,562 10 0

495

?

426

£10,416 13 4

£2,083 6 8

...

165

210

5,000 0 0

2,500 0 0

RII

138

3,750 0 0

283

348

£8,750 0 0

£2,500 0 0

495

&

£9,166 13 4

£6,666 13 4

Name of Owner.

Name of Estate.

Where situate.

Area (Aor. s).

Annual Crop.

(Number of Bags.)

Valus of Estate.

Mortgage on Estate.

"San Antonio"

Turure

248

310 1914.

1916.

£

220

Messrs. Neubauer & Huttenheim] «

The Trinidad Properties, Ltd.

"Rescue 77...

"Laa Almaa ”.......... "Indian Trail”.....

"Sta Maria"... "San Carlos" ...

"St. Joseph Nurseries" (1) St. Joseph

"La Josefina"...

** Boconusco "..

"Mirs Flores"...

"Biparia"

Manzanilla Siparia

... Sta Crus

Square; 2 & 4,Frederick *54, 54, & 56, Marine Street; 11, 13 & 16, Henry Street (3) "La Victoria" (9)

Savana Grande... Cunupis

...

... Port of Spain ...

*« Bin Verguenza" "Perseverance

"H

Turure

Caroni

432

853

330

*15,625 0

554

786

069

16,666 13

Guanapo

Morugs Poole

126

77

...

110

2,500 0

20

40

30

'B

9,166 13 4

833 6 8

F

a. d.

7,500 0 0

10,416 13 4

11,000 0 0

522

698

15,625 0 0

6,250 0 0

Montserrat

67

126

82

2,500 0 0

Caura

125

136

136

Caura

325

PZI

867

6

=

0 0 009

4,166 13 4

8,437

2,083 6 8

5,312 10 0

-

..

1,680

960'I

492

520

728

68

Ο

74

24

41,068 13 4

16,666 13 4

1,979 3 4

*17,708 6

1,041 13 4