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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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MINUTES.

THE FORTY-Eighth MeetiNG of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, 6th May, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.

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. C. HIPWOOD, 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. Fourth Interim Report.*—The Committee again considered this report and instructed the Secretary to circulate a revise for further consideration at their next meeting.

2.

8.3.

Senegambia." The agreement with the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company for the management of this ship was confirmed.

3.

8.8.

"Concadoro."-The Committee were informed that the Transport Department had been effecting repairs, etc., to this ship since the 1st of May and that the discharge had been effected on the 3rd of May. They agreed that the date from which the ship should be regarded as having been handed over to the Trans- port Department should be the 3rd of May.

.J

Messrs. C. Russell and Company were to be informed that, as the ship had been requisitioned by the Admiralty, the Committee were unable to give instructions that she should not be dealt with until the hearing of the appeal which had been lodged in the Privy Council against her condemnation.

4.

3.8.“ Syra.”—The Committee approved of Mr. Holt fixing this ship for coal. 5. s.8." Adolphus."—The Committee approved of Mr. Holt sending this ship from Rouen to the north of England for coal.

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6. 8.8. George R."-The Committee recommended that the Admiralty should make inquiries as to the shortage and excess delivery of copper reported by Mr. Holt.

7. Steamships " Thor," " Lorenzo.”—Mr. Holt stated that he had fixed the first- named ship from the Tyne to Bordeaux, and that he hoped to obtain a cargo of pit-props from the latter port to South Wales.

The Committee approved of the Government of Trinidad being reimbursed for the expenditure which had been incurred in docking these ships in the Colony. 8. 8.8. "Helgoland."--Mr. Holt reported that this ship had been fixed with a cargo of salt from Port Said to Chittagong. He hoped to fix her back from India with wheat.

which

8.8.8. "Altair."—Mr. Holt reported that this ship had been fixed with a full cargo on the assumption that the maximum which she could carry was 5,000 tons, but it had since been discovered from papers found on board that she could prob- ably take at least 6,000. The buyers of the cargo were entitled to a full cargo, they assumed was 5,000 tons, and they objected to take the extra 1,000 tons except at a reduction of 28. a ton on the freight for the whole consignment The Commit- tee recommended that a full cargo should be shipped in any case, and Mr. Holt was to arrange the best terms he could.

10. Report on the position of ships.-The Committee also discussed the position of the following ships :-

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"Frisia," Steamships "Kalymnos," Græcia," "Rooke," 'Tandem," "Fürth," "Emir," and sailing vessels "Yawry" and

"Erymanthos,"

Heinz.

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MINUTES.

91

11. 8.0. Terpsichore."-Mr. Tennyson referred to an interview which he had had with Dr. Chapple, M.P., who had strongly represented the need for ships to carry timber, pit-props, etc., from British Columbia. It was not considered prac- ticable to send this ship, as the voyage would be likely to take some eighteen months. The Committee agreed that the contents of the slop chests and the bonded stores on this ship might be disposed of. A copy of the list of articles was to be sent to the Admiralty Marshal.

Mr. Holt informed the Committee that the managers were anxious to get on with the arrangements, and Mr. Evans was asked to see if the requisition could be expedited.

12. "Steinturm,” “Moltkefels," Rappenfels," The Committee agreed that Mr. Holt should see Grahams and Company and arrange for them to enter into the usual form of agreement with the Committee.

It was thought that these ships might well be used for bringing wheat home from India.

13. 8.0. "Carl."-Mr. Holt reported that Mr. Glanvill had now effected an insurance to cover constructive total loss. The Committee agreed that all the risks must be insured against, and that Mr. Starkey must be asked to pay the necessary premiums.

14. Steamships Diana," Marina." The Secretary reported that the 'Diana" had been valued by Messrs. Kellock at £10,000.

The Committee agreed that Messrs. Kellock and Company were to be paid their fee for valuing both the above-mentioned ships.

15. 8.8. "Marquis Bacquehem.”—A telegram was read to the Committee report- ing that this ship had now been discharged at Alexandria. It was thought that she might be used for conveying wheat from India, but the Secretary was instructed first of all to inquire whether the Transport Department wished to make use of her.

16. 8.8. Koerber."-The Committee thought it would be better to wait until' this ship had been adjudicated on before making arrangements to use her.

17. 8.8." Gibraltar."-The Secretary read a letter from the Transport Depart- ment relative to the cost of the shifting-boards which had been put in at New York. He was instructed to ask the Transport Department what price they would offer for them.

The Committee considered some accounts which had been forwarded by Messrs. Houlder, Middleton and Company. After considering the accounts they recommended that the latter should asked to forward the vouchers and also their accounts for the voyage from America to the United Kingdom.

18. 8.0. "Llandaff "-The Committee agreed that £2,000 might be paid to John Stewart and Company on account of their disbursements.

19. 8.8. "Gutenfels," Mr. Malkin reported the decision which had been reached

as regards the indemnity to be given by the banks on taking over the enemy cargo at their invoice value. The Committee agreed that the terms of the indemnity need not be submitted to them but might be arranged between the solicitors. Mr. Malkin, and Mr. Tennyson.

A letter from Waltons and Company relative to the insurance policies taken out by the representatives was also dealt with.

20. Motor Schooner "Elfriede."-The Secretary informed the Committee of the instructions which had been sent to the Governor of Fiji for the charter of this ship.

The Committee agreed that it was best to charter the ship for six months for use in the Tonga trade only. If the Governor found a difficulty in inducing any firm to take over the ship he must try to arrange for her to be worked by a firm of shipowners acting as managers, on terms similar to those approved by the Committee in other cases.

* No. 4 in Appendix A.