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MINUTES.

General's Office. The Committee's claims against the British Columbia Govern- ment were discussed generally, and Mr. Turner undertook to have an inquiry made in his Office with regard to the correspondence mentioned in Sir Richard McBride's letter of the 17th April as having been recently received by him from British Columbia.

a letter which had been 4. 5.8. "Marina.”—The Committee considered received from Messrs. Waltons and Company recommending that the Committee should make the best terms they could with Messrs. Mitchell, Cotts, and Company in respect of the Company's claim for expenses in sending out the officers and that Messrs. Mitchell, decided Committee The this ship. Cotts, and Company should be asked to accept £400 in full settlement of their claim, and that their attention should be called to the fact that their account is insufficiently vouched.

crew

for

5. 5.0.

"

Carl." The Committee considered a letter from the Ministry of Shipping proposing to take over this vessel for use as a coal hulk, and approved the proposal subject to an agreement being reached as to the terms upon which the ship should be taken over.

6. 8.8. Atlanten."-The Secretary reported that he had agreed with the Foreign Office that an undertaking should be given to the Court as to the value of this ship before requisitioning, and that she should be appraised but not insured. He also reported that he had applied for the concurrence of the Ministry of Shipping in the proposal to use the ship for trade between West Africa and the United States. The Committee approved the action taken and also Mr. Holt's suggestion that Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company should be remunerated by a payment at the rate of £300 a year and a commission of two-and-a-half per cent. of the net profits of the ship. They decided, however, that before an agreement to net profits should be this effect was concluded with the Company the term more closely defined.

7. S.S. Apolda." The Committee considered a letter from Messrs. William Richards and Son suggesting the readjustment of the expenses of the original voyage to Australia with a view to reducing the amount to be charged for the cargo below the amount of the original estimate which had been communicated to Australia. The Committee decided that they would have to pay for any excess of the actual expenses over the amount of the estimate, but did not consider it desirable to alter the basis of the account,

8. Small sailing vessels under the management of the Admiralty Coasting Trade Office. The Chairman reported that, owing to the heavy loss experienced among these vessels and the difficulty of working them at a profit, he had suggested to the Ministry of Shipping that those still remaining should be laid up until the end of the War. The Committee approved of this action.

9. s.s. "Frisia."-(a) Repairs.-The Committee considered a report which had been received from the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company regarding the repairs effected at Hong Kong, and decided that the amount charged by the Company in respect of these repairs must be accepted.

(b) Nautical Instruments.-The Committee considered a letter from the Penin- sular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company regarding nautical instruments stated by the Company to have been supplied to the ship at Hong Kong, and decided that the substance of the Company's letter should be communicated to the Ministry of Shipping.

10. Losses of vessels in Coasting Trade.-The Committee considered a letter from the Admiralty Coasting Trade Office reporting the loss of the following vessels by mine or submarine :-C.T. 10 "Wega," C.T. 43" Kankakee," C.S. 63 "Angela," C.S. 75" Wilhelm," and directed the Secretary to inform the Foreign Office and also to report the loss of the "Kankakee" to the Procurator-General.

11.

S.V.

"Neath." (a) The Committee considered a claim which had been received from Mr. G. White, late chief steward of this vessel, for three days' wages, and directed the Secretary to inquire of Messrs. J. Joyce and Company whether they would pay this claim if the vessel had been one of their own.

MINUTES.

(b) The Committee considered a letter from the Receiver of Wrecks, Kinsale, reporting the salvage of a steel lifebont marked “Neath," and directed the Secre- tary to inquire of the Ministry of Shipping whether they desire to take over this

boat.

12. Dock and harbour dues on Government ressels and stores.-The Com- mittee approved a letter which had been written by the Secretary to the Assistant Paymaster-General communicating to him the terms of the agreement made between His Majesty's Government and the dock and harbour authorities, and directing him to deal with any claims which might be received in accordance with the terms of the agreement in question, referring any doubtful point to the Committee for decision.

13. Sixth Interim Report.--The Committee considered a letter which had been received from the Treasury concurring in the Committee's recommendations regarding the application of paragraph 24 (2) of their Sixth Interim Report.

14. Insurance of cargoes, India.-The Committee considered a letter from the India Office raising the question whether the goods which appear to have been released from the dhows dealt with by the Aden Prize Court should be regarded as excluded from the insurance cover. The Committee decided that the India Office should be asked to request the Indian Government to furnish an estimate of the value of the goods released and the premium payable on them, as it was not desired to ask the underwriters. to grant exemption in the case of these goods.

15. Insurance of cargoes in craft captured in German East Africa. -The Committee approved the draft of a letter which the Secretary proposed to address to Messrs. Glanvill, Enthoven, and Company asking that any cargo which there might be on board these vessels might be regarded as being excluded from the fire insurance cover.

Bellas."-The Committee considered a report which had been received from the Assistant-Paymaster-General regarding the accounts for the first voyage of this ship, and directed the Secretary to inform the managers that the accounts were accepted subject to audit.

16. s.v.

17. Assistant Paymaster-General's Statement for April.-The Committee considered the Assistant Paymaster-General's Statement for April, showing a balance on the 30th of that month of £1,801,448 10s.

3606

THE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, 16th July, 1917, at 4.0 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. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office (who acted as Secretary). MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

1. The minutes of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Meeting of the Committee were confirmed.

2. 8.$.

Atlanten."-The Committee considered correspondence which had taken place with the Ministry of Shipping regarding Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company's remuneration, and decided that the Company should be offered payment at the rate of £300 a year as a fee for management, and one per cent. on the gross freight by way of loading commission.

The Committee approved the arrangements which had been made to transfer to another vessel for transport to the United Kingdom all the cargo except the coffee and quebracho logs, and to send this latter (about 1,000 tons in all) to New York for sale there. Arrangements for the sale should be made through Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company's agents. The Sub-Committee were authorized to complete arrangements with Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company.