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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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CO. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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16. S.S. Achaia."-The Committee decided that this ship should be brought straight home. The agreement with Messrs. Glover Brothers was confirmed.

An

17. Steamships “ Sudmark,” “ Emil,” “ Altair.”—The Committee thought that the "Sudmark" might go east, but that the "Emil" should be brought home.

Altair" might go to Port applicant who had made inquiry as to whether the Sudan for cargo should be referred to Mr. Holt.

The Committee recommended that the Egyptian Government should be informed that all arrangements for securing cargo for the ships detained at Alexandria would be made by His Majesty's Government.

18. Messrs. Hartley, Cooper & Company's application for Brokerage.—The Committee decided that the correspondence that had been received from the New- castle Managers should be sent to Messrs. Waltons & Company for their consideration.

19. Claims against Coasting Trade Steamers.-Mr. Tennyson informed the Committee that Mr. Glanvill had stated that he would be willing to investigate The Committee thought claims for damage made against any of these steamers. that Mr. Glanvill should be thanked and should be informed that the Committee He should also be asked what would be glad to avail themselves of his offer. commission he would suggest should be paid to him.

20. Insurance.-The Committee decided that the formal cover for the insur ance of detained ships which had been submitted by Glanvill, Enthoven & Company should be sent to Waltons & Company for inspection.

21. 8.8.

"Germania."-The Committee recommended that the proposal of the Australian Government to charter this ship to a local firm for trade with the Pacific Islands should be approved.

22. Steamships “Rajaburi," "Quarta,"

Diana." The Committee agreed

that the cost of advertising for tenders for these ships might be paid by the Secretary.

As regards the "Diana," they recommended that a telegram should be sent to the local Government asking where the papers of this ship were.

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THE TWENTY-EIGHTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, 18th February, 1915, at 3.15 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. G. ROPER, Board of Trade.

MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.

MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.

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

MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).

1. 8.8. "Diana.”—The tenders for the chartering of this ship were considered by the Committee, who decided to accept the offer of Mitchell, Cotts & Company, viz., £400 per month. The question of the registration of the ship was to be discussed with the Board of Trade.

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2. 8.8. Thor."-The Committee understood that Admiralty colliers were not likely to be available to take any cargo to Jamaica in the near future. They therefore agreed that, if freights comparable to those which were being paid in other directions could be obtained from Jamaica shippers, Messrs. Farrar, Groves & Company should be instructed to send the ship to this Colony for cargo.

3. Small Enemy Sailing Ships in the United Kingdom.-Mr. Holt informed the Committee that he had made inquiries with a view to the utilization of these ships, but that he had been advised to leave them in port. He had not been able

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to obtain any offer from the firms whom he had consulted, but he proposed to send to Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie a list of persons interested who might be consulted.

4. Large Enemy Sailing Ships in the United Kingdom.-Telegrams from the Egyptian Government relative to the need for tonnage were read to the Committee. It was understood that the Admiralty were making arrangements to ship the coal which would be required by the Egyptian State Railways, and the Committee, therefore, recommended that the Foreign Office should inquire what was the amount of tonnage required by the Egyptian Government to ship coal in sufficient quantities to keep the irrigation pumps working. On receipt of the reply and of the report from the Board of Trade as to the condition of the sailing ships in question, the question of utilizing them should be further considered.

"Gibraltar" (late Schneefels ").-The agreement with Messrs. Houlder, Middleton & Company for bringing the ship back from the United States with cargo was confirmed.

5.

8.8.

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6. Mr. Holt reported to the Committee the position of the following ships :- Græcia," "Kawak," Erymanthos," Emir," Annaberg," 'Derfflinger," "Rooke," Adolf," and "Georg."

Mr. Holt added that he understood that the latter ship had been used as a store for oil. Mr. Evans was asked to make inquiries as to this.

7. 8.8. "Werner Vinnen."-Mr. Holt informed the Committee that, as this was a sailing ship, the advances which the contractor would be required to make would be spread over a very long period before the freights, out of which his outlay would normally be reimbursed, could be received. The Committee agreed that in this case advances should be made by the Government to put the contractor in funds, and Mr. Holt undertook to make inquiries and to report to the Committee at what rate instalments should be paid.

It was

8. Alexandria Ships.-Mr. Holt informed the Committee that Messrs. Harris & Dixon were sending out a captain, who would superintend and press on the arrangements for getting ready the ships in which they were interested. very desirable that there should be someone on the spot to do this, and the other contractors who were taking over other ships at Alexandria had been approached with a view to their interests also being looked after by the same captain. was possible that a fee might be payable later on for his services. The Committee agreed that the arrangement might stand.

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9. 8.8 "Goslar."—Mr. Holt informed the Committee that Messrs. Gellatly, The Committee Hankey & Company wished to send this ship to Massawah. thought that this proposal should be considered when they were in a position to make arrangements for moving the ship.

10. 8.3. "Emil."-The Committee agreed that Mr. Holt could make arrange- ments for Glover Brothers to deal with this ship.

11.

8.8. "Frisia.”—The agreement with the P. & O. Steamship Company for the management of this ship was confirmed.

12. Application of C. Barrie & Sons for a Ship-The Committee under- stood that Mr. Barrie had seen Mr. Holt, and they recommended that this applica- tion should be noted.

13. 8.8. "Birkenfels."-Mr. Hughes, of the Federal Steam Navigation Com- pany, accompanied by Mr. F. E. Vaughan, of William Richards & Son, attended to discuss various outstanding points.

In connexion with a letter from Mr. Lowrey the Committee decided, with the advice of Mr. Hughes, not to allow the ship to be dry-docked at Capetown. As regards the expenses to be paid by the Federal Steam Navigation Company at Capetown, Mr. Hughes undertook to find the money, charging 44 per cent. interest on his payments.

The Committee informed Mr. Hughes of the arrangements which they wished to be made for bringing the ship home when she had been discharged of her cargo in Australia, and Mr. Hughes was asked to report in due course the date on which the discharge had been completed. He was also asked to make arrangements for the ship to be dry-docked as soon as possible.

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