CO885-(25-26) — Page 665

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TEPERRICO.885/25

سا

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY. WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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not see their way under present circumstances to fix the vessel from Melbourne to the United Kingdom at a freight of 100s., and it was decided to leave the question of further employment in abeyance for the present, especially as the vessel would not be ready to leave Durban for some considerable time.

7. Tenth Interim Report (relating to general questions).—A draft of this report was considered, and a revise embodying the alterations decided upon was to be submitted for further consideration at the next meeting.

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THE ONE HUNDRED AND Sixtieth MeetING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, the 16th December, 1918, at 4.0 p.m.

The following members were present :---

ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman),

MR. W. J. EVANS, C.B.E., Admiralty.

MR. H. N. BUNBURY, C.B., Treasury.

MR. H. W. MALKIN, C.M.G., Foreign Office.

MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.

MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.

MR. T. H. HOLT, O.B.E., Crown Agents.

MR. G. A. JONES acted as Secretary.

1. The minutes of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Meeting were confirmed.

2.

3.

8.0.

8.0. "Llandaff."-The Secretary reported that the Treasury had sanctioned the proposed compassionate grant of £25 to Mrs. Evans from the Committee's funds. Clevedon."--Mr. Holt mentioned that the Wheat Commission had suggested that a freight of 120s. might now be entertained for this vessel from Melbourne to the United Kingdom. The Managers had telegraphed to the captain inquiring the position in regard to the repairs, and it was agreed that no action should be taken towards fixing the vessel pending the receipt of the captain's reply. Tenth Interim Report (relating to general questions).—A revised draft of this report was discussed and attended. The report, as altered, was to be reprinted and copies circulated for final approval.

4.

5. Sales of prize ships.-Mr. Bunbury mentioned that negotiations were pro- ceeding with the French Government which might result in a variation of the arrangement between the two Governments concerning the admission of the subjects of the one to the sales of prizes by the other.

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THE Sub-Committee beg to report the following action taken :-

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1. S,v. Bellas.' -This vessel has completed her third voyage from Fremantle to Cape Town, and has been fixed to load a further cargo of sleepers from Western Australia to the Cape at the same rate of freight.

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2. 8.0. Clevedon."-This ship has completed her repairs and resumed her voyage to Melbourne, sailing from Durban on the 23rd December. She has been offered to the Wheat Commission for a voyage from Melbourne to the United Kingdom at a freight of 1208. per ton, but has not yet been accepted.

The Treasury Solicitor has reported that the arbitration to settle the amount to be paid to the City of Santos Improvements Company, Limited, for the salvage services rendered to this vessel in September, 1917, will shortly take place. For the purpose of arriving at this award the value of the vessel has been assessed at £14,000.

3. s.v. "Terpsichore." "This ship sailed from New York for Wellington on the 23rd December. It is not expected that she will be ready in time to fulfil the charter for a cargo from New Zealand to the United States, and a request has been made to the charterers to extend the cancelling date.

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4. Coffee ex motor schooner “Twee Ambt."-Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company state that they are still without definite information regarding the shipment of this cargo from Sierra Leone, and are at a loss to understand the cause of the delay. They have recently telegraphed to their agent to inquire whether the coffee has yet been shipped, and, if not, when it is likely to be shipped. 5. Steamships "Hamm and Apolda."-The certificate of Messrs, Spain Brothers for the third, fourth, and fifth timber voyages of these vessels show the cost of those voyages as ranging between 35s. 398d. and 45s. 1:77d. per load.

The Ministry of Shipping decided not to interfere with the existing employ- ment of the " 'Apolda," and this vessel has accordingly been fixed for a fifteenth voyage between Western Australia and South Africa with a cargo of sleepers.

It is understood from Messrs. William Richards and Sons that the completion

of the adjustment of the general average resulting from the fire in the "Apolda "

in November, 1914, is likely to be delayed for several months yet.

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6. 8.8. Ranee." The despatch from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, giving details in regard to the requisition of this vessel by the Colonial Govern- ment, has not yet arrived, but is understood to be on the way.

7. s.s. "Koerber." The accounts for the voyage of this ship from Alexandria to London have been accepted as satisfactory, and a claim for reimbursement of the loss of £3,791 5s. is being preferred against the Transport Department in conformity with the understanding arrived at when the voyage was arranged.

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8. Steamships “Lucia,” Rooke," and Erymanthos." The Accountant has submitted further correspondence with Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company in connexion with the accounts for the West African voyages of these vessels, from which it appears that the Company has accepted the contentions put forward on behalf of the Committee on every point with the exception of the matter of the insurance of the homeward freights.

Inasmuch as clear instructions were issued to the Company as to the insurances to be effected, it has been decided that the Committee's claim to reimbursement of the premium paid in connexion with the insurance of freights should be reiterated.

9. 8.8.

“Grahamland.”-No reply has yet been received from the British Columbia Government to the offer of compromise made in accordance with para- graph 3 of the minutes of the One Hundred and Forty-Ninth Meeting of the Committee, and the Agent-General has recently been reminded of the matter.

10. Steamships "Barenfels ” and “Gutenfels." Bank enemy cargo.-The accounts have been rendered by the Banks in pursuance of their undertakings, and have been passed on to the Foreign Office for communication to the Procurator of the Prize Court at Alexandria.

11. Rubber ex Steamships "San Giorgio," Kroonland," and "Regina d'Italia." The account sales for this rubber have been accepted as satisfactory subject to audit.

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12. Cocoabutter ex 8.8. Kalymnos."-An application has been made on behalf of the buyers of this cargo for a reduction in the price paid therefor on the ground that the sample did not fairly represent the condition of the bulk of the cargo. After consultation with the brokers it was decided that the application could not be entertained, especially as the matter was not raised until some three- and-a-half months after the date of the sale.

13. Ploughs and steel joists ex s.s. "Kalymnos," and hoop iron ex s.s. “Ery- manthos."-The account sales for these consignments have been accepted as satis- factory subject to audit.

14.

Lead piping ex s.s. “Kalymnos."-As no satisfactory offer for this cargo could be obtained from a dye manufacturer it was decided to abandon the proposal to dispose of the consignment in that direction. The cargo has recently been sold for a price of £40 per ton.

15. Copper sheeting and discs ex s.s.

Kalymnos" per s.s. "Campus."-Part

of this cargo has been taken by the Deputy Director, Ordnance Stores, Woolwich Arsenal, and the balance has been sold to private buyers.