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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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MINUTES.

15. S.S. Gutenfels."-The Secretary reported to the Committee that Messrs. Grahams and Company bad informed him of the existence of a store of coal which had been discovered when a portion of the cargo was discharged at Bombay, but had not been included in the statement of quantity certified by Lloyd's surveyor at Alexandria. Messrs. Grahams and Company had suggested that it was not necessary that this coal should be taken over by the representatives under the agreement, and then subsequently bought back by the Committee, as it would not be used during the portion of the voyage covered by the agreement. The Committee agreed to this, but the Secretary was instructed to write to Messrs. Grahams and Company to ask them for a statement of the quantity of the coal in order that the figures might be supplied to the Marshal at Alexandria.

16. The Committee considered a letter from the British North Borneo Com- pany asking that a ship might be placed at the disposal of the Cowie Harbour Coal Company. It was agreed that no ships were available for the purpose.

17. s.s. “Marina.”-The Committee considered the draft of an agreement for the charter of this ship to the Sun Shipping Company.

Clause 2. It was agreed that the ship should be navigated by the charterer to Duala at the expense of the Admiralty.

Clause 7. It was agreed that the ship should be at the risk of the Committee on her voyage from Lagos to Duala.

Clause 8. The Committee thought that the ship should be redelivered at the expiration of the charter at Lagos or at Duala, at the option, not of the charterer, but of the Admiralty.

Clause 12. The Committee considered that if the ship were not placed at the disposal of the charterer at Duala within two calendar months of the date of the agreement or such other time as the Governor-General of Nigeria reported to be safe having regard to the repairs to be effected, and if the agreement was then rescinded by the charterer, the Admiralty should bear the expenses of sending the officers and crew out and of bringing them home, unless the failure to place the ship at the disposal of the charterer arose from a default of the charterer.

Subject to the above, the agreement was approved.

Mr. Holt ascertained from Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company that the "Emir" would be due at Lagos within a week, and that she could supply 50 tons of coals for the "Marina.”

$8.

18. Premiums for insurance of detained ships.-The Committee agreed that Messrs. Glanvill, Enthoven and Company might prepare policies for the insurance of detained ships in cases where the risk was off, and that the necessary premiums should then be paid by the Committee.

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19. 8.0. Carl."-The Secretary reported to the Committee the position with regard to the insurances of this ship under the agreement with Mr. R. W. Starkey. It was agreed that in the circumstances Mr. Starkey should be allowed the benefit of the 24 per cent. brokerage which was surrendered by Messrs. Glanvill, Enthoven and Company to the Committee.

20. Appraisement of detained ships.-The Secretary reported to the Com- mittee the action which had been taken with regard to the appraisement of ships detained at oversea ports under the control of the Colonial Office. Mr. Wakely informed the Committee that he understood that the Indian ships had already been appraised by the Court, and Mr. Malkin undertook to look up the position with regard to the "Enne Rickmers" and "Rabenfels."

21. The disposal of condemned goods at Alexandria.-Mr. Malkin read to the Committee the draft of a telegram asking the Marshal at Alexandria to dispose locally of condemned goods ordered to be delivered to the Crown where he thought such a course desirable. The Committee approved of the draft.

22. 3.8. "Josephina."--The Committee recommended that the Admiralty Registrar should be asked what was done in this country with regard to certificates of registration in cases where condemned ships had formerly belonged to neutral

owners.

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MINUTES.

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THE FIFTY-SIXTH MEETING of the Oversea Prize Disposal Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, the 7th of June, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.

The following members were present

1.

MR. W. J. EVANS, Admiralty (in the chair).

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.

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.

2. 8.5. "Helgoland."-Mr. Holt reported that the Wheat Committee had He had agreed to pay the cost of taking this ship from Chittagong to Karachi.

been informed by the managers that there was considerable demand for coal at Colombo, but he had ascertained from the Wheat Committee that they would be unable to offer a cargo if the voyage to Colombo was arranged, as it would make the ship too late. In the circumstances it was agreed that the ship should be sent to Karachi in ballast to load with wheat.

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3. Steamships Adolphus” and “George R."—It was agreed that these two ships should continue to be employed in the coal trade for the present.

4. 8.8. "Thor." It was decided to fix this ship for a voyage to Bordeaux and back.

5. Other ships.--The Committee also discussed the position of the steamships "Concadoro" and "Istria."

6. Timber from British Columbia.-A letter was read from the Prime Minister of British Columbia urging the importance of shipping timber from British Columbia. Mr. Holt was asked to see Sir R. McBride and ascertain what freight would be paid on the timber.

7.

s.s." Gutenfels."-The Committee considered a telegrain from the Govern- ment of Bombay pressing for the transfer from the Alexandria Prize Court to the Karachi and Bombay Prize Courts of all files and papers relating to the delivery of the British-owned cargo ez this ship. It was understood that the Foreign Office proposed to send a telegram to Cairo asking for the observations of His Majesty's High Commissioner on the subject.

8. 8.5. Koerber."-The Secretary read a letter from the Director of Kew Gardens relative to a scientific collection which had been shipped, by this steamer, by Dr. C. R. Schneider of Vienna. The Committee recommended that Kew should be asked if they were prepared to buy the collection, and that the Foreign Office should telegraph to ask whether steps could be taken locally to utilize the consign- ment or to preserve it from deterioration. The Secretary was asked to bring up the matter at a subsequent meeting, when the ship had been adjudicated upon.

9.

8.8. "Lorenzo."-Mr. Evans reported to the Committee the result of his inquiries as to the constitution of the British Tanker Company. He had learned that the Anglo-Persian Oil Company had transferred the whole of their shipping interests to the British Tanker Company, and that the whole of the shares were held by the company, and that the directors of the two companies were the same. The Committee thought that, having regard to the difference between the capital of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company and that of the British Tanker Company, the charter for this ship should be with the former and not with the latter.

Mr. Evans was asked to obtain signal letters for the ship.

10.

s.8. "Josephina."-Mr. Holt reported that the Falkland Islands Company now proposed to pay freight of 60s. per ton weight, instead of per measurement ton as had previously been proposed, and that it appeared that they had a contract