CO885-24 — Page 214

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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MINUTES.

8. S.S. Grahamland."—The Committee agreed to employ this ship to bring home a cargo of wool for the Falkland Islands Company. The freight would be It was also agreed that the ship could discharge a 60s per measurement ton. partion of her cargo of coal at Port Darwin.

9. S.S. "Rooke."-The Committee confirmed the agreement with Messrs. Elder Dempster for the management of this ship during her voyage to West Africa and back.

The Committee recommended that a claim for wages made by a Russian sailor named V. Poopu, alias E. Dill, should be referred to the Prize Člaims Committee. 10. $.5. "Frisia."-In view of the terms of the letter from the Director of Transports the Committee agreed to hand this ship over to the Transport Depart- ment from the date of her discharge. Messrs. Lachlan were to value her and to make the necessary inventory. The Transport Department should be informed that the ship was waiting at Liverpool and was twenty-fifth on the list for a berth, and that if they wanted her quickly they must arrange for her to be accommodated at

once.

11. Steamships Rappenfels," "Moltkefels," and "Steinturm.”—Mr. Holt reported that Grahams and Company were making arrangements with the Clan Line for the s.s. "Rappenfels." He also reported the arrangements that he had on her voyage out. made with Captain Segrave for dealing with the "Moltkefels The ship had been fixed home from India with wheat.

Mr. Evans was asked to see to the registry of all three ships and to change the names of the first two to "Diyatalawa" and "Kandy.”

12. s.s. "Helgoland."—Mr. Holt reported that this ship could not be loaded home from Calcutta. It was understood that Mr. Wakely would obtain further particulars from the Wheat Committee as to the terms to be offered if she were sent to load at some other port.

13. 8.0. Yawry."-Mr. Holt reported that a profit of £11,000 could be made if the ship were sent to the North Pacific for a voyage which it was estimated would last about nine months. He added that only a poor freight could be obtained if He was asked to make further inquiries. wood were loaded home from West Africa.

The Secretary read a despatch from the Governor of Sierra Leone as to the pilferage of the stores. It was agreed that no further action could usefully be taken.

The Committee recommended that a claim for wages presented by a sailor named A. Nordenberg, who had served on this ship, should be sent to the Prize Claims Committee.

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14. 8.0. Llandaff."-A report having been received from Messrs. Kellock and Company that the inventory of stores had not been signed by the Chief Officer, the Committee recommended that a copy of the inventory should be sent out to the Chief Officer for signature.

15. s.s. "Thor."-The Secretary read a letter from the Director of Trans ports asking for the transfer of this ship. The Committee decided to await the decision of His Majesty's Government upon their Fourth Interim Report before replying to the letter.

16. Steamships "Lauterfels" and "Werdenfels."-The Committee instructed the Secretary to inform the Transport Department that these two ships would be transferred to their control, but that the Committee hoped that, in accordance with the terms of their report, other ships in the same trade as that in which these two ships had been employed prior to their seizure would be released.

The Committee also considered a despatch from His Majesty's High Commis- sioner in Egypt as to the collection of the original freights on the cargoes of these ships. In view of the fact that, if the total of these freights was larger than the expense of bringing the ships home from Alexandria, the Committee would receive the surplus, it was not thought that any action need be taken in the matter. More over, Messrs. Grahams were bringing the ships over on the basis of repayment of the cost, and their expenses would be looked into by an average adjuster, so that any benefit accruing from the payment of these freights would not go to Messrs. Grahams as suggested in the despatch.

MINUTES.

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17. 5.3. Emir."-The Committee agreed that a reserve of 4s. per foot cube might be placed on the cedar which Messrs. Churchill and Sim were to sell by auction. The Committee then considered a letter from Messrs. Thomas Cook and Son relative to the release of two cases of trophies. It was agreed that the Committee were not concerned with the forwarding agents' charges referred to in Messrs. Cook's letter. It was also agreed that the goods might be handed over to Thomas Cook and Son provided that they would give an indemnity against all claims in respect of them.

18. s.s. "Istria.”—The Committee approved the expenditure which Messrs. Houlder, Middleton and Company had been authorized by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation to incur for scraping the bottom of this ship.

19. Mr. Tennyson read a letter which he had received from Mr. Glanvill, of Glanvill, Enthoven and Company, relative to the depletion of the staff of his firm through enlistment. The Committee had no objection to the War Office being asked to send a definite reply to Mr. Glanvill's inquiry to that Office.

20. Dues on Condemned and Detained Ships in Ceylon.-The Committee agreed that the claims for dues arising before the date of seizure should be referred to the Prize Claims Committee; and that those arising after seizure should be dealt with by the Marshal. They were of opinion that in the case of dues on condemned ships only such proportion should be paid as would be payable by the Admiralty on their ships. It was agreed that the Ceylon Government should be asked to report upon the matter in the light of the circular which was being sent out by the Colonial Office.

21. Advance Freights. The Committee were of opinion that a system of advance freights, with a deduction for discount and insurance, should not be adopted in connexion with the sailing vessels employed in the coasting trade.

22. Steamships "Barenfels" and "Gutenfels.”—The Committee thought that the originals of the letters of indemnity given by the banks should be sent to the Admiralty.

Mr. Malkin pointed out that the orders of the Prize Court at Alexandria pro- vided that the interest on any proceeds from the sale of enemy cargo was to be simple and not compound, and was from a different date from that stated in the letter of undertaking. The Committee thought that Messrs. Waltons should be consulted in the matter.

23. $.8. "Macedonia."-The Committee understood that this ship was being taken over by the Transport Department. The Governor of Gibraltar should be asked whether the ship had been appraised, and, if not, the Secretary should inform the Transport Department that they would take steps to have her valued.

Messrs. Fisher, Alimonda and Company were to be informed that their appli- cation to manage the ship could not be entertained as other arrangements were being made.

24. Appraisement of Ships and Cargoes delivered to the Crown.-The Com- mittee agreed that there was no need for ships or cargoes which had been con- demned and ordered to be delivered to the Crown to be appraised by the Court. In cases where ships were requisitioned for military or naval purposes a valuation would be necessary, and this should be carried out by Messrs. Kellock and Company All detained ships and goods taken or Messrs. Lachlan and Company in each case. over by the Crown should be appraised by the Court. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Admiralty relative to the valuation of condemned ships requisitioned by the Admiralty.

25. 8.8. Reichenfels."-The Secretary read to the Committee an extract froin a telegram from the Viceroy of India stating how the ship was now employed. The Committee thought that no action need be taken.

26.

Advances to Prize Courts.-The Committee considered a letter from the Admiralty to the Colonial Office on the subject of advances which had been made The Committee agreed that in no case should to the Prize Court at Gibraltar.

They recommended that the the charges in question fall on Colonial funds. Governor should be asked for an account of his expenses on each ship.